Valentines Day……

Valentine’s Day is here. I was thinking of how lucky I feel to have a wife who makes me feel like EVERY day is a day to celebrate love and romance, but I also like the idea of having an actual day set aside to focus on that romance some of us are fortunate to have in our lives. It’s like Thanksgiving, we’re never NOT thankful for the gifts we have, but it’s nice to pump the brakes every now and then to ACTIVELY remember to be grateful for them. Valentine’s Day is like Thanksgiving for lovers, a good chance to slow down and put our focus on the person we’re blessed to have found and fallen in love with. And there’s never anything wrong with some extra romance anyway, is there?

So, I’m a Valentine’s fan. I’m looking forward to a sweet date night with my wife: watch some Charlie Brown together, put the kids to bed….. then play “Sorry” like crazy! What? Even board games are romantic with the right person. 😉 

Have a Happy V-Day, fellow lovebirds! 

– Link

My boy….my heart.

My oldest baby will be turning 14 next month. It is crazy to me, how in the blink of an eye, the little chubby hands that held mine…now is a young man’s hand that holds mine as if he wants to now protect and take care of me.  He is still my baby boy, and always will be, even when he thinks the roles have reversed and he thinks it is his job to take care of his mama. I am so proud of the young man he has become and I’m so thankful that I am raising a person who I know will be so many things in his life. He will be a great friend, an amazing husband and a wonderful dad some day. Until then, as he has changed from my baby, to little boy, to a young man- he has become one of my favorite friends.

Against popular belief- Unicorns don’t poop rainbows in my world!

It’s true. My life is not perfect. It is far from it. I have a manipulative ex. I am a “geographical” single mom, because my husband- the love of my life- is in prison. I am poor by anyone’s monetary standards. I take online college classes, while struggling with all the demands of being a stay at home mother of 3, while working as a full time nanny to a 2 year old- and it’s tough! I live hours away from my family.  I live in a place where my allergies are killing me one sneeze at a time.

So, why does it appear to others that my life is a big ol’ bowl of cherries? The simple answer is because I was raised by a Christian mother who taught me right. That is really what it comes down to. It doesn’t matter what is outside of your window, only matters what you choose to see. Can you see past the razor wire and guard towers, like my husband Lincoln, who chooses to see the 100 year old pecan trees in the distance… or the full moon in the sky? And like us, can you count your blessings:

I have an amazing husband who loves me so good.

I don’t have a lot of money, but God provides for our every need.

My college classes stress me out, but I’m passing them all.

I get to stay at home and raise my babies.

I have a job, that doesn’t pay much, but helps us to live comfortably.

I talk to my family on the phone and on line all the time and am very close to them.

My allergies suck….. There is no way around that one- but they haven’t killed me yet!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phil. 4:8).

Who ARE these people??!!

(About Lincoln Keith, in the words of his wife, Lori Keith.)

My husband is the most wonderful man I have ever met, and I have felt this way since I was 15 years old. Though many years have come and gone since I met Lincoln, a couple of things have remained constant… the fact that every day he looks for ways to better himself, as a husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend…. and our ever growing love for each other.

What makes Lincoln stand out from the others? One reason is the fact that he WANTS to. He makes a conscious effort to work to surpass his peers in everything that he does, whether it be in his college classes, his art, in his intense physical workouts, (that I must say not only as his wife, but as a fan of insanely hot, strong bodies- his TOTALLY rocks!!), our faith and religion, our marriage and family- pretty much everything. Every day of his life he strives to do better, to BE better than the day before, in all areas. He is never ok with settling. He teaches me and our children to have that same sense of pride in ourselves and in all that we do. He is an amazing leader.

Since we married, nearly 2 years ago, not a single moment has gone by where he hasn’t honored every vow that we made. He is a man of his word. He is a man of God. He is everything that I have ever prayed I would have in a husband, and he is MINE! I’m so blessed to be married to somebody that I trust to guide me through this life, so much that I’d be willing to walk blindfolded and with both arms tied behind my back!

