Dad's Birthday

When we were kids, my brother, sister and I would say that if we had a problem or couldn't figure something out that we should just wait and tell Dad because he could fix it.  My aunt would tease us about thinking that our dad could fix anything.  But honestly, I think she was touched by what a good dad he was to us. 

10 Things I Love about my Dad:

1. I love his sense of humor.  There are different kinds of humor, but I definitely get my dad's.  I can see his wheels turning at times of how he can twist a word or thought around. 
2. I love how he makes the effort to make everyone feel welcome and at ease.  He's easy to get along with and will go out of his way to find something that you're interested in to start a conversation.
3. I love that lately he's taken to serving hors d'oeuvres whenever anyone stops by for a visit to my parents' house.  ... crackers and cheese. sauteed mushrooms. shrimp and shrimp cocktail.  bruschetta and french bread.  a plate of olives.
4. I love that when I was a senior in high school and dreading the "change" of growing up and going to college, my dad would sit with me.  He'd let me cry and listen to my worries and try to remember back to when he was that age. 
5. I love that now that I'm older, I can have good adult conversations with my Dad.  It might be about something I'm interested in, he's interested in or what's going on in my life, etc.
6. I love that my Dad hasn't changed after all of these years.  His humor, his tastes, his love for cars, that he's still a pack-rat, his love of music of all kinds, his never ending ability to eat his meal and your left overs at dinner and still not gain a pound and perhaps still have room for dessert, his love for mowing at any time day or night, his love for being outside in general, he and my mom's love for people, friends and family, ...
7. I love the memories we have from when we were kids.  We would run to my dad's dresser drawer, pick out one of his t-shirts, which fit more like a dress down past our knees, and wear them to bed.
8. I love how strong my dad is.  I remember being a child and being amazed at his arm muscles and arm veins that would pop.  All the way up to when I was in high school, my dad would pick me up and hold me in a lap like a baby (with my legs hanging out over the chair) and ask me what's going on. ... i think he was trying to hold on to the days when we were babies!
9. I love that I saw my parents be baptized, and later, my dad baptized me.
10. I love that I know how much my dad loves me. 

Thank you, Dad.  I hope you had a very happy birthday today on this, your national holiday day!

Madness

After going to the Pacers game this weekend and then watching Butler on CBS fight their way to the Final Four, two games couldn't be more different. 

Larry Bird close-up shot.

• The highlights of the Pacer game include our seats, seeing Larry Bird closer, Boomer climbing in the fans seats right next to us, and Blue II (Butler mascot dog) making an appearance on court during a time out. 

Boomer standing right next to my seat feeding a fan her ice cream. 
 

• The highlights of the Butler game include jumping up and down to see them stay in the game, play hard and win in overtime... oh, and who would have guessed between the two games, you could see Reggie Miller at the Butler game as one of the announcers.  Not to come down too hard on the Pacers b/c I'm still a fan who'd love to see them build another great team, but uhh, hopefully, they were watching the Butler/Florida game for a few tips on Defense. 

Butler's mascot, Blue II, visits the Pacers game.

Speaking of Butler, for the first time, my hubby's cousins all got in on the bracket challenge.  With 25 cuz's filling out brackets, it makes for some fun smack talk online. 

I don't really watch college sports, but I do enjoy March Madness.  I remember the weekend my nephew was born.  My mom and I rushed home after a day at the hospital to catch IU's only final four appearance since the Bobby Knight days.... how sad that they didn't even make it to the dance this year. 

Well, now that my bracket's pretty much blown to pieces with Duke out and only Kansas being left from my final four picks, I'm all the more excited to route for the home team.  The madness continues this March.



Down Under

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

I'm sitting here watching a re-run of Oprah's Australia adventure with tears.  It's such beautiful country and looks like such an amazing experience.  I normally have a whole list of places that I'd like to visit someday but after seeing this show, I have to say Australia has definitely moved to the top of the list. 

Seeing some of the locations that they visted is truly breathtaking.  I can't imagine actually being there in real life.  Oprah has been describing the nature as awesome, a spritual space, a peace of heaven, only God could have done this. I don't always agree with Oprah, but this time, she definitely got it right. 

Hamilton Island

Wardrobe Change.

Did you know that finches change color during the winter season? Although you often think of gold finches as a bright yellow, they turn an olive green in the winter for protection. Isn't God awesome how He takes care of these little birds?  The male finches shed the dark feathers for brighter ones just in time for spring love.

This is a view from our big, front picture window. 

Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? Matthew 6:26