Kids

Kids are a blessing...well, mine are to me.

Kids can make you laugh, cry, feel encouraged, feel totally overwhelmed (I can't do high school math anymore), and more.

I remember the day they were born just like it was yesterday. They are the best people in my life. They lift me up in so many ways that I really couldn't do what I do without their love and acceptance.

Jessie...my teenager. Let me rephrase that...she's my teenager who is growing up so fast that I can't believe it. I still remember her ironing her clothes on her plastic ironing board at Christmas and she was so particular in doing her own ironing!  She is a funny, smart and precious young lady striving to find her place in the world. She wants to be an actress and she is determined to be one. Really, she can be anything she puts her mind to. That's my Jessie. She even fishes with a spincasting reel...trust me, I can't do that. Plus she has the best laugh...when she does, her freckles just light up like the stars! She is my social butterfly...always texting, Facebooking or chatting up one of her friends. She can definitely multi-task!

Tucker...my soon-to-be teenager. My Granny Ruby would have just totally embraced him at the Unger Memorial Library when she was there. Tucker is my bookworm. He constantly reads...he got the new Transformers book here at the Borders close to my place and he finished it within four days. He loves his Nintendo DS (all three of them), his games, and his Legos. He is the biggest Star Wars fan (besides me) that I know. I got a great deal on eBay one year - 60 Star Wars guys for $80 so he got several for his birthday and Christmas for years. He still has them. Tucker has the best smile in the world...he lights my world.

My relationship with my kids is unique. They had been through the ringer (more than once with the moves, world travelings, divorce and more).  They both text me every day. Tucker calls me every night before he goes to bed just to check on me and see how my day went. I Skype with them as much as we can and around their busy schedules with friends, school, and so forth...I enjoy spending time with them and being with them. I think of the constantly and pray for them endlessly.

My last kid is Rosie...my Bischon Frise white fur ball full of spunk and kisses. She would sit with me watching TV rolling over for me to rub her tummy. She is actually Jessie's dog but she hung out with me. I really miss Rosie.

My kids are very tolerant and accepting. They knew I was in the Navy but they really didn't know what I did until they came and saw my office...USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)...4.5 acres of sovereign US territory. They loved walking all over the ship and meeting Jimmy, the Lobster (a long story but you can friend The Boat Show on our Facebook site to find out about it), and seeing my office and stateroom. Being a PR guy for the Navy is a great gig but when the kids understand "what" you do, that's a great feeling.

Kids also provide you with the best quotes:

"Dad - you're a dork."
"Do you have a comb?"
"Hey Dad - where's your blowdryer?"  - yes, that one hurt! LOL
"No matter what they put inside an M&M, it's still a M&M."
"I love you."
"I'm proud of you Dad and thank you for serving our country...I'm saluting you right now if you could see me through the phone."
"Dad - can we make M&M cookies?" - they really just like to eat the dough
"Dad - can we go here, there, anywhere."

They are the best. I'm proud of them. I'm proud of who they are. I'm proud of who they are becoming. I am truly thankful to God for allowing me the privilege to be their Dad. It's the most important job (and the most rewarding one to boot) that I will ever have in my life.

Jessie and Tucker complete me...well, at this moment in life, they do.

I can't be a Dad without them...

More scooting to do...