Great father, friend, and Uncle

This post goes out to a special person in my life. Over the past few months I have had the blessing of living with a wondeful set of Foster Parents and their 3 beautiful little ones. They have touched my life in so many ways, and were the first feeling of family I have had in quite sometime. They were welcoming and heart-warming from the very beginning.
  While I was there I developed a forever bond with my foster father, whom I know refer to as Uncle Stephen. One cool thing about him is he is a professional ventriloquist. He is also a very intelligent man. He has taught me a lot of random things as well as some life lessons that will stick with me forever. He is also very supportive in every decison I make but he let's me know when he thinks I have made the wrong ones. I could go on and on about all the great things that make him who he is.
   What he doesn't know is how big the little things he did, effected me. As simple as him getting up so early every morning just to take me to school. A moment I never want to forget is the quality time that we spent in Nashville. (He is gonna love me for posting this on the web) We got to get on his parents four-wheeler and ride around 138 acres of land. While on this ride Stephen loses his father's leather glove. So there we go riding back around 138 acres looking for this stupid glove. We spent about 45 mins riding around, retracing our steps looking for this glove he had lost. Eventually, we decided to give up and put the four wheeler up. As I got off the fourwheeler to close the gate, Stephen just happened to look down, and right there, under his FOOT lay the long lost leather glove. Memories like these are told to many people. I am lucky enough to say I do not have a bad memory with Stephen or his family. (Except the swollen eye I decided to walk around with) but even moments like that where I was sick and layed up in the hospital, hold importance in mine and Uncle Stephen's relationship. He has went out of his way many times just to make sure I was taken care of. I will never forget all the little things, from going to work with him, to him expressing his love for doyles to me. All the memories will stay there and hopefully I will have many more chances to build some.
  I just wanna say how lucky I am to have spent this time with the Knowles Family. I will never forget you guys. I hope to always have you guys a part of my life. Thank you for making me feel so welcome. I would recommend any of my friends who have no one else to come with them. YOU WILL NOT FIND A MORE LOVING FAMILY!!!

Life Lessons

I have realized that as I progress through life, situations I'm dealt get tougher and tougher. But instead of sitting around and crying about it, I have learned to use every situation to an advantage. I'm going through a time in my life where patience is the main ingredient to staying sane (if there's any such thing). What I'm trying to get at is that patience is a life lesson so take advantage of life lessons.
Life lessons teach us a great number of important things. As I mentioned patience is a lesson you use every day. Sometimes the lessons are sugar coated though so read between the lines. For instance, "if at first you don't suceed, try and try again." They don't mention that everytime you are trying again, you have previously FAILED. But that is my point, life lets you look at every situation one of two ways. Optimistic and pessimistic. Optimistic is the positive side of looking at things (glass half full). And pessimistic is the negative way of looking at things (glass half empy).
Another lesson learned is that there are times in your life where optimism comes in handy. But there will be times where you may need to be a little pessimistic or maybe even both. It just goes to show you that there is light at the end of every dark tunnel.
I know my thoughts seem a little scattered tonight but that's ok. There is a little short advice in what was on my mind. If you take nothing from this but one thing please remember.....
    You only have one life. Learn from it and enjoy it. YOU are the ONLY one who can choose your outlook on life so use this advice to help you make the decision....sincerly, Montana