The sky doesn't fall and the world doesn't end just because you don't get what you want.  Life goes on.  Keep moving.

Never waste an opportunity to express your love to someone, because another opportunity is something life can't promise.

Marry someone you're not afraid to embarrass yourself in front of.

Eventually all things fall into place.  Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moments, and know everything happens for a reason.

Pray like God can change something, because He can and He will.

Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in has left you.

We all have bad days, but one thing is true; no cloud is so dark that the sun can't shine through.

Just think, the person you're going to marry is out there somewhere.  They could be at a tiny coffee shop lost in a really good book.  They could be at work or at school, or wherever, doing everything on their own, without you, living all these memories that you'll hear about years down the road.

When you do something out of love, you don't count the cost.

Be careful who you hate.  It could be someone you love.

We spend a lot of energy remembering failures God spent a lot of love saying we could forget.

I smile and act like nothing's wrong.  It's called putting crap aside and being strong.

If there's one piece of advice I can give you, it's this - when there's something you really want, fight for it, don't give up no matter how hopeless it seems.  And when you've lost hope, as yourself if ten years from now, you're going to wish you gave it one more shot.  Because the best things in life, they don't come free.

I think the only way we can grow and get on in this world is to accept the fact that we're not perfect and live accordingly.

Forget about going to Build - A - Bear.  I wanna go to Build-A-Man!

Nobody's perfect.  We've all lost and we've all lied.  Most of us have cheated.  The rest of us have tried.  The holiest of holy's even slips from time to time.  We've all got dirty laundry hanging on the line.

Remember that you were art long before he came to admire you, and you'll continue to be art even when he's gone.

I am slowly learning that some people are not good for me, no matter how much I love them.  I deserve someone who is gentle and kind, because my soul is getting tired.  Realizing that I deserve something good is one of the first steps.

Don't miss out on something that could be great just because it could also be difficult.

I hope one day I love something the way women in commercials love yogurt.

Someone who truly loves you will be angry at you for so many things, but will always stick around.

Allow God to continually soften your heart so that it beats for what his heart beats for - people.

Strength of character mean the ability to overcome resentment against others, to hide hurt feelings, and to forgive quickly.

Try to make at least one person happy every day.  If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word.  If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought.

Life will knock you down more times than you can possibly imagine.  Don't knock yourself down.

A secret to happiness is letting every situation be what it is, instead of what you think it should be.

The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.

It's unbelievable how you can affect someone so deeply and never know it.

Spend a little more time trying to make something of yourself and a little less time trying to impress people.

You Must Be My Angel

You must be my angel

That's the only explanation I can give

For the way you keep appearing

In this life that I live

I hear your name on busy streets

Or in a crowded room

There are a million Matthew's 

But I always think of you

I see someone with a big, bright smile

You know, like the one you always had

It puts a warmth down in my heart

But makes me kind of sad

I hear these songs on the radio

That say, "I'm missing you"

And when the rain comes falling down

I think maybe you miss me too

I know you're watching out for me

That's why I feel less fear

What do I have to be afraid of 

When my sweet angel Matthew is near?

This is a poem I wrote in 2004.  Matthew Lunsford was my dear, sweet friend that always had a smile on his face.  He was something special that's for sure!!

The Future

The crowd was hype

They had waited all day

For the sun to go down

On Daytona USA

The Pepsi 400 was about to begin

It was time for Britney Spears to yell

"Gentlemen, start your engines!"

The motors were revved

The drivers were set

Everybody knew

The green flag would be next

And they're off!

Round and round the track they would drive

Going so fast it seemed like they could fly

There was Jeff, Michael and Kevin

Dale Jarrett was there too

And even Rusty Wallace

In his trusty number 2

Now those drivers are great

And they made the fans cheer

But there's only one driver

We want to win here

The son of a legend

In the shadow of greatness

We all prayed that number 8

Would be the one to make it

And make it he did

Leading most every lap

When the checkered flag was dropped

The fans cheered and they clapped

For with the win came emotions

And so many feeling

All of our hearts were finally healing

Even though we lost a legend

A hero in our hearts

We all knew he was there

In that number 8 car

Riding along to show us all

NASCAR's new future

His son

A rising legend

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

I wrote this poem after the end lap of the Pepsi 400 on July 7, 2001.  I will never forget that race!!  

Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it.

A great attitude becomes a great day, which becomes a great month, which becomes a great year, which becomes a great life.

I wonder how many people don't get the one they want, but end up with the one they're supposed to be with.

Don't put your happiness in other peoples hands; they'll drop it.  They'll drop it every time.