No name

They walk into your life. You didn't know they were on their way, yet they appeared and you accepted. They mean so much to you. They make you better. They make you smile. They comfort, love and laugh with you. These people are great. It isn't often they appear but when you do...you are in awe. What a great feeling.

Life is good. Really good. For many reason. I leave in a few weeks to visit Leslie, Ryan and Peter Lawrence. That will be a fun trip. The job is going okay. I've been given patience and understanding. That is a great thing. I've even been able to bite my tongue. Amazing.

I got a new pup yesterday. He has no name. I need to figure something out! I miss Tucker but I know he would love this little puppy I have now. Tucker was a yellow lab. Before Tucker I had Tuff and he was a chocolate lab. They were two beautiful labs. Now the new one is black. We'll see how it works out. I hope good. He is a biter though. Uh oh!

The picture above is Moses with the new little one. They are so funny together. I'll be sad when Moses goes back to Georgia. He's a wonderful dog! If you can think of a good name for this little black boy I now have, let me know!

Heat index of 108 today. That is ridiculous. I am not a fan of summer. I sweat too much to ever look presentable. If you know me, you know this is true. However, one of my favorite holidays is coming up- JULY 4th! I've always been a fan of this holiday. I'm also a fan of July the First Day.

Stay cool this summer. If you are in MS, move. That is your only hope! Do something nice for a stranger. Smile until your face hurts. Laugh until you cry. And love til the end.

Overcome

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Amazingly, this story is true. Give time time. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. Your attitude determines the end result. A lesson I teach myself daily.

Build your bridge.

The Rock

That is what his name stands for. Peter Lawrence Nichols was born yesterday, just after lunch. He stretches 21 inches long and weighs in at 8lbs 8 oz. I think his hair is 3 of the 8 lbs. He has a head full of dark, curly hair.


Leslie and Ryan are very proud parents. I can't wait to see him and hold him. Enjoy the pics of my nephew Pete!!!