Restless Nights!

Do you ever have one of those restless nights when you just CANNOT sleep? Like you can feel the hours ticking away while you're staring at the ceiling wondering if that commercial for restless leg syndrome is reality and if you need a perscription? Or you can't tell if its been 30 minutes or 2 hours because you can't squint hard enough to see the time- sadly, I'm THAT blind without contacts!

Yeah...it's one of those nights!

Even my ever-trusted Mulan that can nearly always lull me to sleep has failed.

More than likely it's because I've been terribly sick for the past week and I've totally thrown off my sleeping schedule due to somehow having two completely separate colds this week. One for three miserable days simultaneously with the husband. And then we both got better and a day later I was sick again. Priceless.

Meh- What can you do?

Sleep!!! That's always my answer!

Until I can't....Which is now!

Blast!

So...here I am at 1 am watching PSYCH and thinking back on how a year ago today, I was taking my Father to the emergency room for a propane explosion. My dad...totally awesome man that he is....is a little bit accident prone. You don't believe me? He's broken his right leg four times, has broken ribs, cut off part of his finger, gotten blood poisoning, and burned himself and all of those happened either at his work or because of his cows.

And I- his only daughter- am either always in the right place at the right time OR I'm bad luck! But either way, his little medical emergencies always bring us closer- even if he is on percoset! So today, he's been on my mind a lot.

My dad is most definately my hero. His quiet intelligence is almost always overlooked because of his strong cowboy persona but his humility and kindness could never be mistaken. People respect him, love him, and his friends would do anything for him. He graduated in microbiology but he's a butcher and I love that. He always wanted to be a Veterinarian, and boy would he have been a fantastic one! He loves his cows and he taught us as his children how to work hard and to love ranch life. He got that love of ranching from his Father, Walter. And his greatest decision was my sweet mother, Diane. And the thing I love most about him is his testimony- I love to hear him talk about spiritual things because he has the most incredible perspective!

Not only that, but he has always been so supportive. He believed I could do or be anything, even when I didn't. He told me I was smart and was always there to help me with my math and science homework- usually relating the concept to ranching and cows- I told you he loves it- and whats worse is I adore hearing him talk about his cows!

When I left for college, it was his voice telling me "You will always be my only daughter, make me proud!" In a tone that said I could never disappoint him. My name is because I am a part of him and my firstborn son- however far in the future that may be- will be named for him! And it was him that I turned to in times of crisis and heartache, and later I realized why. His quiet nature is what calmed me down. It was my complete opposite. And it was that quality that made me realize my Cole was my perfect companion.

Ok...you get it...I love my Dad! And I'm pretty sentimental about the fact that a year ago I realized he was not invincible. But I like to believe he is!

XOXO,

Jamie