Swagger Wagon and other updates

It's official. We're old. We are now the proud owners of a mini-van. The Swagger Wagon. Karyn has spent the past couple of months searching for vans and she finally found one she liked. It's a 2003 Mazda MPV. We were looking at Honda but in the end, this one fit our needs. It's not too big, not too small, and it rides great. It has an outlet in the very back for Jay to be able to charge his iPod. Rear A/C control to keep Isaiah busy. Two captains seats in the middle for the twins. Perfect. We're as excited as people who own a mini-van can be. I never thought Karyn or I would be driving a van but here we are. We don't have a choice if we want to go places as a family. We are soon to be a family of six and cars/suv usually only seat 5 unless there's a 3rd row seat. Usually suvs with a 3rd row seat guzzle gas. Now if Karyn will let me paint it like the A Team van, I'll be happy.

Grammy and Grampy (Karyn's parents) are coming into town this week for her brother's ordination. We have several things planned for their visit. There's really never enough time to spend with them since they live so far away. We're excited to see them and I know Karyn can't wait for someone, other than me, to rub the magic belly. She's getting big and pictures don't do it justice. You have to see her in person. She's 21 weeks now and growing. None of her old clothes fit her anymore. She is beautiful and now there's even more of her for me to love!

We're getting bunk beds for the boys. Scary thought. My brother and I always shared a room growing up and bunk beds were always our favorite. I preferred the bottom bunk and being older, I got it. My sons already have began arguing over who gets the top bunk. I think Jay will win since he's older and less likely to fall off climbing up. We still have to get the bedrooms "twin ready" and we're running out of time. Our schedules were already busy and now they're jam packed with "to do" items. It feels like we never stop moving. We'll rest when we retire, I suppose. I don't know about Karyn but I plan on golfing. A LOT when this 8-5 life ends.

We go back to the doctor for the twins on October 7. That will be the beginning of the bi-weekly appointments. That means we're getting close. Between October 7th & the end of the year is the period where we have to monitor Karyn for signs of early labor. With twins, the risk is always there. I will be taking bets on how many times we go to the hospital for Braxton Hicks. I'm a bit overprotective and I'm sure I'll be in panic mode everytime she grunts. She grunts a lot. Like a sasquatch with a bellyache and it'll only get more frequent. She's doing great under the circumstances and I'm proud of her.

When I said prayers with Isaiah last night at bed time, we prayed for the twins. We asked God to bless Audrey and Bailey. Isaiah said "Hehehe, Bailey." I asked him if he likes the name Bailey. He said "Yes!". I asked if he liked the name Audrey, he said "Meh." I guess you can't win them all. Both boys are very excited and anxious for their sisters to get here. I know they'll be great big brothers and look after the twins. I just hope they learn quickly that girls won't always laugh at their farts like brothers do. Poor girls. We'll keep praying for them.

Audrey Lynn & Bailey Kaye

Twin A & Twin B now have names! Audrey Lynn & Bailey Kaye. A & B. Fitting, we think. I know I had talked so much about Caroline but how could I name only one of my princesses that? We thought since they're twins and these names end in "ey", it would be perfect. We both love these names and agree that this is the right choice. We may never agree on two other names. The middle names are after mine and Karyn's moms. Laura Lynn & Janis Kaye. After all, we wouldn't be here today without our moms. I can't even begin to tell you how much my mom has meant to me. I will try though.

When I was a baby, I was sick a lot. I had tubes in my ears, my tonsils removed, and diagnosed with epilepsy (I outgrew it). There were a lot of nights when my mom would sit up all night with me and comfort her crying baby boy. She worked two jobs at times to support us after her and my dad divorced. She did her best to keep me out of trouble and when she failed, she was there by my side until I was back on track. When I've been at my lowest points, one thing has been constant. "Mommy". She instilled in me this love of kids and family. I wouldn't be the man I am today without that woman in my life. When myself, my brother, or my sister had friends visit our home, they all called my mom, mom. She's given birth to three kids and has adopted three more. She is what I've modeled my parenting after. She's a wonderful Christian woman and her prayers mean the world to me. I'm blessed and honored to have one of my daughters named after her.

I want to tell you about Karyn's mom but instead, I'll let her tell you what she's meant to her. I'm proud of the woman my wife is and I know a lot of it comes from "Mother".

