Oh Boy!!!

Coming to a Heim family near you.... One Jackson Robert!!!!

This past Tuesday my family (grandma Heim included) went to discover our 3rd baby's sex. Almost everyone besides me and my mom believed that this baby was going to be a girl... Even the night before Rebecca kept referencing the baby as her or she. I would interrupt her with "you mean him or his?"

Well, sure enough we are having A BOY!!!! Baby's name: Jackson Robert (named after Rebecca's grandfather and father)

So I have been thinking.. Come late August, September, and October I will be watching baseball with my son. I am little excited in case you can't tell. P.S. I love that JR is sucking his thumb!

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

Worth a Thousand Words

Don't worry I am not going to write a thousand words but I have been thinking lately that some pictures are really worth a thousand words.

I was at work today and I was day dreaming a little (my nickname as a kid was "the space cadet") I found myself staring at some photos scrolling by on screensaver. Pictures of my dad, coco, events that have taken place in the backyard.

As I was looking at this photos, I was thinking... I am so glad that I have these photos.... I am sure that I won't ever forget these memories but it is nice to have reminder every once in while.

More often than not I find myself looking back at events or random memories and thinking "God, You are so good to me." I find myself thinking about where He has brought me from, how He has saved me so many times in the past. I think about how Faithful God really has been for me. Specially in the times when I have forgotten about Him or His will. He is still a steady rock for me.

Isaiah 28:16

"¹⁶ So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.'"

God has been so good to me that I have no need of relying on anyone else... Specially me!!! So I have decided that I am going to make more memories of me relying & take pictures of them... Below are some more photos/memories...

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.

I ♥ Autumn, Yet it is the hardest season

colors, sun, and a chill in the air....

leaves changing and leaves falling

hay rides, pumpkins, trick or treat, happy turkey day,

cheering, jeering, celebrating, losing,

notre dame v. navy, hospital, death...

Four years later and I miss him more than ever...

"Dear Dad:

Thanks, for whispering an idea in Abby's ear today to start 'mud ball' game with her sister.

Did you laugh when you saw Madi covered in mud?

Or did you laugh more when Rebecca asked Abby

'How come your sister is covered in mud and you are not?'

I am sure that you whispered her answer: "mom, i can throw farther than she can"

I am sure you heard the laughs and giggles come from my girls

and I know it brought a smile to your face... Thanks!

I wish they could feel your strong hands wrap them up the way you used to with me.

I am trying to be loving, strong, caring, and all that you stood for in front of my girls.

I will never understand why you aren't here, but thanks for reaching out today...

In case I haven't said in a while... I love you and miss you!

Hope to see you soon!!!"

PLEASE ENJOY THESE PHOTOS!

"Handsome smiles wearing handsome shoes,

Too young to say, though I swear he knew,

And I hear him singing while he sits there in his chair,

Now these autumn leaves float around everywhere."
(Autumn by Paolo Nutini)

I Have Become My Father

This past Tuesday until Wednesday afternoon was one of the worst times that my family has had to endure. On Tuesday night my daughter's (Abby) beloved dog "Coco" escaped out our back yard (while I was home with Madi) and ran into the street. She was hit by a vehicle who never stopped and drove away. (Please keep in mind I was inside the whole time) I was changing Madi and getting her ready for bed time when all of sudden Watson (my dog) started barking and going crazy at the back porch. Then there was strange knock at the door. This is what I heard

Stranger: "Do you have a brown dog that has a microchip in her?"

Me: "Yes"

Stranger: "Well, someone just hit your dog in the street and someone else took her to the Emergency Room."

Me: "Wha... Wha... Wait what did you say?"

Stranger: "She was bleeding from her mouth... and someone took her to ER Vet Clinic"

I was home with Madilyn and I don't have a car seat for Madi in my car, so I had to wait for Rebecca to get home from Bible Study. The next thirty minutes seemed like forever. When I arrived at the hospital I met the wonderful Good Samaritans who brought Coco to the hospital. Then the assistant put me in a room where I needed to wait for the Doctor. Once the doctor arrived she explained that Coco had brain damage and was in shock and not moving and she was waiting for X-Rays to come back. It turns out that Coco's back was broken and the doctor didn't think there was anything that she could do for her. So I made the decision that no parent ever wants to be force to make. We had to have Coco "put down".

Then the doctor said "would like to see her and be in the room for the procedure?"
I said "yes" immediately. I thought that since the dog had been with my daughter through thick and thin it was the right thing to do. I can tell you that this was my third experience of being in the room with someone (thing) who was dying. First was my nephew (T.J.), second was my father (the worst day of my life) and now Coco. All I could think of was to thank her for being so loyal to Abby and being a great dog for my little girls. I pet her bloody face and said "Thank you and good bye"

When I left the hospital I was rubbing Coco's collar between my fingers in complete silence and unsure of what I was going to say to Abigail. (Of course Rebecca already broke the news to Abby).

Well, the next day Abby stayed home from School and I took the day off of work. She woke up and I believe the first few words out of her mouth were: "Daddy is going to take me on a Daddy/Daughter date to get a new puppy right?"

-Little side note-

When I was growing up I can not remember a day when I didn't have a dog in the house. There was one dog who was specially close to me named "Scrapper" (cause he had color patches on his fur). When Scrapper had to be put down because of illness. I believe that the very next day I had waiting for me in the living room a new puppy. My dad was the second biggest dog lover that I know. Me being the first.

Well, long story short: We have a new addition to the family:

Everyone in the Blogging World I would like to introduce you Elle (pronounced Ellie) or soon to be named "Ella Bella"

But Coco will be missed dearly. No other dog I know would greet me every morning and evening with a smile... Well, if there is a doggie heaven I know that they have a new resident... We love and miss you Coco

Dear Elle: "Welcome to our family... You have some big paws to fill"

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.