Wow, what a ride! As I am now a parent to six, yes six wonderful people the years have flown by!

As I reflect back on my journey so far I am amazed at the blessings the universe has offered me and continues to offer me during my journey in this life.

I look forward to sharing with you more.

Blessings Be!

Thanks Mom!

    I have been reflecting more about life, childhood, friends, and what life is lately. Life is a gift, and the recent passing of my mother is a challenge. Some days I am happy, some sad, and some I just want to call a friend to say hi. My wife and children are a great comfort to me, and they remind me of my childhood. As a little boy I remember how mom was magical, because she was always there! Don't get me wrong dad was great too, but dad worked outside the home. We would see him some mornings and every day he was home after work, but mom was always there. Working, playing, laughing, and crying together with me and my brothers. I wanted to say Thanks Mom!
  Now that I am grown with my own kids, I am my dad - but my wife is mom now. I see in my kids the same wonderment I held as a child, and it makes me happy. As goes the circle of life, years from now my children may see the same in their children.

Snow my gosh!

Welcome to the mid-west in late January and early February..yes it's winter, and yes we do have snow! We have had a mostly mild winter, only snowing a couple of times, until today. What started as a light snow this morning has turned, I may thankfully say a full scale blizzard! The last time I was out (about 30 min ago) we had drifts that were above my knees when walking, and more snow to come. For those of you that are tired of the weather already, I'll joyfully remind you it snows, and is cold in the mid-west winters. Once in a while we are graced with a really good snow. One of those as adults you can look back on and gossip about how it doesn't snow anymore - not like when I was a kid. Well, yes it does, it is right now. It doesnt happen often, but it is happening today. When my children grow up, they may not remember this snow exactly. What my 4 1/2 and 21/2 year old may remember is daddy came home early because it snowed! I, like them will be praying for snow daily until warm weather returns!

A Journey of...

     It has been said the Journey of a Lifetime begins with a single step. I'm inclined to say the same may be true of sounds, for those of us who are fortunate enough have the ability to produce sound. Not just any sound, but words. Vocal wonderment. A baby crying, a dog barking, the sound of a loved one's voice can be calming, joyous, angry or fearful all at different times. For all of the amazing power of words, so it the power to use them. In renaissance times bards wandered the lands telling stories. They earned a living as poets, and writers. Word-smiths crafting verses, stories, or books. The journey of using words has developed as long as humans have. Knowing this makes it even more puzzling why it is difficult to talk sometimes.
     We all have individuals we are apprehensive about talking to. One of those in my life is dad. Yeah that's right, my dear old pop. This is the man that taught me about knife safety in boy scouts. He showed me how to take care of a family and the value of good and honest work. He is one of my hero's in life, and can still make me feel about six inches tall.
      Recently my wife and I decided to become a one car family. This was partially from wants, and mostly from economics. We want to be able to continue to eat good food. Economically we need to be able to pay our bills, and can no longer justify a car payment. My parents agreed to help with the the difference of what was still owed on the loan, vs what the car is worth. After checking the payoff information, and getting a offer on selling the car we discovered the difference in the two figures was greater than I anticipated it would be. Upon telling my father, the reaction I felt like I was getting was "You screwed that up".  I know that was not what my dad was telling me, but that's how I felt. I know that feeling, and I do that to my children sometimes. I see it on their faces, and in their body language - sometimes. I 'd like to tell my father I wish he wouldn't tell me I screwed up, I know that! I wish he'd ask me how I could fix it! I hear my wife ask our kids that, and I think to myself - I've got a lot to learn...

An egg started it all

 Tonight after dinner my daughter, who we call the bean and I went to give our ladies (the chickens) some treats before bed. We have watched the ladies grow from 6 day old chicks together, and were hoping to get fresh eggs at any time. Today was the day!! Tonight, together we found our first egg! We were so excited, and the Bean very carefully, and gently carried the egg from the coop to the kitchen to show mommy and brother.  Mommy was really excited too! (brother was napping in the baby carrier)

  Oh to take a picture of the Bean holding our first egg - her first egg, only I dropped it. I did not drop the egg, I did not use my words. 

   The Bean was gently and carefully holding the egg with both hands surrounding it. I was holding the camera. Mommy said to the bean" don't hold it by your face" - referring to the egg. Without using my words, but a simple opening of my hand I dropped it. The words I wanted to convey were "open your hand, so we can take a picture of the egg."  The words my daughter heard, through my lack of using my voice were " Alright bean, give me the egg." This first egg, with it's slight blue tint rolled out of her hands; as she was giving it to me. This daddy realized too late I had just instructed my daughter to drop the very thing she was soooo excited about, and I wasn't ready to catch it.  

     So, that in an egg shell is why I am here. The Daddy Man is embarking on a quest to vocalize. To use words first, and never be sorry for the things I didn't say.  Welcome to my journey, thanks for listening.

Here I Am

Hi,
 I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. I am the Daddy Man. I am a hardworking father of three kids, and married to a wonderful woman named mommy. I am a mid - west living, sustainable pursuing, urban farmer wanna be with too many things to be thankful for. The Daddy Man is embarking on a quest to vocalize. To use words first, and never be sorry for the things I didn't say.  Welcome to my journey, thanks for listening.