Ashlely 24th Birthday!

There is not any picture here that you haven't seen, but each of these snapshots holds a very special place in my soul. When I look back now on all these events, I hold them very close in my heart, I cherish all those times and look forward to the memories we will share together with Aiden in the future.
The first picture on the left and the next to the right is the little girl that I would wrap my arms around and love on, gentle, soft, your every move at the table intentional, slow and exact, a picture of manners। Your heart so tender and eyes wide open.





















Your High School grduation in 2001...I would not miss that, I drove 1400 miles just to see you walk across the stage and to share in that special moment.

Then there was the time in the Fall of 2002 when we were reunited and had a chance to spend some time together in that cabin out in the middle of no where. You might have hated it, but I will alway's cherish it because I had you back for awhile, all to myself.

Today is your birthday, I will not be there today, but that does not diminish how special this day is. For this is the day that you were introduced into the world and I was the first to hold your tiny, fragile body in my hands and arms. I will never stop wanting to protect you and keep you from all harm, maybe its because I am your Dad and I love you.

Happy Birthday Ash!
02/24/2007

Chaos Theory

People.
People important to you,
people unimportant to you cross your life,
touch it, and move on.

There are people who leave you,
and you breathe a sigh of relief
and wonder why you ever came into contact with them.

Then there are people who leave you,
and you breathe a sigh of remorse
and wonder why they had to go and leave such a gaping hole.

Children leave parents, friends leave friends.
Acquaintances move on.
People change homes.
People grow apart.
Enemies hate and move on.
Friends love and move on.

You think back of the many people who have moved in and out of your life with faint memory.
You look at those present and wonder.

I believe in God's master plan in our life.
He moves people in and out of each other's lives,
and each leaves his mark on the other.

You find that you are made up of these bits and pieces
of all who have ever touched your life.
You are more because of them,
and would be less if they had not touched you.

Pray that you accept these bits and pieces in humility and wonder,
and never question,
and never regret.

~Anonymous

Coyote (upper-left) and Animals (upper-right)
by Malcolm Furlow

My Girls and The Boys

Ashley, Aiden, Layton, & Courtney