I don't have alot to add, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you and your family.

quote:

I have a rewarding marriage.
I have two wonderful daughters and all of us think the other hung the moon.
One daughter is pregnant and I'm going to be a grandfather.
My family has become a tight knit close unit that is strong and will survive.
The family will grow with the arrival of the baby.
My replacement will arrive on the planet.
I have my family well taken care of after my hoped for graceful exit when it comes.
In my heart of hearts, I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It strengthens me.
I have had what I consider to be the best time and best life one could ever hope to have.

I needed to read this today. You are truly an inspiration with how you're handling this, at least to me.

May mean absolutely nothing to you, but thanks.

I'm praying for you and your family.

lbj - thank you so much for sharing. Your words have been very insightful/inspirational and have profound impact. Lots of this hits close to home. These posts bring people together. You and your family are in my thoughts. I wish I could leave my AR in the kitchen!

Yep, I am sitting at the kitchen table looking over at the new AR15A4 sitting on the kitchen island as I post.

Back around Christmas, I went car shopping with oldest daughter and bought her a 2010 Ford Fusion.
Today is youngest daughter's turn to car shop.

Based on the new baby coming, I need to go a little more upscale than before.

So fun to watch them get really excited.
I am not sure my wallet is smiling but that's to be expected and I can't take it with me.

Still keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers...the way you are navigating this time in your life is both awe inspiring and just plain inspiring in so many other ways ...you will enjoy being a granddad ...
Peace and God's blessing on your days ahead.

We bought a low miles 2015 Ford Escape this morning.
In about 2 hours after youngest daughter gets off work, we will go pick it up.
I will enjoy the look of awe on her face when she gets the keys.

Did something similar with oldest daughter last December and she was all wound up like a $2 dollar watch.

It's priceless when you seem them all ecstatic and stuff.

LBJ,

This thread has given me many evenings of reading. I travel often for work and am away from my family. Reading this thread reminds me of what is truly most important in life. Family, those of blood, and those of not .

One thing I wonder every time I open this thread is the story of LBJ, and how Sigforum came to be. I've gleaned bits of information here and there in my decade here but it's like a novel that I started halfway. Is there any chance you would share with us the tale of how this came to be? If not I understand and the mystery will always be part of the appeal.

Best wishes and God Bless,

Don

My daughter's first car was an escape. She flipped it at 70 mph, skidded on the bonnet for a bit, almost hit a culvert before the car stopped. it was totaled. she was fine until she undid the seat belt, fell into the windshield, cut her knee. learned that she couldn't change lanes and exit a highway at 70 mph without being a bit more careful. We were quite pleased with how the Escape handled the wreck. I'd buy another. Hope your daughter is a better driver!

We went and picked the car up around 5PM.
I expect her to be home anytime, or maybe not.

I keep calling and texting asking her if she has been having fun.
No response, good girl.

She is home now.
As I suspected, she was out driving and admiring the color and brightness of the new headlighs.

For the last 45 minutes, she has been sitting in the driveway adjusting the seats, mirrors and steering wheel, listening to her playlist.

This is ridiculous.
This can't be happening.
Oh yes it is, sweetheart.
Shut up.

I may go get my Coleman lantern cuz I think we're doing urban camping around here tonight.

I think I may have a 2 week window where I ask her to run somewhere and get me something.
That is until the newness factor wears off.
But until then...

It's too bad older daughter isn't here with her Ford Fusion.
Then we'd have 3 Fords all close together.

Hmmm, we've turned into a Ford and BMW family.

It's 8:30AM here, I am surprised pregnant daughter is not up and driving around.

You can see her old damaged 2000 Subaru Forester in the background.

Her 2015 Ford Escape SE with 22,000 miles:

Good job Dad

I get to go watch my oldest son play for a state high school basketball championship tonight

He is a freshman.

Where did my little boy go?

Good luck to him.

LBJ, Thank you. Just because.

I am glad the Girls and you came together.

I got remarried after being a single parent for 5 years. My Daughter at the time was 12. She and the Step Mom never really got close. When I remarried Wife had a son that was three and I became Oiy instead of Roy to him at that age.

Well we then had a Daughter together so it really was a blended family. I am pushing 61 this year and the youngest is in the tenth grade doing well. Middle step-son moved out with three other guys last year. They are all Conservative Gun Guys.

Not real close with the oldest, My Daughter. It is just their life style doesn’t fit our life style very well. She and her husband are very liberal and wife and I are very conservative.

I just wonder how the youngest daughter and step-son went thru the time when I lived in a recliner in the living room with oxygen tubes connected to me for six weeks when I started my battle with Lung Cancer. He would have been 13 and the youngest was 7 at the time.

I know he kind of figured I was in a bad way. For his grandpa, Wife’s Dad was a paralyzed on one side of his body due to a stroke.

I have always felt bad to have put my kids thru this.

I just hope and pray we all heal in time.

I pray for all my Family, friends and SIGForum Family.

I really love reading your Wisdom and Faith thru these pages and thank you dearly for it.

Stay strong in the Faith and love that Family.

Roy

Prayers sent friend...........

Thanks all.

That is the thing, isn't it?
I mean the collateral damage inflicted upon family and friends.

You all will remember when I was first diagnosed, my biggest problem was being a grenade and shrapnel was hitting my family members.
It's been over a year now, so the grenade thing I talked this about months back has subsided in my mind somewhat.
It's still there though. It will always be there.

The family still hurts, but I cannot control any of that.
The love that binds us in good times, is the same love that binds us in bad times.
I have to assume the love and bonds are strong enough for all to persevere.

Because I have lived longer than we all thought, so much time has passed that the shrapnel hurt they received has healed over in some way.
Time always helps lessen such agony.

quote:

Originally posted by lbj:
..... and I can't take it with me.

No comment on my part, just admiring this statement.

You are a good man lbj. You blessed me MANY years ago with a graphics card you no longer needed when I posted I was going to buy one. I have never forgotten that and neither will your daughters for all the kindnesses you have shown them.

I haven't posted in this thread in awhile but do read it. I just wanted to pop my head in and say hello and that I'm thinking of you.