My Dad

My Dad, is an amazing man. I love this picture of Diezel and my Dad. He is letting Diezel help him fix the lawn mower. He has more patients than I or anyone I know has. He is mellow. The only time I have seen him angry is when you have pushed WAY to far and that takes a lot to push that far...
I just wanted to recognize my dad on Father's day. I love you, Verdel (DAD). You mean the world to me.

One more year

Douglas had his senior pictures done a week ago. It made me a little sad. I starting thinking about how short this year will be. Then my baby will be heading off to make his own destiny. He plans to go to R.I.T. in New York. That is a very long way from home. I won't be able to see his smile, tears or hear his laugh or snores.

When I was told Douglas was deaf it was like the world stopped. Every sound I heard I just couldn't help thinking that he would never hear them. How life can be so different than you imagined. Here we are seventeen years later and thanks to the miracle of cochlear implants my son has defied the odds. He hears most and speaks very well plus he is fluent in sign language. His deafness may have been a loss at the time I found out but who would have thought I would say now We are Blessed... I may worry about him being so far away but I know he is ready. He will do great. I must enjoy every second I have this year before he is gone far away.

having fun

Diezel got to enjoy feeding a chipmunk at Estes Park in Colorado. He had so much fun. But at the end of the day he started getting cranky and wanted to be held. Diezel is wants to do everything by himself so when he wants to be held and cradled, I knew he wasn't right. In wasn't much longer before he vomited on me...I just wonder if it wasn't the altitude? Besides that one mishap it was a very beautiful day. He can repeat many words you say, perfect but unless you pull it out of him he would rather babble. I hope this is normal and sometime down the road he will start speaking words on his on accord.

Jackie (our cousin) was told by Diezel to look up at the mountain goats. He wanted to make sure everyone saw what he was seeing. It was amazing.