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*Note from Karyn*

My mom was always our glue. I don't know how else to explain it. My dad was in the ministry and always had an extra job or two, and with 4 growing kids at home, my mom had a lot to keep up with. Yet she would never let you see it. When the ministry called my dad elsewhere, she packed up everything and followed him without a second thought or complaint. We didn't have annual vacations or expensive clothes but my mom was the one who taught us those THINGS aren't what matters; and showed us what did. God, then family, then others. I never felt like I did without. She did what it took to keep us in line and made sacrifices so we wouldn't go without. She taught me the importance of being a lady, showing respect, and biting your tongue. She's the strongest woman I know.. she's our glue. Now our daughter will share her name.

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So that part of our journey is done. On to the next part. In four short months (or less), we'll be preparing to welcome Audrey and Bailey into the world. We can't wait. We have a lot to accomplish before they get here so we better get going. Thank you for your continued prayers and love.

Daddy's little girls

I'm speechless. As you know, that's not like me. We found out Friday that the twins my wife is carrying are both girls. Daddy's little girls. We had an 8:30 appointment and arrived a few minutes early. They checked all of my wife's vitals and weighed her. Everything looks good. We go into exam room 5. An ultrasound room with a large flat screen on the wall to project the images seen on the monitor in front of the nurse performing the ultrasound. She said she's been doing ultrasounds for 20+ years so I'm confident in her expertise. She has Karyn lay back on the exam table and squirts 2 gallons of liquid on to her swelling belly. It caught her off guard because it wasn't cold. They keep the liquid in a warmer.

We started with Twin A. She's the one closest to my wife's cervix. She measured her head, her fibula, and we looked at her face. We could tell that her nose and lips are normal. We got to see the blood flow to her brain and the arteries in the umbilical cord. It was incredible. The nurse asked if we wanted to find out the sexes. Uh, yeah. How could we not? We're expecting twins and have two boys at home. She proceeded to scan Twin A's backside. I asked what we're looking for. We're looking for something or nothing. The only ultrasounds I've seen so far always have something. This one had nothing. IT'S A GIRL! I have chills writing this. We're having at least one girl. Karyn won't kill me. Yay! She told me that morning that I better wear my tennis shoes because "If they say two boys, you had better run." My wife is the constant joker. Not really but she has her moments. I wore my tennis shoes just in case. The nurse spent about 30 minutes after we found out the sex of Baby Girl A scanning and measuring and listening to her heartbeat. I was in awe. Baby Girl A was beautiful. As beautiful as an ultrasound can be. As beautiful as we can imagine her to be. I was ready to know about Twin B.

She moved over to Twin B and starting scanning. Heartbeat, measuring the head, measuring the bones, cord, and spine. All look great! It felt like an eternity waiting to know. We turn our attention once again to the backside. Once again.. There. Was. Nothing.... IT'S A GIRL! Wow! She's beautiful. TWO girls. Daddy's little girls. Two little Karyns. Fantastic. Incredible. Shocking but then again, not. We had prepared ourselves for whatever we may find out. I don't think we fully expected the news but were thrilled. How exciting. I wanted to keep watching the little movie stars on the big screen but I also knew I had to let the Grandmas know. I texted my mom and emailed my mother in law (at the exact same time , of course). I just said "GIRLS!!!". Then I posted "Daddy's little GIRLS" as my status. I may have temporarily broke the internets because my phone blew up. I had to turn it to silent so we could finish with the ultrasounds.

The girls look great! They both weigh 10 ounces and one measured at 19 weeks and 1 day. The other measured at 19 weeks and 2 days. They are neck and neck. That's exactly what we want. They're both getting the nourishment they need from Mommy. During the ultrasound we noticed that Baby Girl A kept kicking Baby Girl B in the head. Not cool Baby Girl A. No fighting with your sister! It's too soon for that. There will be plenty of time for that when you are teenagers. Ugh. We will be raising two babies, two two year olds, and two teenage girls as some point. Pray for us.

I'm so happy and excited! I don't really know what to expect. I know how little boys are. I know about baseball games, football, scrapped knees, and wrestling. I don't know a whole lot about hair bows, dresses, and make-up. I just know from what I've seen growing up with 5 sisters (2 older, 3 younger) and from watching my brother's daughters grow up. He has 4 daughters and my older sister has a little girl. They make me excited about having daughters of my own. I'm pretty sure we're going to need a house with 6 bathrooms. I'm pretty sure I will run off any possible boyfriends when they're teenagers. I'm positive they're going to have me wrapped around their tiny fingers. It's a new chapter in this Daddy's book. A new story to be told. A story that's kind of hard to tell when Daddy's little girls leave him speechless.

