the back door

i wonder if sitting there at the prom they knew where their life would go. today my parents celebrate 50 years of marriage. in today's world, that is quite a rare thing. i can honestly say my parents are just as happy, and frankly maybe a little happier than ever. i feel blessed to have seen a marriage that honors both God and one another. i have watched my mom serve and respect my dad at all times. i have watched my dad love and cherish my mom. they taught me what love looked like. yes, i was always disgusted by their kissing and hand holding and ugh...their dancing in the kitchen, but deep inside i loved it - and still do. they have truly lived life side by side as they raised 4 kids, married us all off, hang out with their 10 grandkids, and travel the world. they shared their first kiss as husband and wife in this same spot 50 years ago. i think they look pretty good today! thanks mom and dad for being so in love and choosing to love deeply

the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of furry! the good, the bad, and the ugly all rolled into one, although i'm not sure the ugly is really there - or even the bad, so maybe just the good kind of whirlwind furry! we headed off a few weeks ago to holiday world with my parents and 2 of my nephews. this is a family favorite. i was the only brave soul among us that would tackle the big rides with my nephew. sadly, i've gotten older and after hearing my neck crack and snap mulitple times told him i was done. although i fully enjoyed the plunging water ride! then my little crew took off for spring mill state park. we were super excited the cave was open. however, i was totally freaked out when a wonderful little bat critter didn't like us invading his space. then the guide let us experience total darkness - while the bat chose that moment to stop his screeching! be still my anxious heart.....i guess there was a little ugly on the trip! of course, travelling with

this weekend we'll are saying good-bye to my grandpa. grandpa was 94 years old - can you imagine? me and my grandpa grandpa was an amazing man that led his family well! i always remember him telling jokes or laughing, but we also couldn't get away with much when grandpa was around. he loved peanuts, so much so that every christmas we would all buy him peanuts. while it sounds superficial, it is such a real memory and to this day, when i eat peanuts i always think of him. i was the youngest grandchild, #13 actually, so when i went to visit it was just me. when i was born they had just sold the farm and moved to town. it was a small town and he knew everyone. from the time i could walk, he would walk with me up town to get pizza, take me to the rainbow restaurant, or to the dime store to pick out a treasure of some kind. it was a long walk, but he would always be so patient. what i really remember is that grandpa loved us all. he always encouraged us and always acce