Power To The Panties!!!

I have a friend.  I have a friend I have never met, nor spoken to before, but still, I have a friend.  Her Name is Leontien.  My wife is actual friends with this gal and has been the one making actual contact with her as one of her bloggy pals over at Real Farmwives of America.
This new friend of mine recently found out that her battle with a cancer she had once beaten had come back.

I could go on about the fear we all have about cancer, but you already know the drill.  We get scared for our friend.  We cry for our friend.  We wish our friend well.  Yadda yadda yadda...

My wife and her friends went a wee step further.  They are pledging every day until Leontien beats cancer "Love For Leontien Day."  I am one of those friends jumping on board.  I will not only cheer her on and show my love and support for this brave, tough, awesome and beloved dairy chick.  I will also pray for her daily with every breath.  I know a God who is loving, kind and healing.  I believe that He will be there to beat this with Leontien.  I believe it with all my heart.

If you do the Facebook thingy, head over to the page dedicated to Leontien's fight.  Show your love and support for her like we do.  www.facebook.com/LoveForLeontien

And if you follow blogs, check her's out.  It's cool like her!

http://fourleafcloverdairy.blogspot.com/


Now, about the title of this post, "Power To The Panties"...  Leontien has a little ritual she does before heading to every test.  She dons her skull panties.  She does this to let cancer know she means business.  She's dressed for battle, and so are we.

I sent her a message the other day letting her know I was sporting my skull panties for her.  Just in case there is any doubt, I even made a video.  Enjoy...

Aim High

This blog has usually dedicated itself to bragging on a certain kid, mine.  Although I could brag every day for the rest of my life on her, I'm going to brag on my brother's kid instead.




My brother, Doug, has a son named Casey.

  He's always been cool and always been an avid competitor and hunter. He's always been a good kid. He has always been driven to go into law enforcement ever since he was just a young'un.  As he got close to graduation he looked at the many possible avenues to get into law enforcement.  He knew there were two really good options, college and the military.  Now our family is not a military family.  Truth be told I couldn't name anyone that has been in any branch of our armed forces.  We have another brother who is a deputy in the United States Marshal Service as well as a sister-in-law who works for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, but other than that, not too many on my side of the gene pool who vowed to protect and serve.

That is why everyone just figured Casey would probably go to college, get a degree and then if he still wanted to follow his dream he would apply to a law enforcement agency.

Casey shocked just about everyone when he said he was joining the military, the Air Force to be precise.

Although his decision struck a little bit of fear in those who loved him being in the middle of today's climate of conflict, Casey was encouraged by most to pursue what he wished.

In following his dream, he had someone by his side to help him make that dream become a reality.

Shortly before he went away to boot camp he married the girl of his dreams, Brianna.   I have stood back and watched Brianna cheer him on every step of the way.  Though separated by over a thousand miles, she was there beside him through it all.  Every day was filled with Facebook posts of encouragement and love to him.  What a beautiful thing young love is.  It is encouraging to even those of us who have been married for some time.  Theirs is an example for everyone else to follow.    Not once did I see her post something like "I miss you, this sucks, just quit and come home."  Instead she sent him notes telling him she loves him and of her pride for what he was doing.  His replies back were how much he loves her.  Mushy? Yes.  Necessary?  Absolutely!  I think I'm just as proud of her as I am Casey.

I am proud of my young nephew.  We went for his dreams.  He got the girl, accomplished his first mission, and has a multitude of family and friends to celebrate his homecoming tonight.  Congratulations A1C Goode.  You aimed high and we are all mighty proud of you!!!

She's Growing Up

Today we dropped Miss Add off at her first day of preschool.  You should have seen her excitement in the weeks leading to today.  I don't think a day has gone by she hasn't reminded us that she was going to school.  This morning was no exception...

Around 6 a.m. she comes running into our room reminding us that she was going to school today.  The alarm was set for 8 mind you...

For the next two hours Cris and I tried to sleep, but it proved difficult when we were getting reminders from Addie every half hour.  Finally the alarm went off and I rolled over to see Miss Add wide eyed and the biggest grin on her face.  "I'm going to school today, Daddy!" she said.

I made my way downstairs and started a pot of coffee.  Cris told me to get Add's teeth brushed and she would get her clothes ready.  Addie bolted into her bathroom while I was still pouring water into the coffee maker.  By the time I hit the button, Add was in the kitchen grinning ear to ear.  "Sorry Daddy, I brushed my own teeth."  This being the same kid that hates to brush her teeth.

We arrived at her preschool a little early.  She was fidgeting the whole time we waited.  She just couldn't wait to see her friends that she hadn't even met yet.  We walked in and all the other parents were there with their kids.  Everyone of them, including us, were taking pictures and giving words of encouragement to our kids.  Then it happened...

Her classroom door opened and her teacher walked out to welcome her new students.  Addie headed for the door, then turned around and ran back to me and gave me a hug.  I knelt down, kissed the top of her head and whispered "I'm proud of you."  Then I proceeded to bawl like a baby in front of all the other parents.  I couldn't get out of there fast enough.  I even walked in front of some poor mother filming her kid walking through her classroom door.  Now some lady has the random sighting of a blubbering bald guy crying "I'm sorry!" on tape.  I must find this mother and destroy the evidence.

This makes me wonder how I'm going to handle the other big events of her life.  As I watched her grow up right before my tear filled eyes her future flashed in front of me.  What am I going to do when some boy breaks her heart?  What about her first prom or her first day of college?  How am I going to handle the day she gets married?  Who knows.  But I'd better be a little more prepared and have some tissues handy, just sayin'.

I've started writing the lyrics for a new song.  I tried to read them to my mom this morning, but couldn't get them out.  Now I know how she felt...


And as I walk her down the aisle
I'll try to keep it together and smile
I'll kiss her cheek as I look at her and say
Seems like I just dropped you off at preschool yesterday...