I Am Tennessee

Here it is. Football season. My favorite time of year. My favorite team is the University of Tennessee Volunteers. I was born a mile from the stadium at Ft. Sanders Hospital. So were my sons. My dad took me to my first game when I was 3 years old and I've been to too many games to count. I've taken both of my sons to games every year since they were 3. I love everything about it. The Vol family is indescribable. My friends and I always tailgate in the same spot. Sweet real estate right in the shadow of Neyland stadium. We all grew up going to Vols games. We've been coming together on Saturdays since Clinton was president. We all (our base group) have kids. My buddies, Charlie, Cliff, Richard, James, and myself. Last year, we had kids who played every level from grasshopper football all the way up to a Sr Lineman for William Blount (Cliff's son, Wildfire, AKA Justin). Most of us have played some football as some level at some point. We all live this game and BLEED ORANGE.

I thought about writing this post about what the Volunteers mean to me. my game day experiences. The thrill of the team running through the T, The Vol Walk, Salute To The Hill, Vol Village, Tailgating, Rocky Top sung, in unison, by 100,000 people. Then, my friend Nikki forward me an email. It was written by an unknown (to me) author. I read it at my desk. I had chills. Eyes teared up. It was about me. And you, Vol fan. I thought it was absolutely beautiful. So I decided to post it here. If anyone knows the writer, I want to shake their hand. I will still write my own someday, but this must be shared. Go Vols!

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I am Tennessee

I am Tennessee. I am the 30 year old couple coming back to campus for the first time with both little ones in tow. One wears her orange and white cheerleader outfit; the other wears #16 even though he's too young to understand why.

I am the 50 year old man who hoped no one saw tears in his eyes when the T was formed by the band. I was too choked even to sing "Rocky Top". For a moment I felt foolish and then I didn't care. God, I love this place.

I am the 60 year old woman meeting her freshman grand-daughter who is now the 3rd generation of UT students in our family. Despite my age, I'd strap it on Saturday and hit someone if it weren't for my gender and this blasted arthritis.

I am Tennessee and I have always believed I was different. You can see it when you look up into the stands. My orange is not the same as Florida's or Auburn's . But the differences go much deeper than my colors.

Read my creed. What other school has one? I genuinely believe in these things.To be a real Tennessee man or woman speaks of character, not of geography. All are welcome to walk though my gates, not just the wealthy or the elite.

Georgia and Alabama may have their nations, but we have always been family. Make no mistake, we loathe defeat, but even in defeat, we would rather be a Tennessee Vol than anything else.

We are family and you are the sons of Heisman, the sons of Majors and Neyland.You come from a long line of brothers whose names include White, Gault, Wilson,Manning, Shuler, Nash and Mahelona. It is a great heritage.

So this Saturday, when the warm ups are over and the prayers and amen spoken,when you hear my thunder growing in the stands above you, when you stand in the tunnel and the smoke begins to form, listen for my voice when you run on to my field.

Behind the frenzy of the shakers and deafening roar, I will tell you something in a whisper you may miss. I will be telling you that you are my sons and I am proud of you for the way you wear the orange and white. I am telling you that you are my sons and I love you.

Tennessee is so much more than a state or a school or a team or a degree. It is something that, once you have experienced it, will live inside of you forever and become a part of what makes up who you are. It is driving into town on a game day.

You may have come from hundreds of miles away and as you get closer and closer to the city limits, you feel it rising inside of you. Other cars on the highway proudly display their Orange and White flags or magnets or car tags, and you honk and wave at them, because, for that one day, you are all on the same team.

It is the smell in the air and the ritualistic act of tailgating...catching up with old friends, making new ones, and invitations from perfect strangers to try their ribs or watch their satellite TV showing all of the day's important match-ups...of course, all being secondary to the one that will occur in the great cathedral of Neyland Stadium later that day.

It is the Vol Walk...where you might just see 300 pound men overcome with emotion and weeping with pride, because you have come there to cheer them on. As they walk by, you might exchange a glance with one or two of them, and you can see it in their eyes...it is going to be their day.

It is the students...dressed in their best, because going to a Tennessee game is like going to church for Tennessee people....you show the same respect as you would if you were in God's house. Those students remind you of the days when you were walking in their shoes and Tennessee was your home...but then you realize, in many ways, it is still and always will be HOME. It is that lump that rises in your throat when the band plays Rocky Top as the"T" is formed.

