Every Day...

Daddy's Little Girl

I miss my daddy EVERY DAY. Some days are better than others, however I have a breakdown of some sort every single day. I know people say "time heals." I guess it does in certain ways, but I know that I will never quit missing him. He was so special to me. I have been looking back at pictures of my childhood and I have discovered that every picture I had made with my daddy shows me sitting as close to him as possible. I was always such a daddy's girl. He is the kind of person I strive to be. I see a great deal of him in my children, and for that I am so very fortunate. My heart is so full when someone notices resemblances of my daddy in myself or my children. For some reason, his memory has been weighing heavier on my mind in the past few weeks. It has been like reliving his death all over again. I am very thankful to have such a great family to help me when I am sad. God is good to me and I know he is taking good care of my sweet daddy.

This is the poem I wrote on the day of his funeral.

*My Daddy*

He was so special

He was so rare,

If anyone needed help

He was always there.

He was so patient

He was so smart,

And he loved everyone

With all his heart.

He was so gentle

He was so wise,

I often thought

He was an angel in disguise.

He was My Daddy

And I was so proud

And I know he lives on

Behind the most beautiful cloud.

Written with much love by:

Misty Dowdy

April 7, 2007

THE S.W.A.T. TEAM

Officer # 1

Officer # 2

Well, it's official! I think I have had EVERY type of officer known to mankind in my house! The other night, I was once again invaded by the S.W.A.T. TEAM. I must be in BIG TROUBLE! When these invasions take place...the officers usually travel in TWOS! However, occasionally they enlist the help of their TALL CHIEF. Huh! He doesn't scare me at all! So what if he has a badge? I have a paddle! :-) And...this shows my real toughness...I teach 7th & 8th grade!!!

Two Sweet Things

Look at all of that grass on that cute little behind!

Oh my! Where are those hostas?!?

This evening the boys wanted to play outside. (Of course!) I still don't feel real good but I have been trying to get a little bit more accomplished around here.(for some reason...things do not get done when I am sick...hmmm!)I even rearranged my house a little last night! So, as they played, I cleaned up the porch and then sat down to rest! After sitting down, I saw two sweet things:

1. Garrison: He was playing with his little tractor beside a tree. He looked so content and cute. I had to take a picture of his little behind all covered with grass. Precious boy!

2. Keyton: He asked me if I wanted him to pull weeds out of my hostas. I sure did! I have really let them go the past couple of weeks. (How does that stuff grow so fast?) He got a bit overwhelmed, so I helped him finish the job. Then he hauled it out of the yard in his wagon. Thoughtful boy!

Sick Mommy & Chocolate Muffins

Those sneaky muffin munchers!!!

My sweet messy Keyton!

My sweet messy Garrison!

Garrison's foot...how did that happen?!?

The floor! (Partial view)

Look at that face of concentration...or is it sneakiness?

Garrison got his face cleaned up and thought is was all very funny!

This is what happens when the Mommy has been sick all weekend long! I have been sick since Friday. I am not sure what is wrong, I just feel plain YUCKY! So, the house and the boys have not been kept as well as normal! Dana let them have chocolate muffins while I was resting on the couch. I felt so bad that I wasn't really paying attention until he said. "Law...look at that mess!" Then I looked...!!! Oh my! So I, in all my sickness, thought...Oh well...I could blog about this! So Dana and I captured the entire episode in pictures! I can't understand how such little muffins can make such an enormous mess! Oh well...

P.S. I said the entire episode was captured...but no photo was made of me having to get up and finish the vacuuming job because Keyton was operating it like it was a metal detector instead of a vacuum!!! Remember...he doesn't really get into that "cleaning" stuff? :-)

LITTLE BOYS... gotta love em! I sure love mine!!!

Honoring Those Who Serve...

My Sweet "Chief"

The Sherriff's Department accepting certificates...

Tonight our church had a service in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and also to honor those who serve our county. It started off with the honor guard giving a presentation around the flags. Then, we had a service inside that reflected back on that tragic day in 2001. Finally, they passed out certificates to honor those who serve us in our county. These certificates went to The Sheriff's Department, The Volunteer Fire Department, The Ambulance Service, and the 911 Dispatchers. My sweet husband was presented with one of these certificates. He puts his whole heart into his job as deputy. He was recently was promoted to chief deputy and now has even more responsibility. He is very good at what he does, and he genuinely cares so much about everyone in our county. We are so pround of him! We ended the night with finger foods and desserts. This was a very special service and I am so grateful our new preacher thought of the idea. I look forward to it being an annual tradition. God Bless America!

My Little Helpers

" Butler Boys"

(Notice the cell phones...Guess they are cheking cattle prices!)

