MAYFEST

The first weekend in May, Michael and I went to MAYFEST. It's kinda like Market Street in Columbus and is on the Trinity River near Downtown Fort Worth. It was geared more towards the kids, but we had a good time. Below are some pictures from the frisbee dogs show and the duck races. Also is a picture of a guy wakeboarding on the Trinity River. This was a bit anticlimactic. They didn't pull him behind a boat, but there was a big wire run diagonally across the river. The wakeboarder held onto the rope that was attached to the wire and was pulled by a motor. Hence, there was no WAKE from the boat for the WAKEboard to WAKEboard in. It was interesting, but I don't think it would be as fun as the real thing. Definitely didn't look as cool.

For Daddy on His Birthday...

...one day late! Sorry about that! :)

My Top Ten Memories with Dad...in no particular order:

10. Going to the store on Tuesday mornings as a kid in the summer to "work" for 50 cents.

9. Going to the store every morning during my junior and senior year of college for Daddy time

8. Dad being the "cool" chaperone on field trips in 3rd grade

7. Test driving my first car on Lock and Dam Road when I was just 14 and picking me up from school one day in it. (even though I couldn't drive for 4 months)

6. Going to hit a bucket of balls with you in the afternoons and/or driving your golf cart while you golfed

5. Riding jet skis together...in particular the time we ran out of gas in the middle of the ocean and you convinced me it was an "adventure" so I wouldn't hyperventilate

4. Our phone conversations nearly every single weekday morning since I moved to TX--and how our relationships has grown and changed because of them (for the better)

3. "Sandwich snuggles" every night before I went to bed

2. The day I got my first ticket (only 1 month after getting my license no less) and you just folded it up and put it in your pocket because I was so hysterical. You never yelled at me. I appreciated that!

1. Dancing with me at my wedding. I know that wasn't your thing, but it was special to me!

I love you Daddy! Can't wait to make more memories with you! Happy Birthday!

Mother's Day

When I was a little girl, I wrote my mother a poem in honor of Mother's day. In it, I praised her for her ability to make me creamed corn. Now, with some age and perspective, I can find many things to praise her for, although making me creamed corn is always sure to be a success. In an effort to keep this moderately brief, two main things stand out about my mom. First, she is always ready and willing to listen. She has always been this way. I cannot remember a time in my entire life when I was not perfectly comfortable talking to her about ANYTHING. From childhood problems, to teen-aged boy drama, to "grown-up" (if that is what I am) fears and dreams. Whatever it is that's on my mind, she is always there ready to listen. As a child, we usually had our chats as she tucked me into bed each night--yes right up until the night before my wedding--or on long road trips to visit her family. Now, these conversations are on the either end of a phone, but I'm looking forward to the time when I can actually sit with her and talk about what's going on in life again. Second, mom has ALWAYS supported me 100% in the things I feel like God as led me to do in my life. She did this even when it was at great cost to her. (i.e. her baby spending 7 weeks on the other side of the planet as a summer missionary or her baby moving 8 hours away to pursue a seminary degree.) Her actions in response to these decisions speak volumes to me about what my mother believes about God. I know that she trusts Him to lead and guide my life.

For these two reasons and SO much more, I am thankful for my mama. I love you! I only hope that one day I can be as great a mom as you are.