It is walking around on a "foreign" and sometimes hostile campus. You are easily identified (Tennessee people always are) and the enemy jeers and shouts things at you to mask their feelings of intimidation. But just then you happen upon a friend you have never met before. You know they are your friend by the colors they wear or the shaker in their hand. You exchange a "Go Vols" and a confident grin, because he/she knows what you know.

It is when your heart leaps with every touchdown, field goal, sack, and interception...because those are our boys. And win or lose, they will always have our un-dying support. After all, it is those boys that you are really there for and not a coach or a logo or a trustee or a president.

It is the complete and utter exhilaration of walking away victorious over a worthy opponent...that feeling of pride and accomplishment as if it were your own feet that had crossed the goal line scoring the last points yourself...that feeling of wanting to scream "Go Big Orange" at the top of your lungs and hug complete strangers...and then there is the ultimate high of defeating your most hated foes from across the state.

No words can describe what this feels like, but you know because you have experienced it. It is the sheer agony of defeat as the last minutes tick off of the clock and you realize that all hope of a victory is gone.

You feel like crying and maybe you do...then you hear the faint sounds of a cheer that grows louder and louder...."Its Great To Be A Tennessee Vol."

It is knowing that year after year, no matter how things change in our hectic lives, you can always come back to "the Loveliest Place on the River"... the place where you came from...your home.

It will probably look a little different and there will be new names on the backs of the jerseys, but deep down, no matter what, it is still the same. You still love it as much as you always have, because Tennessee is as much a part of you as your arms and your legs and the orange blood that runs through your veins.

And, finally, it is the feeling you have right now as you read these lines....the anticipation inside of you, because you know its almost time....Its about to start all over again...but then it really never goes away, does it?

Unknown Author... But it's all of us Vols fans, isn't it?
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Go Big Orange!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Light at the end of the tunnel

I wrote a blog post while on the airplane to Oklahoma. I didn't post it. I was upset at Karyn's doctor. I felt like she wasn't getting the care she deserves. The specialist that she's seeing for her thyroid tumor is on vacation and we're anxiously awaiting news. Any news. Something that will tell us where we stand. When she needs to have surgery. I blasted the doctor pretty good. It helped me to get what I was feeling off of my chest. It was hateful though, so I didn't post it. Karyn got a call on Monday from her OBGYN. He had received the results from the specialist office. He wants us to wait until after the babies are here for surgery. The tumor is "active" but slowing progressing. I still lean toward a second opinion but I know Karyn trusts this doctor and so do I. He's not going to take any chances. The specialist will continue to monitor things during the pregnancy and she'll have surgery after the twins are here. Keep praying for her. Pray for her doctors too. They have a big responsibility and they are only human. I sometimes get a big head and think we're the only couple on the planet expecting. We have to do things in God's time. I trust Him to protect her and the twins.

I just got back from a work trip to Oklahoma. It's a trip where we visit customers that are several months past due on their mortgages. We visit when we have no other contact with them. It can be a little scary at times but the overtime is good. With twins on the way, any extra money coming in is a good thing. We were chased by dogs, ignored by some customers, and cussed by others. It wasn't too bad though. I've been on worse trips. I missed Karyn and the boys a lot. I could tell they were as excited to see me as I was them. I love to travel but coming home always feels great. I don't think I'll be going on anymore work trips this year. Karyn is getting pretty far along now and I want to be here to help. Football season is here too so my Saturdays are taken. Don't judge me unless you've been to Neyland in the Fall. There's nothing, anywhere, like it.

Karyn's car was totaled out by the insurance company from the hail storms we had in April. It's a blessing and a curse. We're happy to have that piece of poop paid off but finding another vehicle is tough. I think we're going with a mini-van. Neither Karyn or myself are excited about a mini-van but it's needed for a family of 6. We're trying to find a reliable one at a reasonable price. It seems that most in our price range have higher mileage than we would like. Once again, we shall pray. I've mentioned a station wagon to Karyn but get the "stare of death". I don't think I could talk her into it if there was one available that baby-sat while you grocery shopped. It's a no go. A short bus would use too much gas. Mini-van it is. The search is on. We may have to rent a car for her until we find one. They're calling us to schedule a pickup of her car.

