A Father's Love, A Coffee Can, & 2,000 Quarters

Remember in the year 2000 when the new quarters came out representing each state? At the time I was still in high school, living at home with my parents in Broken Arrow, and loving the perks that came with being the only child.  As the quarters were issued, my Dad decided to collect one from each state and put them into a decorative display for me.  As his collection grew and the new quarters were issued every few months, he decided to not only collect a quarter for the display, but to also collect a roll of quarters for each state.

Ironically, my Mom is a banker and he could easily have gone to her and asked her to get him all of the quarters he needed. Instead, he slowly collected them as they were issued and as he came across them naturally.  Patiently and diligently he checked his pockets each day and looked to see if he had any quarters that were still missing from the collection.  As the years went by and all 50 of the quarters were issued, he eventually had enough to complete the display.  However, collecting enough to make a roll from each individual state was not such an easy task.  As the years continued to pass, I learned of this collection and couldn't believe that he was still patiently collecting these quarters!  He eventually made a list of the states and kept track of how many quarters were still needed for each one.  As our family learned of his endeavor, we all started checking out pockets and purses for any quarters still missing and would give him one or two as we came across them.  As each year passed and the list grew smaller, Dad continued to collect each one as he emptied his pockets.  I am sure that when he started out on this journey of saving money for his daughter that he had no idea how long it would take to complete!

After 13 years and 8 months, Dad sent me a message yesterday letting me know that his collection was finally complete!  You read that right, 13 YEARS!!!!!   How many people do you know that are not only able but also willing to stick with something for that long?  Can you imagine the patience, diligence, love, and time he invested in this?  I am so grateful to know that he loves me so much and that he would continue to save them for me out of pure thoughtfulness!  Anyone that knows me or that knows my Dad is aware that we are very close and that he is the kindest, hardworking, friendly, loving, and most thoughtful person that many people have ever met. Just thinking about his thoughtfulness, patience, consistency, and unfailing love almost brings me to tears... I am so blessed to be his daughter.

While we were at our weekly family dinner last night, he brought me the coffee can filled with 50 rolls of quarters and the display of another 50 quarters that inspired the whole idea.  Each roll has 40 quarters in it and is labeled with the corresponding state... that's 2,000 quarters! That coffee can weighs over 25 pounds! As we discussed what to do with them, I couldn't bring myself to have them cashed in for $500 or to even think of what to spend them on.  I attempted to convince him to keep half of the money for himself but that discussion is still up for debate (anyone surprised? I wasn't!). Some people may think it's silly not to just go out and spend the money like he originally intended, but to me his effort over the last 13 years means more than just the cash value of those quarters.  I am sure that eventually there will be something worth spending them on, but for now I'm still enjoying the pure thought of his goal finally being reached!

I know that most "Daddy's Girls" think that their Dad is one in a million... but I just can't express enough how exceptional mine really is.  Below is a picture of the coffee can and the quarters inside... as you can see he eventually ran out of the paper rolls so he made his own!  Love you Dad... so, so much! <3  Kristi Lynn

Lost... with a compass.....

Argh! Ugh! Blegh! Maybe even a few not so nice words.... or alot of them. I'm in a poor pitiful me mood today... I'm dissapointed, confused, and particularly feeling pretty lost. I do have reason to feel this way but I am wise enough to realize that my life is filled with way more blessings than dissapointments. I am trying to keep that perspective today instead of going all psychobilly (psychobilly is a word Adam made up-  instead of being a hillbilly if someone is acting crazy then they are a psychobilly). No one likes a psychobilly.... so I'm trying not to be one. I know that God has a plan for my life and I'm convinced that his plan is so much greater than mine... I just have to work on using my compass and trusting that He knows which direction I should go. It's hard to do so during the times that I want to go south and he directs me to keep going north.... but I'm going to have to believe that there is something spectacular waiting for me once I get to where he is leading me. Thanks for reading/ listening... it's part of why I can keep the psychobilly attitudes under control-  you all let me vent and give me the support and love I need. See- I feel better already!

Saturday Mornings

Hey.... Hiya.... Howdy even ;)

I love Saturday mornings; don't you? Recently I have began loving them even more due to this routine I have started- I naturally wake up ( no alarm clock needed ) about 8 and take our new coon dog puppy Gizmo out for his morning tata break and say hi to the dogs out back ( yes, tata break! lol I have no clue why I started calling it that ). As they all play outside I start up the coffee pot and make breakfast- I love not having to rush! It seems like every other morning there is somewhere I have to be at a certain time.... but not on Saturday. I can sit on the back porch with my java java and relax or come inside to watch my favorite show The Pioneer Woman and get inspired for the day... either way it's just me doing whatever I want. My hubby usually sleeps in on Saturdays after a late night of coon hunting so the house is usually quiet and instead of turning on the lights I just let the natural sunlight pour in through the windows- my favorite! I guess in reality to some people my routine may seem boring or even a little lazy but to me it is the time in my week that is just for me... a time to think, a time to pray, a time to relax, and a time to enjoy my java java. Speaking of that... I think it's time for that second cup! ;)

Outlet, Outlet, Who Has An Outlet??

