close your eyes, and take a deep breath.

picture yourself standing in a stream

you can hear the birds chirping in the distance

off to the side, you see a mother deer with her baby deer drinking out of the stream

you feel the sunlight on your face

it is warm and caresses your skin

the stream is cool, and chills your feet a little

you place your hands into the cool, gentle waves and smile

you can clearly see the face of the person who's head you're holding under the water.

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don't let me kill the kittens..

papa 

i've always been one of the goof's here at medical mingle.  i'm setting that hat aside for a moment, to give thanks to some special things in my life this year...

i'm thankful for...

..the love i have for my wife, and the love she has for me.

..all of my beautiful children.  this year, we welcomed number 4 into the world.  phbtpbhtpbthbtttt!! to ya, kid.

..the fact that my aunt, pamela, lived long enough to see her fourth grandchild.  my side of the family is a bit dysfunctional, so my 2 aunts had stepped in as grandparrents.  jonah was born in june.  begining of august, pam was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  on august 24th, she passed away.  still think about you, pam.  miss you bunches.  take care of dad and grandpa, and make sure they don't get into too much trouble together. ;)

..the family i have married into.  coming from that rough family into a family of nothing but love really means something.  i'm glad i have it.

..the roof over our heads, and the work that pays to keep it there.  this really isn't the best economy we've had.  i'm greatful that i can work my 7 days a week to pull in enough money to support the family, and keep it running.  granted, it doesn't always run smoothly, and we're in hard times, but we're getting by.  there are people out there who have lost everything, due to fires, floods, economy, and anything else.

..the group of friends i have on the internet.  ya'll really are a bunch of knuckel-heads.  ;P

..the fact that my cancer has not come back.  i need to be there for my family.  i couldn't do it over again.  i don't want to do it again.  i pray i never have to.

there's always more to be thankful for.  i just don't have the time or the energy right now to say it.  but i'll leave you with this one thought, instead of killing kittens

"every day is a good day."

if you woke up without a tube in your chest, it's a good day. 

if you woke up without a tube in your throat, it's a good day. 

if you woke up and were able to see and feel the sunlight on your face, it's a good day.

if you woke up without a foley catheter, it's a good day.

if you woke up without stiches, it's a good day.

if you simply woke up, it's a good day. 

if you didn't wake up, you'd be in heaven with the lord, and therefore, it's still a good day.

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love ya, guys

papa