We're a little more than one week away from knowing the sex of the twins. I can't wait. We're both very excited. Karyn is now 18 weeks. It seems like forever since we found out we're expecting. This will be our next big mile marker on the road to delivery. Karyn is doing a great job of keeping her sanity. I can't (and won't) even explain everything we've been through in just the past month. It's been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. Our emotions have traveled a bumpy path. We'll continue to be a rock for each other and lean on God. We pray. When I feel anxious or overwhelmed, I get quiet. I've had several people check on me since I haven't been my outgoing self. I'm ok. It just feels like I'm in a haze sometimes and just coasting through. My brain shuts down and I run off of instinct. Work has been a nightmare lately. They keep adding stuff to my duties and while I appreciate that they trust me to take on more, I can only do so much. I don't want to get burned out. I love my job. I just have to balance everything. Easier said than done, I suppose.

Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers. I know there's light at the end of the tunnel. I feel like we're the ones in the birth canal. Hoping someone will pull us out and smack our bottoms soon. Ok, maybe we could skip the spanking. I think life has given us enough of those for now.

*Note* I've posted 8 times a month, every month, since starting this blog. August will only have 7. It's a good reminder that sometimes what you DON'T say is just as important. The missing blog post means something too.

Back to the country

It's been a little while since I posted. It took some time to get caught up from our trip to my grandparents. The trip was incredible. Better than I could have ever dreamed. Everyone had a great time spending time with everyone. Dad took the grand kids on a ride on Grandma's golf cart. They seemed to really enjoy that. They got to feed apples to miniature horses, they caught lizards, frogs, praying mantis, and they got to see a black widow up close. It's fun getting back to the country. Back to nature. What kid wouldn't love being outside with all of the animals? The bigger kids (me, my brother, my sister, and our spouses) had a great time as well. Me, my brother, and brother in law took turns target practicing with my AK. My uncle Steve has a huge farm and there's a corner set aside to shoot stuff. It's amazing how relaxing that can be. I had left my clip at home so we had to manually load the shells in one by one. It didn't seem to bother anyone. Isaiah got his first chance to shoot a rifle (with my help, of course). He was thrilled. Spending time with Brian and Matt makes me want to schedule a "Man's Weekend" every year. I know several families that do it and I will make it happen, if possible.

Karyn stayed indoors as much as possible. The A/C is just too great to pass up for a pregnant woman. I can totally understand that. That allowed time for bonding with my sister and sister in law. They seemed to have a great time chatting with Grandma and watching Grandpa sleep in his favorite recliner. It was a lot of fun seeing reactions to the kids bringing their latest capture to show off. My Grandma isn't a big fan of things that crawl or hop. My grandma awoke Sunday morning to a frog in her sink. Not sure how it got there. We're going with "He found his way there on his own." Who knows. My family of four (plus two in the oven) stayed at their house. My brother and sister got hotel rooms. This gave me a chance for some one on one conversations with Grandma. I cherish these and I always will. I'm sure I'll write all about it soon.

Grandpa looks great. Last time I saw him, he wasn't doing so well. With the help of physical therapists and regular nurse visits, he's back on the right track. He sang a song to my brother. A catchy little ditty about something. Every morning he gets up and finds Grandma to give her a kiss. She said he does it every morning and every night before going to sleep, he touches her on her shoulder and says "I love you.". Inspiring. He talked to me about coming to East Tennessee some years back and visiting Norris Lake. He remembers catching all the blue gill. They loved him there and he was told to come back fishing there anytime. He was allowed to fish in a spot that you're not usually allowed to fish in. The game warden allowed it. Must be the Smith charm but we do get some pretty sweet perks. My grandpa worked hard in his life. He was in the Army. Horseback. People have come from Fort Campbell to interview him about his time in the Army. I haven't had a chance to see the interview yet. I will track it down, though. Grandma told me of how she "stole" him. They went to church together and he was seeing another girl. She went up to him and gave him an ultimatum. The other girl came up to him after church service and asked if he was coming with her. He left with Grandma and the rest is history. 68 years of marriage later and you can tell they still love each other the same. Absolutely priceless.

I went to the Titans game with my brother in law and had a great time. Karyn took the boys swimming with my nieces while we were gone. I picked them up after dropping Matt off.We all joined back up on Sunday for breakfast before hitting the road back home. My dad will be going back to Brazil in the next week or so. We're back at work. I've called Grandma a few times since we left. I miss them already. I can't wait to go back. Maybe the twins will be here by then. I saw a picture there of my cousin Ben holding his twin babies. One was 4 lbs 2 oz and one was 4 lbs 5 oz at birth. I haven't seen Ben in forever but we used to get in trouble together. We once set one of my grandparents' neighbor's houses on fire with stray bottle rockets. To which my grandma defended us with her life. She told them it wasn't us. No way. He and I need to catch up. Life does go on. Way too fast. Enjoy your family while you have them. Once they're gone, they're gone. Only memories survive. I have so many great stories to tell my kids about my family. I'm so proud.

