Friendship In Family

Everyone wants to know they are needed. That in some way they have made a difference in someone else’s life. Take the time to share your feeling with those that have been there for you.


One of the things in life I have found to be most difficult is to tell family how much they mean without it sounding planned or rehearsed or insincere. I’m not talking about your spouse or children, more your siblings or parents. We assume for the most part they know how we feel. After all, they have been in your life from the beginning. Yet there is never a perfect moment to say thanks for making my childhood more fun and mischievous; for the memories you would never want to remember, and those you couldn’t bear to forget. For being the one I looked up to when it seemed there was nobody else to believe in. For keeping me true to myself and the stories of the past from becoming too disproportional. For the push when I didn’t need it that helped me to be tough. For the smile when I didn’t deserve it to help me know life will always work out. For the courage to know when to leave, by doing it first and doing all you set out to do. I learned from you to go out on my own and you always supported my choices. In your eyes you see the same person you have always been, but in my eyes I see so much more than that. You once were my big sister and today are my dearest friend. Find your words and share them.
"Courtesy of But What Do We Know"

Live and Experience the Abundance

John Petit-Senn said, "Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance." How very true. Over the years we have done many things as a family that didn’t cost us anything financially but created some of our best memories. We would go to the park or beach or rake up a big pile of leaves and jump in them. As the kids got older, we had fun fishing at a local pond or hiking in the state park. Some of the most abundant memories are just shooting hoops and the boys learning from their dad some tips he learned while playing basketball in high school, college and the Air Force. Even the vacations that we took together mostly involved experiencing something new with extended family.

There were of course the splurges on those trips, but it always makes me smile when I think of what my family wants to do the next time we return. It wasn’t the themed amusement parks or tourist attractions of the country’s major cities that were on the “must do again” list. It was the small, simple, and even least expensive places we went that seemed to hold the majority of the good memories – the backyard campfires, swimming at the lake, or looking for alligators on the U of F campus. All it took was being surrounded by family and friends to enjoy the abundance of life.

Celebrating the Legacy of Dads

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there who are leaving a legacy. I know that all dads may not be perfect and some of us may not have the best possible relationships with our dads. That itself is a legacy of sorts. I have seen however, that even those who have not had a great example of a dad, there is a legacy and lessons we can learn. Often such people are even more dedicated to being a better parent. I am fortunate to have a great dad who is both an example and someone I respect and admire. One legacy of my father is that of being able to say just the right words. He speaks often to congregations and small groups of family and friends alike and when he is finished everyone feels better. He is often called upon to give the eulogies at the funerals of family and friends because he can recognize the value each person gives to the world and people around them. My dad gave a talk in church more than 25 years ago, that just today someone mentioned in their talk on Father’s Day. I guess that is what is called a living legacy.