Lincoln is easily the most hilarious person I know. He can make me laugh until my stomach hurts, even when I don’t want to. He can do it with just a facial expression, or with the way he can imitate anyone… seriously, the man can talk like Donald Duck! He can make his hand a puppy and entertain our niece for hours, just with his hand. He can wiggle his ears! Kid’s LOVE that! When he tells a story, it’s like watching a Jim Carey movie! You don’t like Jim Carey? That’s ok, because really, Jim Carey has nothing on Lincoln! I could listen to Lincoln tell stories all day long, it really is one of my favorite things to do.

One thing that I love even more than listening to his stories is when he sings to me. There is nothing like it. I feel like the most loved woman in the entire world, when out of the blue, he’ll just sing to me. Even better than that, is when I’m having a bad day and he’ll read me a scripture that is perfect to whatever we are having to deal with at that time, or he’ll just start praying with me and for me. I’ve grown so much closer to God, by knowing Lincoln, because Lincoln has led me in faith. He encourages me to pray and prays with me, to read and study the Bible, and to go to church, even when I don’t want to.  He writes down monthly Bible Study’s for us to do with the kids. I have been blessed in a million ways, just by having Lincoln in my life, that I can’t help but smile and say “Thank you God!” every single day. I know without a doubt that Lincoln is a gift to me from God, because he is everything that I have ever prayed for. I am so incredibly blessed!!

Lincoln is a man who at the age of 18 was wrongfully convicted of capital murder. He has been serving the last 20 years of his life in prison, on a life sentence. Not one day has gone by that he hasn’t fought to prove his innocence, only for his cries to fall on deaf ears. In his fight for justice, he has learned how corrupt and injust the justice system truly is. He has discovered bogus laws that are not really known to the public, like the AEDPA law which effectively sets a 1 year time limit for anyone to ask for an appeal, even if they can prove that their constitutional rights were violated in the first place. THEY PUT A TIME LIMIT ON JUSTICE! As soon as Lincoln became aware of this law, he wrote up a petition, with hopes of getting this law changed, and not only helping his chances to prove his innocence, but also the hundreds of others who are innocent behind bars, that are time barred from proving their innocence in court! The Innocence Project of Texas agreed to look into Lincoln’s case, but though they said that they believe that Lincoln is innocent and “a victim of a broken legal system” unless we can find new evidence we can’t get our case back in court. Lincoln is working on getting his story heard, and so we have set up a Facebook page called “Free Lincoln Keith” where you can find facts about his case, and read the heart wrenching truth of how a young teenager was given a LIFE sentence for a crime he is INNOCENT of.  There is also a website you can go to where you can read and sign the petition to get that AEDPA law changed at this link: http://www.change.org/petitions/should-justice-have-an-expiration-date and we also have a donation page set up (here: http://www.gofundme.com/65ty08 ) where you can donate to help pay legal fees and other costs that will help us continue our fight for justice!

(About Lori Keith in the words of her husband, Lincoln Keith.)

My name is Lincoln (“Link”) Keith, and I have the best wife in the world. Her name is Lori Nichole and she’s one of the all-around best people I’ve ever known which is why I’ve loved her since we were little more than children. She’s an amazingly devoted and loyal wife and mother and she constantly exhibits the very traits she desires in her loved ones- honesty and integrity. She also has a wonderful sense of humor.

Lori is always beside me and helping me in the fight to get my case overturned or, at the VERY least, my sentenced reduced so that I can return home to her. Then We’ll make our dream of a log cabin in the mountains a reality.

She is an awesome caretaker and enjoys things like working with special needs children. I’ve never known anyone as kind, nurturing, and patient as I’ve seen her to be. Lori likes the Goo Goo Dolls, and gangsta rap, collecting cool and unique aprons that she wears when she cooks or bakes, (which she’s amazing at), funny movies, kisses from her husband- (lucky me!)-, and spending time with her family.

She and I are defying the laws of physics. We are constantly FALLING deeper in love and in LIFTS us to new heights of happiness. If only everyone could have a love like this, without doubt, the world would be a much happier and more peaceful place. maybe one day…

Until then, we wish peace and love to one and all. Have a great day today and we’ll be back soon.