My Favorite

A couple of years ago I went to funeral of a very important and influential man. I didn't know this gentlemen very well, if at all. He was influential to me because of my wife and the people who spoke at his service.

You see, at the service of this man his children (all girls) all stood to speak about their father. Almost every daughter started off their speech with "I was my dad's/his favorite..."

I loved watching all these people celebrate the love that this man showed them and others everyday. I loved how they all felt like they were his favorite. I have no doubt that it is true that they indeed were this his favorite for one reason or another.

This past Sunday I realized something: Madilyn Hope and Abigail Grace are my favorites. Each for her own reasons, but my favorites none the less. It all started the other night when we were watching the Oscars and Madi started dancing to the music that was playing in between the winners and speeches. It was so cute... I am blessed and these girls (and "the one in the oven") will always know that they are my favorites!!!! These are the photos that I could get... Enjoy the photos and

God knows what He is doing "The Life of A Dad"

Many times I wonder why God gave me 2 girls. I would like to have son (or a couple). I would like to teach him how to play ball, how to treat ladies, what it means to be a real man. Right now though God has given me 2 girls... Both are different from one another but both are definitely girls!...Last night God reminded me again that He is in control and knows what He is doing...

Abby and Madi got their dresses on and starting dancing around our living room to "Ball Music". Madi was dancing with the Cinderella doll and Abby was putting into practice all the moves that she had learned from her dance class. After I was able to get a few pictures off, Abby stuck her hand out and said "enough". I put the camera down and to my surprise Abby took my hand started dancing with me around the living room.

I was feeling a little under dressed so I went up stairs and got on a suit. Then I came back down stairs and finished my daddy-daughter dance. I thought about what if I had 2 boys... Man, a lot more stuff would be broken in my house and i'd miss out on all the "princess balls". "Thanks God for knowing what You are doing and what I need"

Here are some of the photos.

Nothing Better

At work I have a photo screensaver that pops up after a couple of minutes of the computer being idle. I have a specific set of photos that I like to have as the slide show. The slide show has mostly photos that I have taken or that I am involved with. So, recently I have been noticing a lot of the photos are of me and my daughters having 'a good ole time'. Some are of us playing football, or rough housing, some are of us at the beach. I had this thought the other day!

There is not one thing better in life then being a dad.

(Little disclaimer here: I am sorry if you don't have a dad active in your life currently. )

I am really grateful that I am able to be apart of my two daughter's lives. I love watching them learn, laugh, and love. The girls and I have been spending more time together lately and I believe that I am learning as much from the girls as they are learning from me. Through them God has been showing me what takes to be a child of God. It takes faith, patience, love, and grace. I am and will be forever grateful that God blessed me and my wife with these (and more God willing) wonderful gifts! Below are the photos from the our recent family vacation.

That time of year again.

IN THIS CORNER:
Standing: 5 feet 10.5 inches
Weighing: 235lbs.
(More on this later)
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Last night my wife and I were discussing how we enjoy this time of the year. I stated that I don't
really like it, but when I think about it I am not sure that there is a time of the year that I enjoy more. I mean, Baseball is wrapping up (or making a big push to the playoffs) and Football is starting. In another month or so Hockey and Basketball will be starting. So let me profess right now! I do love this time of the year. The weather is getting a little cooler and nature's colors are starting to shine.

Well, this past Sunday Abby and I went on a Father/Daughter date to Wendy's (she for some reason has wanted to go there for a long time!) and then we stayed home from church with Madi (only Rebecca went). So what did we do? I taught the ins and outs of Football. Really just running and tackling one another. We ended the night with them taking baths and watching our favorite "The Lion King". I think the most fun part for the girls was getting to "tackle Daddy''. It was a great night.


Here are some of the photos of the girls playing football.






This is Abby coming to tackle me


Nice Catch!

Wow.... What a week!

