Dreams do come true

As kids, my brother and I were sure of a few things from our parents...

They had expectations. We knew to be home before the street lights came on, or there would be no playing after school. We could order anything from a restaurant menu, as long as we ate it. If we missed curfew, there would not be a next time.

They gave support. As children, we tried many things. Soccer, Baseball, Swimming, Gymnastics, Twirling, Dance, and so on. We could do anything we wanted, but we couldn't quit. As such, I was only enrolled in many of these activities for one year.

They taught us to set goals. We learned that nothing in life comes free or without hard work. Therefore, if you want something, you have to go after it. A self fulfilling prophecy, you have to see it first...then make it happen!

Growing up, both worked multiple jobs. Still, they learned to balance work with family life, and remained committed to supporting our activities. They made juggling it all look easy. Meanwhile, they always had a dream. The hard work they put in for so many years was to have a "little peace of Texas" to call their own. Perhaps after retirement, they could live there.

Just like so many lessons they taught us through the years, the best was that of a role model. They dreamed, saw it, and made it happen. This is the "Diamond J Ranch".

The view of the property from their back patio. It ends beyond the trees at the base of the clouds.

They are on the verge of living their dream...not because they ran into money...but because they worked hard...for many years. Many people in this world will say they are going to do things. But, few actually do them. It is so cool to take a turn at saying to my parents," I am proud of you".

The House that Built Me

I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. The only house I really remember is the one we moved to before I entered first grade, and it is the one this past week that I helped pack up after more than 25 years of calling it "HOME".

While I thought it would be difficult, it was more joyful than tearful. I had time to reflect on so many wonderful memories, and be thankful for what the past had taught me.


This is it. The house that built me. There was a rock in the landscaping to the left that my Mom would sit my brother and I on every year for an annual photo. It is now covered with ivy...a little secret for the new owner. You could see the fireworks from Sea World from this spot, and the slanted driveway made a great ramp for my brother and his friends to practice his skateboard tricks. This picture only shows a few of the oak trees which surround the house, and in high school, our friends learned they held toilet paper well.



Above is the dining room. On holidays, it was a place to gather and catch up with family. Or, one weekend every other month, it alternated Poker and Bunco players.


At the center of the house sat the wet bar. In the summer months when I was home from school, one of my weekly chores was to clean the glass. In hind sight, perhaps it was a mistake to put me this close to the bar. It is where I took my first shot of Crown, fell in love with Whiskey, and gathered with friends when I came home from college and California.


My parent's master bedroom. Three of the four walls in their dressing area were covered with mirrors. It is here where I used to practice my toe touches for dance team, got ready for school dances, and tip toed through when I returned home at curfew.


My bedroom. If these walls could talk, they would have some good stories to tell. I must have spent hours in this room this weekend going through old boxes from the last twenty five years. Boxes full of pictures and old letters from dear friends, high school mums and spirit gifts (I had to give Joe the 101 on Texas High School football traditions), report cards, old cassette tapes, James Dean posters (it was a bit of an obsession), and so many other items I had long forgotten.

The Living Room. This is where my friends and I gathered for sleep overs, I practiced dance routines, played pretend games, built forts, played football with my brother, sat with my Dad in front of the fire, and enjoyed so many wonderful Christmas mornings.

There are many cherished memories of this house and this city for which I am so grateful.

For now, we're out ya'll!

Greatest Show on Earth...almost

When I was in middle school, a dear friend of mine (you know who you are) took me to the Circus for my birthday...because I had never been and always wanted to go. It is surely something all kids should do...at least once.

While I am still frightened of clowns, the kids had a great time. They proclaimed the men on stilts and the animals to be their favorites, and they ate oversized (and overpriced) cotton candy.

They saw elephants...

And tigers...

I wouldn't say it was the "Greatest Show on Earth", but it sure was a lot of fun.

Daddy's Girl

I have always been a Daddy's girl. Before my own memory could recall, my Mother has shared many early stories of my Father's Love. So, I knew that when we found out our first born would be a girl that I would have many of my own stories to share with Kate.



This is one I had to record...On the mornings her Dad works early, he kisses us all goodbye and leaves before the sun rises. Yet, on the past two mornings, he has made time to make his little girl Tinkerbell toast. While I can make it, I guess she has recently shared that I don't make it quite like her Daddy. Finding it ready on the counter when she wakes up has brought a smile to her face so big that it competes with the one she displays on Christmas morning. It's a Father's Love in it's purest form. Yes, she too, is indeed a Daddy's girl.

Signs of the Season

This time of year brings many familiar images...

Allergies. This year is one of the worst EVER...

Exercise. I would show a picture of myself on the stability ball. But, little Kate imitating me is so much cuter.

Flops. Aw, yes. Ever since I moved to Cali, I haven't been a fan of closed toe shoes. Hallelujah!

Graduations: The smile on our faces mirrored hers. Only, I had tears in my eyes. Next year starts the BIG school!