Keyton has told me ever since Garrison has been born that he doesn't want me to have any more babies. He has always said he especially didn't want any girl babies because he thinks they are too rowdy! :-) Garrison says he doesn't need any more here either. So...the other night it came as quite a surprise to me when we had the following conversation:

Me: (looking at them sitting sweetly together in the bed) "You two are the cutest boys in the world and I love you more than anything!"

Keyton: "What would you do if you had another baby?"

Me: "Well, I would love it that much too." "Why?"

Keyton: "Well, I have just been thinking that maybe you ought to think about having another baby. You might need a girl to help you clean, cause me & Garrison just really don't like doing that kind of stuff. We have a lot of farming to do around here."

Garrison: (who wants to be just like Keyton) "Yeah, get you a girl to help you clean...me and Bubba have to do lot of farming."

Me: "I don't think I have to have a girl just for that. I have all I need in the two of you. You can help me when you want to. I will be okay." "Besides, I thought you didn't want a rowdy girl in this house?"

Keyton: "Well, I just thought you might could use the help. That's all."

My boys are so funny. You never know what is going on in their sweet little minds. Keyton asked me again a few days later if I had thought about the idea any more. So......today as I was cleaning the house, (before the dust and laundry carried us away) Keyton & Garrison wanted to HELP ME CLEAN!!! What about all that farming work?!? I was glad to let them help me the best they could. They did a pretty good job. Little girls are sweet...but I have been blessed beyond measure by my two sweet boys! I wouldn't change my life for anything! I am ONE LUCKY MOMMY OF TWO PRECIOUS BOYS!!!

Cute Glimpses

I think we have a water thief around the house...

... Don't worry...Keyton is on the case!!!

My little guys are so funny! You never know what they will be doing next! We found Garrison trying to get the last drop of water out of the dispenser before we refilled it. He was so cute that I had to rush to get my camera! Then, Keyton got all decked out in hazard gear to investigate the house! Oh my! The places their imaginations take them! I hope they are always filled with clever and large imaginations and that they pursue everything they want out of life. I already have everything I ever dreamed of having...THEM! They complete me!

Teddy T. Bear

Teddy & the tractor

Teddy & the 4-wheeler

Teddy & the patrol car

Garrison holding Teddy...Keyton holding Faixy

Snuggled up with Teddy T. Bear

Keyton brought home a friend from school today! His name is Teddy T. Bear! Our school is gearing up for Teddy Bear Days. We don't have many details on it yet, as it is to be a surprise. However, I am sure with Ms. Alice and Ms. Delilah organizing it, we can prepare for bunches of fun! Keyton was the lucky one in his room to be chosen to bring Teddy home first! His mission was to show Teddy around and have some adventures with him. We were to take pictures of the things he saw and then Keyton had to write about it in a journal and take it back to school for the next lucky student! We had fun showing Teddy around the farm! Garrison thought Teddy was very sweet. He kissed him and told him he loved him and was going to miss him! This is what Keyton wrote in the journal:

I showed Teddy T. Bear 3 of my favorite vehicles on my farm.

1. tractor

2. 4-wheeler

3. patrol car

Then he rocked in a chair with me and my little brother Garrison and our new puppy Faixy.

He slept with us. We will miss him!

Keyton Dowdy 1st Grade 8/25/08

How Handsome!

My sweet little boys and their dog!

My Handsome Keyton

My Handsome Garrison

Today after we got ready for church, I thought my little men looked ESPECIALLY handsome in their new matching shirts and jeans. They always look cute to me, but there was just something so special about them today. They looked like little men. Their daddy was very proud of them as well. Keyton kept telling Garrison how handsome he was and Garrison was telling Keyton how handsome he looked! They each thought the other looked better. They were so sweet. "Aggie" was equally as impressed when she saw them at church. I, of course, couldn't resist a few pictures! (SHOCK!) We think our little boys are so cute! (We may be biased, but even biased parents can be accurate, right?) :-) Look out girls...prepare to have your hearts broken! :-)

A boy needs a dog...

My boys and their puppy!

My dirty...sweet...Keyton! (Especially that cap!)

My dirty... sweet...Garrison! (Notice the dirt necklace!)

Faixy relaxing on the trampoline!

( She had to have help getting down!)

Everyone keeps telling me how much my boys need a dog. Well, I have tried to let them have one several times, but something always goes wrong. I will admit a great deal of it is my fault because I have a TERRIBLE fear of them stemming way back from my childhood. I am terrified of even the smallest house dog if it jumps on me the least little bit. I hate this about myself and am trying to be better. So, we have a dog now that has not yet frightened me or gotten on my nerves. They really love it so far and I am trying to love it too. It is a very small puppy and I am hoping it does not get very big. They have named her Faixy (pronounced FAX-EE) Trouble Dowdy. She is very happy to run around and play with them. She follows them everywhere and even helped them run the goats back in their pen today. They said that made her a good farm dog! I hope that we finally have a good dog that EVERYONE (read:ME) can love!