Ode to Papas

On today this day, I celebrate all the fathers in mine and Kaitlin's life.  She is so lucky to have loving men in her life and I am blessed beyond measure by the Daddy God gave me. I say it all the time, but they broke the mold when they made my Daddy - he calls me EVERY day, brought me flowers every week when I had cancer, and is the one person I always turn to in a crisis because I know that no one will ever protect me the same way he does.  There is nothing like a father's love.  I love the fact that I am 42 and he still calls me Angel and P.J. - his nicknames for me.  I'll love that I will never outgrow that.

 Kaitlin made this special shirt with her own handprints for Billy.  Billy has a special way of being silly with Kaitlin that I seldom do - he will tell her stories on the way to school and watch cartoons with her and I love that he finds a way to let her be a kid - I envy that about him, but I am also grateful that he loves her the way he does.

We spent the day with Billy's dad and family and enjoyed bbq, bean bag toss, and being together. 

Sadly, the day ended with a major fire that billowed over our heads.  A major forest fire started a few miles away in Grimes County.  It was the beginning of a very long week as many co-workers were evacuated, one of my best friends evacuated and almost lost her home, and we saw thousands of acres burn before our eyes.