RIP Michael Jackson

He may have been a little strange, but you can't deny that he was a musical genius.

Realburgers for Real Heroes

My place of work is doing "Realburgers for Real Heroes", and yes, I know I just gave away where I worked, but I don't care because I don't do many "I hate my job" posts anymore. But the reason I am talking about my job is because of the promotion we're doing.

If you go on to this website you can nominate whoever your hero is, and they're eligible for something like $1,000 drawn every week. To promote this we have a cover that fits on the magnet of our name tag, and it says "Realburgers for Real Heroes! My Hero:" and you fill in the blank, well....Mine says "Brad Gayken, my dad." I know it's a little cheesy but it's true!

I got a little flack about it at work on Saturday...during my 13.5 hour shift... So I just want to set the record straight. No, I didn't put that my dad was my hero because of Father's Day that was Sunday, I've been wearing this name tag slip for over a month, and I didn't even realize Father's Day was coming up when I was writing his name on my tag. Would you like to know why my daddy is my hero? Here's why...

Dear Dad,

You're my hero in so many different ways, and not just because you kept me safe when I was younger, and raised me, but because you did it with pride, and a sense of accomplishment. You're my hero because you've always been there for me, whenever I needed you to be. When it was just the two of us, I remember you making me breakfast in the mornings, and watching Dinosaurs with me at night, taping every episode of Rugrats so I would have something to watch when I didn't want to go out side and play with the two puppies you got me, Bart and Lisa, or even when you saved me from the big giant rooster that attacked me because I went to swing on my swingset. How about when we used to throw Bud, our cat, into our pond and call him back over and over and over again... Or when you let me shoot the Bebe gun into the pond at the Koi Fish...It doesn't matter that I was 3 or 4 years old, we had fun, and thats all that matters. You're my hero because you took so much pride in having a daughter, that you put me in all of your Christmas commercials at work. You're my hero because when I was a teenager and lied to you about going to a school basketball game, and instead met up with boys, you made them run all the way home, even though we didn't follow them, and on top of that, I'm still alive to talk about it. You're my hero because even when you thought that Amy and I set my bedroom on fire you still didn't kill me again. You're my hero because you took other peoples children into your home when they were unwanted in their own home... You're my hero because even though it was a 20 minuit drive to youth group, and you didn't attend church, that you still made sure that my friends and I got there, even in the cold winter, we were still there. You're my hero, because even if it may have taken me asking you to go to church with me when I was very young, eventually you came around, and are now a very active member of the church. You're my hero because you got baptized, and I love the fact that I got to be a part of it. You're my hero because every time I get off that plane to come home, you're there waiting for me, and I love that you're the first face that I recognize. Daddy, I love you so very very much, no matter what you're always there for me and I appreciate that more than you could ever imagine. Thank you for everything.

Love,

KaTrina

....And that is my hero.

RIP Denny....

For those of you who remembered Denny, Anita, and Karen in your prayers:

Denny passed away this morning about 1:00 A.M. As difficult it is for his loved ones, they know he went to be with our Lord, and it was a merciful release as there was no improvement after the chemo and radiation treatments.


I guess Jesus receives the best Father's day gifts of all....his children rejoining him...

Update on Denny:

Please pray for my family and his at this time... Here is the e-mail I just recieved from my grandma.

Hello everyone:

Dad and I spoke with Karen this morning. Denny had been in the hospital all week but is home and they brought in Hospice last evening. One doctor said a week; another said 1-3 months. He is not able to eat, however, and they are not feeding him through an IV. He would have to be in the hospital or a nursing home to do that, and his wishes are to die with dignity at home.

Something I did not know is that there is very little or no pain with brain cancer. He is not on any meds for pain and is, in fact, pain free.

When I called Karen, I was just praying that Anita would not answer the phone. What can you say at a time like this? I would have just wound up crying and she certainly doesn't need that. If anyone has a need/right to cry, it is Anita.

Karen is in school three nights a week, six hours each night, plus she is now taking the reins of her new job. Between school, a new job, and Denny's circumstances, they are both just about exhausted. She said a lady at church asked her Denny is doing and she looked at her and said: "He's got brain cancer," (which the lady knew, of course) and turned around and walked away. Later, she found her and apologized -- but that will tell you how useless words are and how tired she is.

If any of you would like to send her a few lines by e-mail, send it to khickman@pasadenaisd.org. You know she would ordinarily be delighted to hear from any one (or all of you), but I've written all of the above so that you may know phone calls are not the order of the day at this time. I'm sure she'd welcome a note and knowing that you are praying for all of them.

Be good to your loved ones. We have no promise of tomorrow -- only the promise of a life with Christ when we get promoted out of here.

Thank you,
KaTrina

I'm just going to say this one thing....

If you're going to skip out on your bill when you're one of my tables, make sure I can't find you on Facebook.

Summer travels.

Hello friends and family!!

Its that time of year again, the time where I COME TO VISIT! Woohoo! I'm super excited because I miss all of you!! I'll be in town from August 11th-20th, and I'd love to see you! I'll be at a wedding the 16th, so thats the only day that is really marked as unavailable, all of the rest of them, let me know when you're available, I'll probably try to have a small get together that way it's easier for me to see everyone.

I can't wait to see all of you! Have a great day!

Love,
KaTrina

Happy birthday to....

Susan!!


Happy birthday! I hope you have a WONDERFUL day!

You can find susan here.