House Shopping

Today we are looking at houses in the Arlington area. Just thinking about living in a new city is exiting and frightening all at the same time. Mary and I are so anxious about the significant changes we are undergoing now and the massive changes to come. New schools for the girls, a new home, and new jobs for both of us. These are major life changes and they are occuring RIGHT NOW.

James

My least favorite small-talk inquiry involves the predictable and impersonal "what do you do?" Although not often enough, I have reacted to the question with disdain and disregard, suggesting to the virtual stranger that we instead engage in conversation about "who we are" or else not talk at all.


What I "do" professionally does not contribute to relationship-building, and it certainly does not define me as a person. As a child, I recall boasting to anyone who would listen about the enormous success of my Dad, who I typically described as "the best ditch digger in the world." Well, my Dad may have dug a ditch or two in his life, but his position as a national award-winning District or Regional Sales Manager involved so much more that I have yet to fully comprehend. What mattered is that my Dad took pride in his accomplishments, whether digging ditches or speaking at national sales meetings. Similarly, my Mom graciously and tirelessly worked 24/7 in her lifelong position as unpaid teacher, mentor, playmate, confidante, housekeeper, nurse, cheerleader, prayer warrior, driver, chef... and the list goes on. The last "title" that comes to mind when I think about my Mom's professional life is "stay-at-home-Mom."


I have decided to apply this same philosophy to questions about my husband, James. To describe James with limiting, shallow, unimportant, and misleading titles that refer to what he "does" would be unfair and insulting to the person he IS. Thus, from now on, if anyone asks "what does James do?" I will answer with the following:

James
provides leadership
maintains consistency
develops strategies for improvement
offers guidance
brings joy
demonstrates resilience
supports and encourages his wife
shows pride in all he accomplishes
renders patience and understanding
stays strong
selflessly provides for the family
communicates
brings honor and integrity to his role as Dad
sets goals and achieves them
optimistically envisions the future
loves deeply

I am so proud of James in everything he "does." More importantly, I honor, respect, and love him for the human being he IS.

We are so disappointed to have cancelled the Godwin Family Christmas Eve extravaganza. The blizzard was just too much to contend with.

Merry Christmas

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas. We have received 12"+ of snow and ice. The blizzard like conditions kept the Dare family "holed" up for the duration. We enjoyed Christmas movies, egg nog, and each others company.

Merry Chirstmas

Covered in foul smelling Oklahoma mud, the girls couldn't stop smilling that is, until they saw pictures of themselves.

The calm before the storm. Little did she know whence she strapped on the herbie helmet that in just a few short hours she would be drenched in Oklahoma's finest farm mud.

Beautiful

To see her is a picture,

To hear her is a tune,

To know her an intemperance

As innocent as June;

By which is to be undone

Is dearer than Redemption.

Which never to receive,

Makes mockery of melody

It might have been to live.

-Emily Dickinson

Seeking understanding and assertion

Without relent I seek enlightenment

I recognize the implausibililty of my foray

Because the confounding complexities evade

even the most determined.

I press on and on and will continue

until my last breath.

Contemporaneoulsy in our quest

we journey as one.

James

I love my wife. I X F

Family Vacation

We have been planning a trip to Disney World for months now and it is almost time. The 19th - 24th we will be enjoying the sweltering Disney sun. We are all very excited!!! This trip will mark the very first time both girls have been on an airplane, been to Disney World, and Florida for that matter. We will take lots of pictures and video!!!!

Saturday was "day one" of the hottest garage sale this summer. A day that began as a breezy overcast morning, turned sizzling hot by mid-day. Jordyn, Emily (Jordyn's best friend), and Jaiden operated a dying artifact, previously known as a Lemonade Stand. After raking in $3.50, lemonade and water were provide to our customers for free. Hundreds of visitors kept us hopping all day. Culling out the garage is our primary goal and we have made great strides in obtaining our objective.

Tomorrow, the last day, we hope to greatly reduce the superfluous, unneeded and otherwise unwanted. The forecasted temperature for tomorrow provides no relief for our buying public. Armed with free donuts, water, and smiles we will forge ahead into the perils the traditional family garage sale.

Missing You(s)

The girls are spending the week in Tejas with The Noffsingers (Sam and Diana) and Mary and I are already missing them. Now, on a more serious note we are basking in the quiet and solitude of adult freedom that we have grown unfamiliar with. It is strange to walk out of a kitchen and then return to find that absolutely nothing has changed. Absent are the random cups scattered about on the counters, curious crumbs on the kitchen table and mysterious spots on the tile floor. I have also forgotten what it was like to watch TV in the living room. Our living room doesn't see much living, well, that's not true, the living room "sees" a whole lot of living, passing by a mile a minute. I am not complaining because I would much rather not watch Hannah Montanna if I don't have too. All kidding aside, we miss them and the dust cloud of mess and the cacophony of noise that comes with them. Meanwhile we try to make it through this week .......... hmmmm how will we ever survive?

