Life Notes in the Margin

"We can be happier about a life well lived, than sad about its loss."  Mike Steers Goodbye Snickers.  You were a great friend.  We thought we rescued you from the shelter but you served us.  You protected our home when we were away at work.  Your bark was much bigger than your body.  We weren't sure you could bark when we brought you home.  So for several days we encouraged you to speak.  We got what we asked for; loud barking for 9 more years.  How will we protect our trash can from the truck that comes to steal it every Thursday?  You tried.  I'll miss your greeting at the back door every day when I come home from work.  The cost was a little lovin'  aaaaarrrrrrrdddddddd.  Mmmmmmmm.  I stretch my back on the floor now and reach over but you're not there.  You would always walk over to lay down next to me.  Thanks for being an excellent hiking companion.  You didn't complain on the long hikes like the Barnhardt Canyon 16 mile loop.  You'd only go ahea...

This song brings me peace. I wrote this during one of the tough days of parenting. I love my daughter and enjoy the many great days we have together (like the hugs I've been getting lately). Some days are hard though and when I face these challenging days and can't take another step, I find rest in the shade of this broom tree. Here I Am Written by Michael Shelton 7/20/07 Isaiah 43:2 NIV Here I am. My path has ended at this rocky shore I can’t see a single stepping stone The water’s rushing over all my hope Here I am. Here I stand Here I am. I need Your help to make the other side Lord; give me the will to press the fight You whisper “Just take one step at a time.” “Here I am. Take My hand; believe and you will see.” Chorus "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…” Here I am. I’m only looking straight ahead at You. The crashing waves have faded from my view The things You said have all be...

Here we go. I took Elizabeth to school this morning, like I do every morning, to start day 2 of the spring semester, sophomore year in high school. I'm grateful for the chance to take her to school every day. There are thousands of soldier-fathers in Iraq and Afghanistan that didn't get that chance today. Anyway, school is a challenge for all of us. This morning I tried to impart my wisdom about study skills and was roundly rebuffed. Two words of advice if you're thinking about giving advice to a teenager. Don't do it (o.k, that's 3 words). So I bit my lip and remembered the words of captain Joe Maquire, US Navy SEAL warrior, from the book mentioned in my last posting (here in long form): "First of all, I do not want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Whenever you're hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day. Then, if you're' still feeling bad, think about it long and hard before you decide to quit. Second, take it one d...

I'm reading a book by Marcus Luttrell called Lone Survivor . I can only give it 3 of 5 stars because he uses lots of profanity and has Texas/George Bush idol worship going on which detracts from his otherwise excellent writing. However, I did find some excellent nuggets in the book. I enjoy books about the military especially about the elite special forces of the world. Luttrell was a U.S. Navy SEAL and his account of BUD/S is the best account of special ops training that I've read. I never had the privilege of being part of an elite special ops team like the SEAL, Beret, and Ranger soldiers that I've met but I wanted to very badly. Instead, my path led to some elite assignments in the army infantry and as an army helicopter pilot and I'm grateful for those days. Good times. Forever memories. Luttrell recounts his encounters with navy captain Joe Maquire, a decorated combat SEAL. Maquire's advice to the trainees ring true for me as the parent of a teenage...