I wait. I watch. The target would soon appear. My tactics? Well refined.
Dad Bill Sr., sister Sandi, and Bill Jr.
The time is right. I jump out from behind the car. “Attack!” I yell, as I hurl a volley of dirt pellets straight at her face.
WHACK! Smack in the mouth. Perfect aim. Again, I throw. SCORE! The side of her head. Hurts pretty good, I’ll bet. READ MORE
Nick Saban in action.
Thick, acrid air filled Little Nick’s lungs. It was a silent descent. Neither Nick nor his dad spoke a word. He was terrified. Any kid would be. At the bottom, this father finally acknowledged his frightened young son…
“If you don’t get a college education,” he said, “this is where you’re going to end up every day.”
Without another word, they began the long hike back to the top. Nick never forgot. READ MORE
I was born with a lazy bone.
Eric with his dad, Chris, around the time of the “incident.”
Long ago, one 4th of July day, my cousin and I decided to take a dip in our inflatable backyard pool. “OK?” we asked Dad. From the yard he yelled, “Fine!”
My parents were divorced. I had just arrived to stay with Dad for a few days. My duffle and suitcase were still packed, up in my room. I rummaged around. No swimsuit to be found.
But don’t forget: I was born with a lazy bone.
Meet my dad, Terry Parks. The pastor. The dreamer. The deal maker?
Kurtis and his dad Terry today.
I stared back at him, dumbfounded by the suggestion…I was 11 years old! I shrugged it off. “No thanks, Dad.” Not a chance. Only thing I cared about was how to throw a better curve ball. But dad already knew that…
“Ten bucks a week for an hour of piano every day…deal?” Ten bucks a week?! Whoa. Some serious coin. Visions of gigantic overflowing Slurpees and mountainous stacks of baseball cards encircled my head. READ MORE
Nicole dreamed Nashville… and Dad.
Nicole and her dad.
You may recognize Nicole’s lovely face… and golden voice. At just 18 she appeared on “The Voice,” Season 3. Nicole didn’t just “appear” on that stage. Her dad (and mom) gave up much so their girl could play.
Nicole had a dream — then only thirteen. Come hell or high water, she was determined to succeed. She told Savvy Dad, “I was young, barely a teen, but I was focused, intense… committed that nothing would stand in my way.”
However, at thirteen you need more than talent and grit. You need parents willing to sacrifice big. It started with expensive coaching, a burden on Dad. And, Nashville was the place to perform — where anyone trying to make it in country music needed to be. READ MORE
A mother to none. Cervical cancer robbed her of that. But in a sense, she is a mom to thousands.
Kaziah’s first portrait of a fallen soldier:
James Cawley of Utah.
Fallen soldiers. They are her daughters and sons. She’s never met a single one, but she’s loved — and mourned — many. They gave their lives protecting our country. She brings them to life on canvas. She gives them a presence in homes left behind. A lasting memory for those they loved most.
Kaziah Hancock is sometimes referred to as the Goat Woman. She lives on a small ranch in Utah with, you guessed it… about 100 goats. She’s a big-hearted lady who exudes independence and strength. To do what she does, you could be nothing less.
She explains in a news interview, “I don’t know how political I am. I don’t get into all that crap. I just love freedom, ok?” READ MORE
Emotion of fools. I learned it from Dad.
Was I careless that day? Or was it jealousy? I was Daddy’s little girl. His favorite. His world revolved around me. At least that’s what I thought…
The Dodge
Dad brought her home on a Sunday. I watched through the window. They pulled up together. She was impressive I have to admit. Jealously? It flooded through me. There they stood, side by side. She had stolen Dad away from me! I was dismayed.
“Tons of power. American-made…” he shouted out to our neighbor across the way. “And I got a heck of a deal!” Yes, that’s right. She was a brand new, top of the line Dodge. A pickup, it was. Jet black. Shiny bright rims. Oversized bed. It had it all. READ MORE