Last Saturday I was scheduled to to fly to Buffalo with Abby (my oldest). We were going North for a couple of reasons. First, to see my nephew get his black belt in Taekwondo (I was going specially to take photos). Second, my mom wanted to take Abby to get her first Manicure/Peticure done and an appointment for a hair cut. Or in the words of my mom, her first "Princess Day".

THEN, my grandmother-in-law passed on Friday... So I boarded a plane with TWO children under 4 and no wife to help. YIKES!!!! Rebecca was going to drive up to Rochester with the dogs and we would meet up later on during the weekend.... Well, everything worked out perfectly. I mean, the girls were perfect angels on the plane. Then Saturday morning my sister took Abby to get her nails done... (You will see photos later) and my mom and I took her to get hair cut. She was so happy and Madi had a good time also.

It was a huge blessing to be "home" for a couple of days and I know that my wife was a bigger blessing in Rochester for her family. Then we went to Rochester for the funeral of Grandma Lewis (or as Abby says "Gigi"). It was beautiful service and I got to sing with my sister in law (It is Well With My Soul) and if I say so myself I think we sounded great! Then, yesterday we began our long drive back to Baltimore.

As soon as we got home, my second worst nightmare happened. I had left the front door open in an attempt to bring the luggage. As I walking back towards the house, I see a flash of a stray cat running from our front yard and right on it's tail is my BEST BUD Watson... The Cat makes it across the street but Watson is hit by a pick up truck. I am powerless (and yelling on the top of my lungs NOOOOOOO) and only can see Watson disappear in front of the truck and what seemed like a life time later, Watson bounced up to his feet and ran in the house... Then the pain came and the blood was everywhere.... So we (Watson and I) made a late night trip to the emergency vet clinic. It wasn't until 1 am that we returned with the best news possible... He hurt his right front paw, the dew claw and the pad underneath his paw. After a few days or so he should be fine. No broken bones or anything... Absolutely a miracle..... Thanks God!!!

So needless to say, our week was full of ups and downs... But most of all - full of God's faithfulness!!!!

Well, below are some of the photos!!! Please feel free to comment and

Random Abbyness

So lately we have been having some random conversations with Abby and it has been very funny!
We thought it would be funny to share them with you.


While at the park and telling Abby that I needed to put the dogs in the van in order to help her with ride her bike.

Me: "So who do you think should wait in the van? You, Me, Mom, Madi or the Dogs?" Abby: "Maybe the dogs could stand with you and Madi could sit in her car seat"


Rebecca helping Abby with bike riding

A couple of days ago Rebecca (my wife) and Abby had this conversation...

Abby: (very serious look on her face) "Umm, Mom I have a question for you... When we get madi her own dog where is it going to sleep?"
My Wife: "Abby we can't get a dog for Madi, it is too expensive and our house isn't big enough for three dogs."
Abby: (turning to Madilyn) Well, Madi looks like you can't get a dog... it would be too expensive and our house isn't big enough... Sorry"


This is Coco Abby's Dog...




Some people just wanna re-live their childhood.

Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to leave any comments...
~Justin

Race for the Roses...

This past Saturday was one of my favorite sporting events of the calendar year. It was the Kentucky Derby (in case you were under a rock). I love the fact that it is so quickly over ("The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports") and thrilling throughout. I recently discovered my youngest daughter's obsession with it (really she loves the horses).

We knew that Abby loved horse racing... I remember when Abby was 1 and watched her first race and I can't really remember her getting this excited.

Every time a horse would come on the screen Madi would scream (something loud and unintelligible) and clap her hands... Abby flipped through pictures online of all the races for about 30 minutes telling my wife (Rebecca) which ones were her favorites. I believe she picked out about 5 or 6 different horses....of course when the race was actually over she was jumping up and down clapping "That was the EXACT one i wanted to win!!" haha

Since the race is also called "The Run for the Roses" and we got our first blooms of the year, I thought it would be good to post some pictures of the roses... Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the photos.


~ Justin