Maddie's Mission

It was late last night I was feeling something wasn't right There was not another soul in sight Only you, only you Then you gazed up at me and the answer was plain to see 'Cause I saw the light in your eyes When I opened the door that morning I just knew this was going to be perfect. I had talked to Levi on the phone a few weeks before and was very impressed by his professionalism, but more importantly, his true interest and caring about our two girls and our family. I felt this project was an opportunity for him to do much more than just take a few photos. This project was an opportunity for him to use all his skills to capture a moment which would be timeless. It was an opportunity to sit, listen, share, and photograph two girls in such a way that the light that shines from them could be seen by everyone that walked in company's door. I knew this was going to be perfect because, just as I see the light in my kids, I Saw The Light in Levi. A few mon...

Every breath you take
  Every move you make
  Every bond you break
  Every step you take
  I'll be watching you.

  Every single day
  Every word you say
  Every game you play
  Every night you stay
  I'll be watching you. Before we had a chance to Google Pompe disease or enzyme replacement therapy, we were introduced to the word Pulmonologist. Now, I consider myself a well-educated man and I admit to a somewhat strange interest in the meaning of words so when these were tossed out I thought for sure I could use some grammar tricks and return with a definition in minutes. However, like many times to come I would discover that I had just entered a world which was not designed for quick answers and simple solutions. We had entered a new world we never knew existed nor expected to discover. While others my age would be focusing on their careers or favorite sports team, I would soon find myself very interested in something I thought...

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be To some it was just a spreadsheet, but to me it was a thing of beauty. Spreadsheets only have numbers and calculations. This had names, dates, times, events, travel details, all in color. I’m not talking just any color. There was a rainbow of colors to separate one item from the next. After all, for a trip like this, the standard white background would not do. This was the Olympics and if I was going to be the planner, I was going to do it in style. Over the years I’ve met a few people who claimed to be experts in organization. They’ve held seminars, written books, and sold recordings. They’ve inspired millions of the organizationally challenged, but none could hold a candle to my mentor. You see, my fat...

When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass I'm back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads Standin' in the huddle listenin' to the call Fans goin' crazy for the boys of fall They didn't let just anybody in that club Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall The kings of the school, man, we're the boys of fall Well it's, turn and face the stars and stripes It's fightin' back them butterflies It's call it in the air alright yes sir we want the ball And it's knockin' heads and talkin' trash It's slingin' mud and dirt and grass It's I got your number, I got your back When your back's against the wall You mess with one man, you got us all The boys of fall A few years ago Carter came to us and said he wanted to play football. I quickly recalled my middle school days at St. Angela's playing flag and pictured a field cov...

She comes in colors everywhere; She combs her hair She's like a rainbow Coming colors in the air Oh, everywhere She comes in colors Have you seen her dressed in blue See the sky in front of you And her face is like a sail Speck of white so fair and pale Have you seen the lady fairer She comes in colors everywhere; She combs her hair She's like a rainbow Coming colors in the air Oh, everywhere She comes in colors Does she always run that way? It seemed like an odd question, but then again everything about that day was odd. There I was, standing in the colorless halls of the Neuromuscular Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, listening to doctors and wondering how fast I could escape back to our quiet life. My logical side told me there was no doubt this was the right place to be, but somehow it still did not make sense. Somehow our lives took a detour we weren’t expecting and I was confused. I was jarred when it came once again, "Does she always run that ...

London calling to the faraway towns London calling to the underworld London calling, yes, I was there, too An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true! London calling at the top of the dial After all this, won't you give me a smile?  London calling When I was a senior in high school I had this outlandish idea.  I wanted to celebrate the upcoming step into adulthood (aka graduating) by gathering a few buddies and driving across the US.  I’d read a few books in English class about young men and adventure and I felt it was our time.   I could picture my friends and me cruising along Route 66 at daybreak, visiting distant cities, staying at strange motels, meeting interesting people, and eventually overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.   For a kid that never left California, it seemed magical. Like many things at that age, excitement can somehow get in the way of reality. Despite immediate promises and energetic planning, realization of college r...

Something has changed within me Something is not the same I'm through with playing by the rules Of someone else's game Too late for second-guessing Too late to go back to sleep It's time to trust my instincts Close my eyes: and leap! It's time to try Defying gravity I think I'll try Defying gravity And you can't pull me down! I'm through accepting limits cause someone says they're so Some things I cannot change But till I try, I'll never know! I never committed to having the steadiest hand in the crowd, but was sure I had this one. I thought about getting a tripod, but this was just another school concert. I’d been to many before and would attend many in the future. I expected her to sing just another song, but as soon as the first words came out it was clear I was wrong. What I heard was more than a solo. It was a statement. A statement of courage from a little girl who decided to look life in the eye and say, I will not be held ...