Happy Birthday, Dad

In honor of my dad and his special birthday today I am reposting my note to him here (scroll down) along with a few pictures of the wildflowers blooming today and a scissortail bird perching on a treetop. Dad has always taught me to love nature and all of God's creation, so these are for him today - a virtual flower delivery...

Happy Birthday, Dad! We thank God for you and the strong love you have for us and all of your family. I want to list 65 reasons we are thankful for you, but instead am going to list reasons for every decade of your life - and hope that this does not embarrass you too much.

1951-1961 We thank God that you were born into a loving family, that you honored your parents, and that you learned to care for others by helping your family take care of your sister, Tiny. 

1961-1971

We thank God that you excelled at learning in school, discovered your Faith and served your church as altar boy, and that you chose to share your life and have your first child - me!

1971-1981

We thank God that you completed college, worked hard toward goals to provide for your family and started a new chapter with Pattie and chose to share your life again and had Chane! 💕

1981-1991

We thank God that you continued to persevere in providing for your family, were a key figure in many things that have celebrated our family - both immediate and distant, and that you always managed to honor your parents and excel at your career as a supervisor.

1991-2001

We thank God that you helped Robert and I in our time of need as he went through the police academy, that you lavished much love on your two grandsons, Landon and David, with every chance you were given, and that you continued to work hard to provide for your family and celebrate them often. 

2001-2011

We thank God you survived these years of change and hardship, that you chose to give up one way of life for another, and that you began to be a great example to us all by taking in your father and being caregiver to him alongside Ellen.

2011-today

We thank God, Dad, that you are here, that you are growing only better with age, and that you have become the son, the father, and the grandfather that reflects God's love to us all as an example of how to live. Happy Birthday, Dad. Thank you for always giving.

Rock On

Amidst the 8 yards of bull rock he spread today - that's about one full dump truck's worth - Robert somehow managed to find these unique gems. :) The heart was a gift for me; the other one he affectionately adopted as his pet rock, Rocky - no bull.

My rock star -

God's Beauty in Color

This is a brightly colored hybridized variety of dotted blue-eyed grass, a perrenial from the iris family. These tiny flowers might be overlooked from afar, but to one on foot, their bright yellow eyes beckon a closer look that speaks to how simplicity is beauty. 

Things That Stick

Cactus needles on her muzzle are a tell-tale sign of good times for our boxer, Chloe, following her all-nighter with the ranch dog trio - Big Boy, Mini and Josh.

Thousands of hunting-dog hair clippings encasing my shirt are a tell-tale sign of several moments of doggie-love snuggle time in spurts between more formal grooming moments. Self-control is not Bandit's forte, but how can you resist that face? #stuckonyou

Giant animals with Texas-sized horns running toward Robert like big puppies to his call is a tell-tale sign that they are hooked. #hookemindeed