Dad

I miss you...so very much.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Not Lost

Last Saturday was our dear friend Dave Hoover's birthday. He usually tries to let the day go without notice. Without fanfare. However, since he is the King of doing people's birthday right, this year we were able to track him down. To celebrate with him. And celebrate him.

We met at The Catch in Anaheim, and had a great dinner. But this night was proof of something I have been thinking a lot about lately. And it all started with the TV show "Lost".

As annoyed as I might have been with the finale of the show, and how it left virtually EVERY question of it's 6 seasons unanswered, I did love it's finale message. And that message was, that who you go through life with is SO VERY important. The people you surround yourself with on a daily basis shape your lives, in so very many ways. I think at the end of the day, these will be the people that surround you, and give you faith and courage.

I feel so very blessed to have the most amazing, loving, caring group of friends around me. They have shaped my life, (no more so than my amazing husband and beautiful daughters) and whomever I am I owe to them. I hope I contribute something, even if very minor, to their lives. I can't wait to see what their future holds in store for them. My guess is that it will be some totally awesome things, and some things that are very sad. But ultimately that is the beauty of it...that we will hold each other up when those tough times come around. That's definitely one thing I have learned over the last few years, that Faith, Family and Friends keep you going with the good times and more importantly the bad. And I can't wait to see what the future holds for all of us. I'm thinking a lot more good than bad. We're so very blessed.

So Loved

He has many names. The Dude. The Cisco Kid. Buddy. But really his name should be Loved. He is kissed, petted, and spoiled on a daily basis. Zoey will brush him daily, and Avery will give him treats just for going outside. He is as much a part of our family as I am. We all love him dearly.

He has his funny habits. He sleeps under our bed, and does not want to get up before noon. Even to go outside, or get a treat! If he doesn't want to come out, you have to DRAG him out. He just loves to sleep in!

He HATES the car and will not get in it without being forced and lifted in. Being 95+ pounds does not make this easy, so he does not get to go with us nearly as much as he would if he would just jump in the darn car! Even with that, he still gets to go to my work ever so often, and out to Canyon Lake every time we go. His visits to Uncle Hoover's, or especially Uncle Dan and Aunt Debbie's are his favorite. He HATES the actual car trip, but once we get there he's howling with happiness!!

"How did we get so lucky?" is what one of us will say at least weekly, if not daily. He is such a good dog, LOVES the girls and really the whole family so much. He will not eat until Rob gets home each day, even if he gets home at midnight. If Rob has to travel on business, he will sleep outside of the girl's room...to protect them I would assume. He is a gentle giant, and would not hurt a flea, unless they were trying to hurt us. He is so very loved.