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Karyn's doctor's appointment for her thyroid has been rescheduled. We were planning on knowing where we stand on urgency of surgery. As of now, we're still in limbo. If we're going to do it during the pregnancy, it has to be soon or it won't be as safe. She's still having issues with breathing and her throat feels scratchy. We were able to get the doctor to approve a temporary disability tag for her. At least she won't have to walk very far from her car to get where she's going. We've been feeding her cravings of Dunkin' Donuts, funnel cake from IHOP, and lots of fresh fruit. I know how badly she would like a Starbuck's right now but she's able to resist the urges for the well being of the babies. She is a wonderful mother and I'm so proud to call her my wife. Isaiah is getting used to kindergarten. He has a first year teacher and she seems to really love him. He's a lot more tired at night since he's been at school all day. We'll call that a win. Jason is loving 5th grade so far and seems to be doing well. He's a typical boy. Always coming home with bumps and bruises. I love my boys.

We've started the process of "nesting". We're trying to clean every inch of this house like it's going to stay clean for the next 4-6 months for the babies' arrival. We stay so busy with everyday life since we both work full time jobs that it's hard to keep up. I have a bunch of projects to complete before they get here. Repairs, painting, and shelf building to name a few. We'll get it done. There's a lot of stuff that I write that doesn't end up in this blog but will end up in the book I make for the twins. I can't say enough how much I appreciate the support of our friends and family. Our life wouldn't be possible without them. The counseling, the prayers, and even the shoulders to cry on from time to time. I thank you.

Oh and it's 13 days until FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE! I'm sure several posts will be dedicated to the Big Orange. It wouldn't be a blog from my perspective without it. Trust God. Love your family. And Go Vols.

Life is too short

God and Family.

That's all that matters. I pray my children understand this. God will get you through the hard times. He'll often use family to help. I remember being at my lowest point. I was getting divorced, I was unemployed, I was hurt. My sister gave me a greeting card that she had written little quotes and bible verses in. One of the quotes was "God won't close one door without opening another." Those words still give me chills and I still have the card. I ended up spending forever with Karyn. What a great door he had opened for me. For the most part, my family is close knit. We have our moments like any other family. There are some members that won't talk to other members. That's none of my business. Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in the middle because I want a relationship with my entire family. I won't hold a grudge. Life is too short. If my family doesn't take the time to keep up with my life, that's ok. I still want to know that they are safe and healthy and I would do anything for them.

I'm not perfect in any way. I'm going to make mistakes as a parent. I pray that my children will forgive me when I screw up. I can't imagine living a life without my kids being a part of it. I promise to forgive my children's mistakes and help them get back on track. I've learned a lot from my parents. Hard work, sacrifice, respect, understanding, love, and forgiveness. To name a few. I can't tell you how many jams my parents bailed me out of. I'm trying to raise my children in an environment that nurtures them and demonstrates the value of God and family.

We're visiting my grandparents this weekend. My dad's mom and dad. My grandpa will be 95 this year and my grandma will be 87. They've been blessed with a long life and a long marriage (68 years). They are what I aim to be. Down to earth, Christian people. My grandpa struggles to speak most of the time but when he does, he reminds me of the importance of being faithful to God. He tells me to be good to my wife. He's a great example of what a man should be. I'm very proud of him. My grandma is the most precious person you would ever meet. Everyone loves her. She doesn't get around very much but in her prime, nobody could cook better. Whether we had just ate or not, she would always prepare a feast upon our arrival. She taught me to gamble. Haha. There was game we would play called "Hulligull". She had a jar of pennies that was always less full after I played with her. I have to admit that she probably let me win. I've always felt loved around her. They were both fantastic gardeners. Grandma's flowers and Grandpa's tomatoes will always grow in my heart. I pray they get a chance to meet the twins.

I would love to see everyone united but it's out of my hands. It's in God's hands. Life is too short to carry around that useless load. If you are a member of my family or close circle of friends and you are reading this, I love you. I will always love you. I'm here for you and I always will be. After all, isn't that what family is all about? I think so.