Hey..... It's been close to a year since I've blogged..... seems like I blog more when stressed..... why stressed you ask? Oh, that's a whole other blog!

My question is this.... what's your outlet? What's your vice? What do you do to relieve stress? For some people it's alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, sex, gambling.... for the more conservatives it usually looks like food, hidden affairs, shopping, or random acts of poor judgement..... what's yours? I ask this with the assumption that everyone has one... I mean come on... we all do have one right??? My goal is to find one that ACTUALLY WORKS and keeps me healthy at the same time. I know, I know.... exercise! BLEGH! I have heard it over and over that exercise will relieve stress and bladi- bladi-blah..... Ok, if you are stressed, I mean truly stressed, who has the energy to start an exercise routine??

So.... here I am blogging... because I am realizing that writing may be my outlet.... It's always there if I need it... It lets me get things off my chest without a filter... and I can decide whether or not to share it when I'm finished. :) Writing doesn't have a time limit, a season, a price tag, or a health risk..... See, I'm liking this idea more and more as I'm writing! ha

Some people would say to pray and let that be the outlet I need..... to a point I agree with that.... I do think that my prayer time is a time where I can express how I am feeling and let him know each and every thought, worry, stressor, and hurt.... and it is a time that when finished I do feel less stressed, rejuvinated, and hopeful----- (BUT)..... I also think that God gives each of us gifts, talents, and even outlets to provide us additional ways to handle the things of this world. Right?

I have a "keepsake box" that has different poems, thoughts, journals, etc from elementary school to college in it..... It's funny to look through it and see how my writing has progressed over time.... and to see how it has stayed the same. :)  Everyonce in a while I will post a random serious thought on FB and I'm always surprised at the positive responses I get..... so here's my plan: I'm back to blogging. I'm back to getting it out there and leaving it in cyber space somewhere. Follow me if you'd like.... don't follow me if you don't like.... but either way this is my outlet..... WHAT'S YOURS?

K

An old glass pitcher

Just finished cleaning the kitchen after making dinner.... What did I make you ask? Well..... Baked italian chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, sliced cucumbers with ranch dressing and sweet tea...... sounds pretty good ehh????  The tea is the kicker.....

My usual tea pitcher wasn't clean so I reached up into the cabinet and found my grandma's old tea pitcher.... Memaw Ginia for anyone that is curious..... and I decided to use it tonight. The funny thing is that when I make tea in my pitcher it doesn't seem special or out of the ordinary..... but when I make it in her's it always turns out perfect.

 Maybe it's because I put some saran wrap across the top and let it steam for a while like she always did......(with my pitcher I just use the lid)...... or maybe it's because it's glass and my pitcher is just a plastic one..... or maybe, just maybe..... it's because when I make tea in that pitcher I make it with a little more love because it reminds me of her. I'm thinking it's the love. :)

Thankful......

Good Morning,

I'm up early today for some reason and I really did think that since the time change was last night that I would take advantage of that extra hour. I woke up over and over in the middle of the night and just couldn't get something off my mind....well you know me..... that means it's time for a blog!

I went on a road trip yesterday with a few friends to visit an amazing woman that we all love dearly. A few months ago this woman lost her husband in a tragic accident after 28 years of marriage. I worked with her  a few years ago and had only seen her once since I changed jobs. I didn't really know what to expect or how I would react to hearing her story and had no idea what I would even say to begin to comfort her.  We ended up spending the entire day with her and by the time the day was over we had laughed, cried, and everything in between. Although I do think that our trip was something she enjoyed and that we did lift her spirits and provided her with comfort, I honestly feel like the trip may have made more of an impact on me that it did on her.

Throughout the day we saw the little condo she and two of her six (YES SIX) children are now living in and of course there are pictures of him everywhere...... she showed us the handmade grandfather clock he carved her a few years ago for Mother's Day (apparantly he makes her something every year)...... we drove around town in his truck....... we went to see the acreage they were developing together to begin building their dream home on....... we went to the cemetary to see where he was buried...... we went to see a few of their favorite places and fun events they would often go to for date night......and by the end of the day I was so grateful to have my husband.

At each place I was reminded how lucky I am...... how thankful I should be..... how limited our time on earth really is...... how each day TRULY is a gift...... she would take a horrible, fighting, emotional, exhausting, etc day with him at any cost if it were possible and wouldn't just be grateful on the good days....... so why if I am alive and well and have a husband to cherish, why am I not just as thankful on the bad day as I am the good? My eyes were definately opened.... and I pray they stay opened......

At each place we went if there was anything to purchase she would encourage me to get something for Adam...... she would say "Make sure to pick him up something wonderful!"..... to be honest I probably wouldn't have even thought to bring him something...... but hearing her say that reminded me that she would LOVE to have the chance to surprise her husband..... to give him something.... to show her love for him.... to make him smile........

I am so thankful to have the chance to do those things........ and I'm going to do my best to not forget it.