My Daddy

The following is something I believe from my experiences:

There is a saying that I believe hold a lot of truth-

"Any man can become a Father, but it takes a special man to be a Dad."

There is a difference between nature and nurture. By nature a man can become a father- you know the process I don't have to explain. But by nurturing their child through being there for them, supporting them in all ways, and always being a part of their life- that is how a man becomes a dad.

It is also my believe that if a man has become a father-he has to try and be there for their child(ren) to even become a dad in their child's eye- especially when the child is older. A dad will admit to and take responsibility for mistakes they have made when it comes to there children.

Many of you may not know this about me, but the man I call Daddy, Don Wood, (yes I'm 22 and am proud to call him Daddy), is not my biological father. He may not have been in the hospital when I was born or a part of my life until I was the age of 8, but he is my dad. Granted, he and I may have had some rough points in our relationship, but what child doesn't have that with their dad? He taught me important life lessons and has been there for me whenever I have needed him. I am thankful for everything in my relationship with Daddy, even the bad parts, because I believe we both learned from them. I have the greatest respect for my dad and any man who is a dad like him.

In closing I would like to say-

Blood does not matter when it comes to family- it is the bond you have with them that makes them family.

My Most Recent Life Lesson Adventure

Back in my younger days (ha ha ha), my daddy, Don Wood, taught me some life lessons. Lessons such as how to check the oil in my car, how to change a tire, how to use a jack, check the PSI in a tire, how to shake a persons hand, how to think a problem through and solve it and other such lessons as these.

I tend to use these lessons a good bit- checking oil, shaking a persons hand, check PSI, etc. There was one specifically today that I had to use for the first time- changing a tire.

Today, I was driving north on I-65. Just less than 6 miles into Tennessee, the front tire on the driver's side blew out. Thankfully, I was not in congested traffic and I was able to keep control of the car as I pulled to the left hand side. Now you're thinking- why the left side? Answer: I was in the fast lane passing a truck pulling a horse trailer.

I got to the side of the road and had to take a few deep breathes. I was a bit shaken up at the experience so far, but got out of the car and took a look at the damage. I went to the trunk and dug up the doughnut tire and the jack and headed to the tire. I was having a hard time getting the nuts off of the tire due to how tight they were. A very nice gentleman driving a semi, pulled over and offered a helping hand.

He helped me get the blown tire off and the new tire on, telling me that just over the hill was the next exit with a service station and I wold be able to fill the tire up with air. I shook his hand and thanked him for his help. He told me, "If either of my daughters were in this situation, I would hope someone would stop to help them as well." It was nice to see that there are still good Samaritans in the world.

I got the tire filled with air and made it safely home. My word of advice to you, if you do not know how to change tire- learn. Doesn't matter who you are or how old you are, it is a good thing to know. ( I sound like my daddy...uh-oh!)

I have to say I am immensely thankful for several things today. I am thankful for making it safely home and for good Samaritans. I am very thankful for my daddy having taught me these thing.

Baked Spinach Dip

So yesterday, I decided to make spinach dip the way I normally do, but while surfing the web I had a brilliant idea to bake it. Now my normal of making spinach dip was a mix of recipes, in which I created my own. I plan to post a picture next time I make it. I was so busy in the kitchen in making dinner last night for Memorial Day I didn't think about till after the fact. Also, I have done my best to put amounts with everything- I don't always measure ingredients. Enjoy!

Ruthe's Baked Spinach Dip

10 oz of frozen spinach
chopped garlic
2 tablespoons butter
6 oz cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 cups mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese

1. Melt the butter in a skillet. Saute spinach and garlic in pan for about 10 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Add cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise to the skillet. Mix together and let it simmer till creamy.
4. Once creamy add 2 cups or so of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese into the mixture. Let cheeses blend and melt wih he spinach mixture.
5. Place spinach dip into a pan. (I use an oval corning ware type dish). Place remaining cheese on top.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and slightly browned.
7. Serve warm with chips, crackers, etc.

Update

So I have not been on in awhile due to life being busy- hey it happens.

Anyways, Tim has graduated and started his new job in Alabama. We got he moved down there a week after his graduation and now have only 30 days until the wedding!

We still have a good bit of things to do still but they are coming along fairly smoothly and the list is slowly getting shorter.

Scottie hasn't been sure what to think of my now scarcely furnished apartment and the fact that Tim hasn't been around.

Well I have said this before but I shall say it again, I am going to try and be better about posting on here a bit more.

Live, Laugh, Love

New Year

Its a new year (yes three months in)...and I really haven't posted anything.

I'm gonna try and do better about posting.

Things that have happened so far:

-I've gotten more in shape.

-I bathed a cat for the first time.

-The wedding plans are going very well.

-Less than four months till I marry Tim.

-I turned 22.

-I got to share with some good friends in the celebration of their first child.

...and more but I can't think what else currently.

Graduation

In eleven days I will no longer be a current student at Tennessee Technological University. Instead, I will walk across the stage, receive my diploma and become an alumna of Tech. 

It has been a great 3.5 years at the school. I have made many new friends. I met my fiance at Tech.

I have learned a lot and changed some while here.

I am proud to become an alumna of Tech and ready for the next chapter of my life.

I'm engaged!!

This past Friday, Timothy proposed to me!!
It was awesome. And here is the story:

On the evening of Friday, October 1, 2010, Tim and I left Cookeville and headed to Gerst Haus, a German restaurant in Nashville, TN.  It took us an extra hour to get there due to a bad wreck on the interstate.  Despite this, we enjoyed our ride and spending time together, with a few frustrations of due to the amount of traffic throughout the detour.

                We arrived at our destination and were able to be seated pretty quickly. This was Tim’s first time to Gerst Haus, and my first time going since sometime in high school. We were excited that it was a night for the live polka band to be there. Tim and I ordered our appetizer and meals.  While we were eating he mentioned to me that when we got to my parents house that night he wanted to show me his website through his major and the fortune program he created. I asked if we could pull it up on my phone and he said “I don’t know, let’s wait though.” So we continued talking and eating.

We left the restaurant, full of good food and headed towards the ice skating rink on the other side of town. On the way there, we passed the public square in front of Nashville’s town hall and courthouse. We parked the car and began to walk around looking at the different fountains that surrounded the area.  We walked around the courtyard to another fountain. As I was taking pictures, Tim as for my phone so he could try and pull up his website. Once he got it up, he told me to put my name and press submit. I did this and when the page loaded, I read “Ruthe, my darling, Will you marry me?- Tim” – at the same time Tim was getting on knee with a box and asked me out loud to marry him. I was surprised!! My first response was “I’m going to cry…..yes, yes I will!” Tim put the beautiful engagement ring on my finger.

I ended up not crying after all. After a little bit more time at the courtyard, we went back to the car and headed out to go ice skating as fiancés!!