Heidi...aka Mark Spitz

So, me and Mark are in the water...me out over my head with a float, Mark about thigh high. Anyway, he was standing there and felt something hit his leg. It was Heidi! She had swam out to him. He picked her up and was holding her. Then I swam up to where they were (I was on the float) and she swam from Mark to me and climbed up on my back. Then she rested a second and swam back to Mark. I am so glad she is getting in it...but...I don't want her to get to used to it. Mark had gone and sat down on the pier and then got back in about calf deep and Heidi had joined him. She then started out to where I was...way to far for her to make it. Mark had to make her turn around. After that she didn't want back in. We had yelled at her to get back and I guess she was glad because she didn't go back in.

Anyway...I guess that's it.

Summer Day

We are fixing to go down to the lake and do some work. I am going to rake out the moss and Mark is going to cut a few limbs. (Then I am going to take a dip!!!) Anyway, I just wanted to share a few pictures with you. Oh...I am trying out a new thing...you can put pictures IN your actual message now. Anyway...have a great day!!! I don't think it worked. Have to read more about it.

See ya!

Neighbor kids around the lake swimming. 

THought you were supposed to slide down that thing. Not jump off the top step!! 

Heidi guarding her pier. She is keeping a watchful eye on the kids playing on the slide. 

The neighbors swim island thing. I don't know what it's called. Hopefully they will let Shawn use it when he is up here at the end of July. 

The chipmonk lives right in the right corner next to the house. There is a hole there.  

When we moved in the flower beds were bare. I didn't realize there was anything in them. Then this spring they all came up. Now look at them. Aren't they beautiful? There is a chipmonk that lives in these. Drives Heidi crazy. 

Flowers on the side of the house. Not sure what they are. The tall things are lillies...they haven't bloomed yet. 

Daddy Joe...picture taken in Humble, TX...probably around 1979 or 80.  

One more thing...

I will have a picture of Daddy Joe on here on Monday.

Mark and Jeremy sitting on the couch, really interested in something they were watching on TV. Taken in Rosenberg, TX...2003 . 

Daddy Buddy in the middle, my sister, Sherryl and Dad's son David. This was taken March 2005 in Onalaska, TX. 

Dads

Today is a very special day. It is the day that we celebrate our fathers. Some celebrate their memory, some celebrate with them, some celebrate over the phone wires...

I am a lucky person because I had the opportunity to have two very special dads. One was Joe Ruffin who passed away on February 2, 1986 at the age of 49 and the other one is Darrell (Buddy) who married my mom when I was 3 years old and who raised me and loves me as his own. That is a very special person who does that.

Daddy Joe was a police officer in Houston, Texas for many years. I always thought I was cool because I was a cops kid. I really hate to say this, but...I usually always tell the truth. My dad and I were not very close when I was growing up because of his wife. You know the story of the wicked step-mother...well....there ya go. Anyway, when I became a young adult and was able to drive, I would visit my Dad...that way, when I was ready I could leave!! I loved my dad so much and wanted a closer relationship with him. As I became an adult I grew closer to him. Then, unfortunately he had a stroke when I was in my early twenties and finally died in 1986. I feel that if the situation would have been different and the wife would have been different I would have gotten to know my dad a lot better.

Daddy Buddy...he has been an amazing dad. He is a quiet man, until he needs to not be. He is very loving, in his own special way. He took in three kids and loved them as his own. He went to hell and back with them. He still does. He gave me a little sister. She has always been my very special sister. The one I cherish. Anyway, Buddy drove a truck for 20+ years for Red Ball Motor Freight in Houston and Paris, Texas. He also worked for Harris County and before he retired he worked for a carwash company repairing the automated car washes. I don't know what else I can say. I love this man I call dad. He was always my protector, my supplier of cars, money, etc. Everything...and more that a "Dad" could be. I love you dad!

One more Dad I would like to talk about is Mark. Although he has never "Fathered" a child, he married me knowing it was going to be difficult coming in at the time he did. Jeremy was just a teenager. Mark and Jeremy both have very strong opinions on how they both should be. Don't get me wrong, Jeremy loves Mark and Mark worships Jeremy. Mark has done more for Jeremy than most. Mark has given fatherly advice, a shoulder to cry on, an opponent for games. Mark has also given Jeremy a home, love and support. I personally want to tell Mark that Jeremy is a better person because of him. Thank you for loving him as your own son. Happy Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day to all of you!!!

I Finally Did IT!!!

I finally went swimming. I mean, I sat in it one day but this time I really did it!! I got on the float and I floated out to about 20 feet away from the dock....maybe further...maybe 50 feet I guess. Anyway, then I got up the nerve to slide off the float. The water is clear all the way to the bottom. It was probably 8 or 10, maybe 12 feet deep where I was. The only thing I don't like is there is about a foot of fern and grass and stuff before you actually touch bottom. I don't like that part. Kind of eerie. Anyway, so then I swam, pushing my float back up to where I had to stand up and then I floated on the float up to the bank and got my goggles, laid on my stomach on the float and headed back out...I stuck my head in the water and watched the fish and stuff all around me. The deeper I got the more beautiful it was...then I built up the nerve and slid off again. I have to build up my nerve because it's a little scary and I was the only one out there at the time. Anyway...so I swam under water looking at all of God's beauty. It was so enjoyable...and cool!!! The water is cold when you get in but you get used to it. It's great...not freezing but not warm either...it's like a cool drink... anyway...then I swam back up and floated back out several more times and then decided to come in.

Oh...I put Heidi on the float...she hates the water if she can't touch the bottom. She wouldn't be still so she fell off and went all the way under. I had to rescue her. When she swam up to where she was standing up she turned around and gave me the biggest go to _____ look you have ever seen. I want her to get used to it. Some day maybe she will. Anyway...it was fun!!!

I plan on trying to swim every day. If it's stormy I can't but other than that I should be able to. That and a sensible diet and I might just lose a few pounds....and do it by doing one of my favorite things in the world!!! SWIMMING!!!

Ok...I am going to get an underwater camera (a cheap one) and take some pictures some time soon. Take care!!!

Robbyn

Picture taken by Mark's sister when we were at the waterfalls during their visit. Isn't he cute!!! 

Fish

It is so neat...you go down to the pier and walk out to the end of it and you can see the fish swimming around. They aren't very big but it is so neat! If it wasn't illegal, you could almost dip a net in and catch them. I was walking in the lake, about calf deep and they were swimming beside me.

Of course, I would like for their mom and dad to get on my hook but that isn't happening either!

Anyway, enjoy the pics!!

R

Fish...the water is so clear you can see them swimming off the pier and close up to the shore. They are really small. 

Three fish...not very big but fun to watch. 

There are two fish in the picture...do you see them? 

Fish in shallower water. 

Heidi in the lake. 

Lighthouse birdfeeder my mother-in-law gave me.