Good days

I had a terrific experience last week. My wife and I were able to take a cruise to the Caribbean. Something I really didn't think I would enjoy. Was I ever wrong!! What an incredible time we had. The entire experience was a big memory of a lifetime. We are already setting plans for another one, but this time with our kids! We did things we never thought we would never do. White water rafted in the Jamaican rain forest, snorkeled in Cozumel, ate different kinds of food normally we wouldn't try (it was free, why not?) We got pampered to the point of it becoming ridiculous. Absolutely spoiled rotten. The biggest decision we had to make was what to do after dinner?... Catch the show? Karaoke? Casino? Dance? Are you kidding me? But you know something, the biggest part of any day was at the end of it, when we went to bed and I realized what a good day I had with my wife. Of all the things we did, all the incredible stuff we saw, it all boiled down to time with the one I love most. When we got home Sunday afternoon, our children running out the front door to hug our necks, so excited their parents were finally home....spending the rest of the night telling them about our trip, watching video we took, looking at the pictures.... that was a good end to another day. I decided to take Monday off as well, just to recover from the trip. I actually ended up working a little that afternoon, but my son, Cutter, would not have me leaving him again. He went with me. I got to spend all day with that little guy. He was with me from 9:30am until he finally went to bed at 10:30pm. Now that was a good day. I spent the evening with my oldest daughter (and Cutter) getting her stereo replaced, letting her drive to and from Best Buy, and just listening to her tell me all of the stuff going on in her world. Then the best, my Emily comes in the room to tell me goodnight and says the best four words a dad can ever hear...I love you daddy! All of this got me thinking while I was trying to go to sleep. And as you can tell, I couldn't since it is 1:30 in the morning. I haven't been going out every day to make money. I haven't been focused on building and running my business. I haven't done things that I usually consider a good day. Of course those are important things, but I don't really think I will look at those things as "good day" makers in the same way anymore. A good day is having your son be excited he gets to spend the day with his dad, and me being excited to get to play with my son. A good day is seeing my oldest daughter grow in confidence as she tells me about her life and the positive decisions she is making. A good day is getting a huge hug and kiss from a very special girl who still thinks your pretty cool. A good day is they all want to go with you to get supper and fight for who gets "shotgun." A good day is waking up to a wife who I know loves me, and ending it with someone I love more than when it started. Maybe it takes time alone with your wife to remember why you fell in love with her in the first place. Time to get to fall in love with her again. Time away from your kids to remind yourself why God gave them to you in the first place. Laying in bed tonight I just thanked God for the blessings I have....Wendy, Lizzy, Emily, & Tornado boy. I know this is sappy, and it isn't normally the way I talk, but I thought if this little message could somehow remind any of you what a good day means, then I should write it down. Go to work, live your life, but just remember...always have a good day!!!