Father's Day

This past Sunday was Father's Day. a day that reminds me what a privilege it is to be just that, a father, a role model, and a leader. My girls are so incredibly important and on a day that is called Father's Day it couldn't be more apparent. The love and appreciation that my girls, all three of them feel and express for me are the fruits of my labor, my labor of love. Thank you for making this Father's Day so memorable.

Graduation!

Jaiden Marie Dare has graduated from Pre-K at Primrose. Mary and I were unaware of graduation festivities for Pre-K, but apparently these frequent ceremonies signifying salient milestone events are rapidly becoming annual occurrences (not dissimilar to fund raising). The champagne was flowing and the video cameras were rolling. Parents and grandparents were all a gush and jubilant with ooohhhs and awwwss.

The youngins sang several songs and the memorable evening culminated with a rebel-rousing rendition of "OKLAHOMA!"

CONGRATULATIONS, JAIDEN. You are ready for Kindergarten!!! We are so proud of you, kiddo.

Happy Birthday Jordyn

I havent been keeping up with our regular updates.....mea culpa.

Jordyn had a wonderful 10th birthday party. The American Idol theme was fun. The kids attemped to sing along to music of their choosing. Most of them, well, all of them were quite bashful, especially when stepping up onto the stage. In large groups the kids mustered enough gumption to stand tall and belt out ........ if by belt I mean whisper then okay..... their song. All kidding aside, it was a great time and Mary and I couldn't be more proud of Jordyn. 10 Years Old. Time is fleeting! As we lay down and close our eyes another day will have passed. As we pack our schedules trying to "get it all done", another year goes by. Another birthday, another loose tooth, another scraped knee passes us by in a flash. Jordyn is growing up, which means, I am too.

Happy Birthday Jordyn.

We Love YOU

Lend A Hand

This past Saturday the family spent the morning at Washington Irving Elementary School (Jordyn's school) cleaning up the butterfly garden. The ladies did a great job pulling weeds.

After fighting a long battle against incredible and enduring pain, Ernest William Logan ("Grandpa") passed away on Friday, April 10 at 5:00 a.m. His last days and hours were spent with his wife (Grandma), whom he so dearly cherished throughout 66 years of marriage, and the rest of his family surrounding him. We held vigil, praying, singing his favorite hymns, and assuring him we would all carry on. Selfless and humble to the end, he expressed his love for all of us.

In a beautiful memorial service yesterday, family and friends spoke about this great man and the irrevocable, life-changing impression he has left on all of us. His legacy continues in all of us. Precious memories, how they linger; how they ever flood my soul. In the still ness of the midnight, precious, sacred scenes unfold.

The following is a poem beautifully written by James and delivered to Grandpa this past January on his 86th birthday [content inspired by my (Mary's) description of my Grandpa].

My grandpa is a trusted source of genuine understanding who is accepting of my failings.
He celebrates my triumphs and gallantly elevates my spirits when I fall.
My grandpa inspires me to such great heights.
My grandpa has expansive wisdom acquired through a life teeming with experience that is selflessly offered unfettered.
My grandpa’s refined acumen has been cultivated throughout the years during a wayfaring journey that has been undeniably unpredictable, a journey that has been navigated with intuitive insight.
My grandpa is convicted with reliance on elemental principals that I aspire to realize in my lifetime.
My grandpa’s compassion is boundless.
My grandpa is a dreamer who can hear a whisper or suggestion for the unknown and imaginatively call upon his innate creativity to visualize what is to be.
My grandpa has love in his life; a love that travels from all that knew him without shackle or restraint. A sublime love that carries our souls effortlessly along the celestial river of life, never stopping but eternally flowing serendipitously confronted with harsh jagged rocks. Crushing rocks of pain and regret are immersed by the ominous power and strength of the enduring river. Although the river sinuously traverses times of tumult and joy, the love carries us from the point of our plunge to the eminent disembark.
Grandpa, let this love carry your soul from here to eternity.

Please use the link below to view a full version of the obituary:

http://www.dlwichita.com/online_services/obituary.php?id=3490

Great Job

WAY TO GO JORDYN!

Hang it up

This ancient art form has been passed down from generation to generation and some say it takes years to attain mastery. Jaiden has begun her training.