[Random Thoughts] Grandpa Randy

Whitney has three Grandpas, and she couldn't be more lucky. Grandpa Faust beams with pride when he picks her up, and Papa (Roy) captivates her with his baritone voice and fun songs.

Grandpa Randy, however, is her guardian angel. Yesterday marked 22 years since my dad passed away, and I think it's the first May 29th since 1990 that I haven't shed a tear. And I know exactly why... this precious baby has her guardian angel in my dad. She has brought more joy to my life than I could ever have imagined, and while I'm saddened my dad isn't here to witness it, I am comforted by the legacy he left. Whitney will always know about her Grandpa Randy.

At an Alpha Gam function last week I saw a recent graduate from Chapman who works for Disney, and she mentioned, "I saw your dad's Legend plaque the other day." Her name is Kelly, and she's one of the most outstanding young women I've ever come across. She was a Disneyland tour guide for years, and now works in archives at the studios. I told her I'd never seen my dad's plaque - it's from being named a Disney Legend in 2005. She got home that night and sent me a photo of it:

I'm reminded of the numerous memories I have of my dad - from teaching me to ride a bike, to awesome slideshows for every sports team my brother and I played on; from watching Disney movies on reels at my birthday parties, to his Paul Newman smile that could brighten anyone's day - and while the sadness I feel will never go away, it's somehow lessened when I see Whitney with her daddy. I can't wait for them to make these kinds of memories together.

And so, while May 29-June 29 is a month that is always hard for me (May 29 - anniversary of dad's death; June is Father's Day; June 29 - dad's birthday), it's also such an exciting time as Wes gets ready to celebrate his first Father's Day - the first of many to come.

(Sidenote: as I Googled to find the link to my dad's Legend profile, this YouTube video popped up... and now I sit here in tears as it's only the second time I've seen him on video/heard his voice in 22 years. How amazing to have this video... and it just reminds me of the feeling I get every time I step foot in Disneyland, knowing my dad walked those same steps thousands of times as he helped create memories for everyone to enjoy.)

[Random Thoughts] Yes, I can!

A few weeks ago we had a guest speaker at school, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila. Akbar is one of our assistant football coaches at Sage, and this summer he appeared on ABC's Expedition Impossible with some of his football buddies (he played at San Diego State and in the NFL for several years). He is a Pac-12 football sideline commentator, and aspiring motivational speaker.

He spoke during the assembly at school about the power of positive thinking. He showed several video clips of well-known athletes who'd experienced failures and setbacks in their lives, but yet they became heroes and role models, and found incredible success.

He asked us to think of a time we were told we couldn't do something... and call it the pregnancy hormones, but I was taken to the time when one of the many doctors we encountered in our quest to get pregnant told me, "Oh, you'll never get pregnant." 

As I listened to Akbar speak, I quietly rubbed my belly and started to tear up. If I'd listened to that doctor -- or anyone who ever told me I couldn't do something in my life -- who knows where I'd be today? If I can teach anything to Whitney in her life, I hope it's that a positive attitude and tenacity will take her far.

Akbar wrapped up his time with us by sharing a poem that was his life motto. My several tears turned into full on bawling as I listened to him recite this from memory:

You Can If You Think You Can!

If you think you are beaten, you are,

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you like to win, but you think you can't,

It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost,

For out in the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow's will.

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,

You've got to think high to rise,

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But soon or late the man who wins,

Is the man who thinks he can.

~ C. W. Longenecker ~

I know that Wes and I were meant to be parents, and we stopped at nothing to make this dream come true. Whether we got pregnant or adopted a child (or children!), positive thinking helped us get there. 

A while ago we decided to have a quote stenciled on to the wall of our child's nursery, and the one we picked goes along with this post. I can't wait for Whitney to wake up every day and read this as a reminder to dream, think positively, and believe "Yes, I can!"