A letter from a fellow rider. His daughter's name was Erin. No way was I letting her go home empty-handed!

Back a couple of years ago my daughter got the nerve up at the age of 8 to race a kids event at DBSA in San Antonio. She did not win, in fact she crashed right in front of everyone on the second lap. She got up and finished the short race. We were so proud of her! Well, when they were handing out the trophies later that day she thought she was going get one. They did not have enough as the kids race was just an after thought as there were so many there that day. Anyway, my daughter was very sad until, Misty McCool walked over to her and gave my daughter her trophy. That was one was the coolest things I have every seen and felt. My wife started crying. It is hard to explain but if you have kids and anything like this has happened you know what I am talking about. My daughter still talks about that day and still has the trophy in her room.

So the reason I am posting this all again is that I wanted to give her credit for inspiring my daughter to not ever think she can't do something. We are going tomorrow to get her cast off her right arm as she now thinks she can be a world gymnast and do any kind of flip.

I take pictures as a hobby at MX events and I have just about finished my new web page. www.151actionshots.com Under the link for about me / contact I have the picture of my daughter and misty on that grateful day. I just wanted to let Misty, and everyone else know that the nice things you do in life are not over looked and when you have a chance to make a difference in a childs life never pass it up.

Thanks again Misty.

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Cody Lipps 151 CRF 450
Garrett Lipps 151 KTM 50
www.151actionshots.com

The path before me...

Everyone has their own beliefs and views on life and religion and how this world, and the world beyond works. My views throughout my life have gone through many changes, a continual evolution if you will. My mother was raised Baptist. She took us to church when we were young, but she never pushed religion on us. She felt that religion was something that each individual must ultimately find on his or her own. She is a very smart woman, my mother. She believes in a Higher Power and Unconditional Love, and she believes that the Spirit lives on. These are the three greatest beliefs that she passed on to her children.
I tried in my early years to grasp organized religion, but it never quite answered the questions my heart and soul would ask. Most religions say that it is a sin to question. That if you question, you truly don't believe...I truly do not believe that.The Good Lord gave us a brain. He intended for us to use it. Questioning things help us to learn. Learning keeps us from making the same mistakes. Learning from mistakes helps us to grow and evolve in our own right.
I believe in balance. I believe in Harmony with myself and all that is around me...Nature, People, the Earth itself and the Spirit. I believe in being true to my heart and my Spirit and doing the best I can do each day. I am not perfect, I fall on my face often...But I feel that the only thing that counts is what I choose to do after I pick myself back up...Do I repeat the same mistake? Do I lay down and wallow in self-pity? Or do I choose a different path? One that leads me toward a better sense of self and the world around me? It is not a Sin to fall on your face....It is a Sin to choose not to learn from it. But even then, the Spirit forgives...for the Spirit loves Unconditionally....Unconditionally....that is a very big word. It means without condition...It means that no matter what you do, you are loved....
I do not believe in Hell. I believe that we create our own Hell here on earth. When we choose to go against what our own conscious tells us, we step away from our true self. Humankind falls easily into greed, and to envy, and to lies and to selfishness and to cruelty...when we visit these things upon one another we create Hell. God does not condemn us to this...we choose it ourselves. He does not test us with this...He simply gave us the free will to decide, and to learn, and to grow. He gave us the free will to do as we see fit, knowing with perfect love and perfect trust that eventually we will see the light and choose a different path.
We may have to do it over several times to get it....How many of your parents have made you do something over, or try something again until you got it?? Any good parent will...Any loving parent will...They do not condemn or judge...they encourage us to try again. To think that God would do less is to judge Him and limit His Power....To think that God would do less is to make Him less...
Each and every soul, everything that walks and breaths, whether it be on two legs or on four, even the fishes of the sea and the plants and waters of the earth are a part of the Lord...All must be cherished for it is special. All must be treated with love...For to love all, is to love the self and to love God, for we are one...As we come from Him, so shall we go back to Him...without judgement, without prejudice, without fear.
We are love. We are unity. We are balance. We are the Yin and the Yang. We are the God and the Goddess. We are the Is and the All. We are eternal....

For you, my brother...

There are never appropriate words to use to describe what the heart and soul would say. Especially when it has lost a piece of itself. The hurt never goes away...You just learn to cope in time...You try to remind yourself that that special someone is no longer in the past, but in your future. And you have to learn to let go of the past and work towards the time that you get to see them again...

This is dedicated to my inspiration, my teacher, my love, my confidence...my brother. You taught myself and others so many beautiful things in such a short period of time. It is hard to believe the differences you made and how many lives you touched with your kindness, your sense of humor, your honor, your hopes, and your belief in life itself...

You always told us that you would not be of this earth long. We never believed that, but you knew. You had a short time and you made the most of it. You knew things that most 14 year olds should not know at that age. You knew things that most people do not learn in a lifetime. You were honest, and fearless, and kind. You gave love and hope to so many. Laughter to those who needed it...Peace to those in pain.

Anyone who ever met you never forgot you...I never understood why you were taken from us so young...You had so much potential, so smart, and so much to give.

Someone told me once that if I were walking through a field of weeds and came across one perfect rose...what would I pick?? It makes sense...I understand. Your time here was short, but you knew your purpose and you fulfilled that purpose so that you could move on...You touched all of our lives in a way that we will never ever forget.

I cannot stop missing you, for my heart is broken still. I loved you more than life itself, and thought that I would always have you by my side. But I thank you for all that you taught me. Even though I was the big sister, you still taught me more than I would have ever learned by myself. You taught me to love and to care, you taught me to be fearless, you taught me the importance of confidence and of faith in myself. You taught me to be original and not to worry about what others think. You taught me not to judge. You taught me to laugh....and you taught me to value this life, and to cherish my loved ones, and what precious little time we have.

I am working toward the future, to the time I get to see you again. But in the meantime, you have to forgive the tears and the broken heart...a piece of my soul went with you...I miss you so much, and I will love you forever, my baby brother.