My Daughters

Having an attitude of gratitude is something significant to me. While others are grateful for their cars, houses, or fancy clothes, I like to focus on something else. I am incredibly grateful to have three intelligent, beautiful, compassionate daughters. Make no mistake, personal possessions are something to be very grateful about. However, they should never be more valuable than people.

“Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.”

Katlyin – 18 years old:

She recently graduated from high school and will be attending college to become a Nurse this fall. Her academic history and desire to learn make her such a great role model for her siblings. She will be the first person to tell you it wasn’t easy. There were several unpredictable obstacles in her path, but one-by-one, she continued to navigate her journey.

I will never forget watching SpongeBob SquarePants, Drake & Josh, Hannah Montana, and Monsters, Inc. with her and her sister. In fact, she used to watch the Monsters, Inc. VHS so much that it stopped working.

Merissa – 15 years old:

She just completed her freshman year of high school and is excited about the opportunity to participate in more musicals. She is a gifted writer and a cheerleader and is never afraid to think outside the box.

I will never forget watching Fairly Odd Parents, The Suite Life on Deck, Just Friends, and Monsters University with her and her sister. We would also have conversations using quotes from SpongeBob SquarePants.

“Continuous effort—not strength or intelligence—is the key to unlocking our potential.” —Winston Churchill

Norah Hughes – 4 years old:

She might be the youngest, but she has the most energy and the loudest voice. She enjoys books, gymnastics, and playing with Barbies [she calls them: “Barvies.”]

She especially loves watching Netflix movies and YouTube Kids videos. She calls them “Babies,” even though she’s not watching babies.

I will never forget watching The Incredibles 2, The Secret Life of Pets, The Princess Bride, Paw Patrol, and The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

She is so excited about starting preschool this August. We are excited, but we’re also sad and nervous about her growing up. It seems like yesterday, she was just beginning to crawl. Now, she runs through the house like she’s in a race.

Being a parent is so special to me. I will admit that I have missed way too many events due to my previous occupation. Although I can never make up for that lost time, I can certainly focus on the present and the future.

Thank you for taking a moment to read about my beautiful children. I look forward to posting about them in future blogs.