Mindy Lynn Wells | Aug. 12, 1974 - Aug. 6, 2008

Mindy Lynn Wells (Marsalis) is survived by a loving family who will never forget her contagious smile and out going personality. She was a daughter, sister, wife, and mother and will be missed by all.

My wife of 8 years, Mindy, passed away on August 6, 2008. For the last several months my life has been one hectic, roller coaster ride. I find myself filling my schedule with as many "to do's" as I possibly can so that I don't even have time to sit down and watch TV. This makes some days very stressful, but for me stress is easier to deal with than grief. Mindy was the ultimate loving mother, she showered our children with affection and would do anything for them. God is perfect in his timing, and as much as I want her to be here with us I have to remember that. The children are adapting better than I ever expected, but I can't help but think I could do more for them. I want Mindy to look down, as she sits next to Jesus and discusses our family, and see what a great job I'm doing raising our kids. The only problem is that I don't think I'm doing that great of a job. A good job...but not a great job. When it comes to parenting, it seems I'm in a race car, barreling down the asphalt. I clip other cars as I rush past and I rub the wall at every turn. Not out of control, but just barely hanging on. And the best part is, there is no finish line. I can come into the pit as often as I like, but there is no finish. I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone else...but it seems perfect to me.

I never realized how deeply a part of my life Mindy was until she was gone. I mean, she was my wife, and I loved her through all the good and bad. I think we had more than our fair share of bad, but my heart was hers. I knew she loved me deeply, she told me often. But I didn't understand how a little at a time that river of love had run through my heart and eroded the bedrock. How it had softened me a little at a time and just kept growing. Now that she's gone I can see the deep chasm left where the river ran before. It's deep...and dry, but not dark. Her memories still light up the path like a bright summer sun. As much as I enjoy the warmth of a sunny day, I'm still uncomfortable listening to the quite stillness of a canyon where a bubbling, churning river once ran.

I take comfort in knowing that she's sitting next to my savior, and I'll see her again someday. But until then, I have an uphill battle to make sure my children remember their mother. They have to remember the love that Mindy felt for each one of them, and I have to be the messenger of that memory. I don't like being a single parent of three, but I love my beautiful children more than anything in the world. I've always felt that a father should provide for, and protect his children. But now even more so. Now I just need to find out how to be the greatest dad the world has ever seen. I need to keep them grounded in the truth, and help them learn to see the world as it really is. I want them to discern for themselves what is right. Especially in a world that seems to let anything go, all is relative and good in moderation. Please pray with me that God will grant me the wisdom to make good decisions for my children, and strength to be consistent in those decisions. And please pray that the love of their mother will sustain them when they need it. That they never forget all the wonderful things she did for them in the short time we had with her

My sister in-law, Jennifer, put together this beautiful presentation for Mindy's funeral service. Please take a moment to view it if you have not already.

MSF - Rider Safety Course

This past weekend I completed the MSF Rider Safety Course offered through Texas R.I.D.E.R at the Arlington location. If you don't remember it was 102°F on Saturday and 104°F on Sunday so it was exhausting to be outside all day. The humidity made it feel much hotter and we were under an exessive heat warning. But the class I was in had a great group of people. We started the riding portion of the class with 7 riders in the group I was in. After the heat took it's toll just 5 of us completed it. We had plenty of water breaks to keep us functioning.

I'm not a paid endorser, but I strongly suggest you check out Texas R.I.D.E.R if you, or someone you know, needs to take a riding course. Our instructor, Mike Hudson, was a just full of knowledge and experience. I think it's safe to speak for my other 5 riding companions when I say he made the class fun and the heat bearable. Now I'm off to get my insurance discount, H.O.G. reimbursement, etc. Be sure to check out the CMA. Have fun and be safe and as Mike reminded us the rubber side goes down, the shiny side stays up!

Happy Father's Day

For Father's Day I got myself a new Harley, from the kids of course! It's a 2006 Sportster 1200 Low and has been getting about 42 mi/gal. I expect the gas milage will go up when the engine is broken in. It only had 80 mi on it when I picked it up. I like the contrast of black and chrome (see picture) and I already have a new set of V&H pipes picked out to go on it. The best part is, the money I save in gas basically pays for my bike and insurance each month. The guys up at Longhorn Harley-Davidson in Grand Prairie, TX are awesome. Ron sold me the bike and the whole process took probably 45 minutes or less. I already want another one (a 2007 Buell Firebolt) and when I'm ready to get it I'll go back to see Ron. I've had it up there for some very minor maintenance (it sat for almost two years) and Trent and the service crew were great about explaining the issue and making sure we were all on the same page.