In 2013 this journey began. I remember sitting by my Dad’s bedside at the George Washington University Hospital, holding his hand and taking the picture posted in my very first post – I Got You Daddy. When I snapped the photo, documenting this journey was not even a thought. At that time, I was scared, no way around saying that. I was afraid.
Funny how fear turned into fearless. We have experienced so much as a family, and documenting this journey has allowed me to cherish each and every moment with my parents. We have had a lot to say and so much more to experience.
Start from the beginning. Dive in.
Following are all of my posts from the very beginning:
- I got you Daddy (7/5/2013)
- Cue the Rocky Music….REHAB!! (7/6/2013)
- He’s back!!! (7/7/2013)
- Introducing the Wolfman!! (7/9/2013)
- Go get ’em Daddy (7/10/2013)
- Wazzzzup (7/10/2013)
- Mel on the celly (7/11/2013)
- A Bat, an intruder and a can of Raid (7/12/2013)
- Mr. Ford? Mrs. Ford? Ms. Ford? Long hair. Don’t care. (7/13/2013)
- I got your back Babe (7/14/2013)
- Pops is coming home (7/15/2013)
- Mom, Dad and the hand puppet (7/16/2013)
- Squats, muscles and 1942 (7/16/2013)
- D’Melvin Unchained…the D is silent (7/17/2013)
- I miss my Daddy!!! (7/17/2013)
- The Secret Weapon (7/17/2013)
- The Silver Bullet (7/18/2013)
- He Speaks!!!!!!!!! (7/18/2013)
- THE JAILBREAK!!! (7/19/2013)
- D’Melvin Unchained is HOME. Now the real work begins!!! Stay tuned (7/20/2013)
- Dinnertime at The Fords (7/22/2013)
- Please…don’t leave a message (7/24/2013)
- Costco run…HELP!! (7/25/2013)
- I’m scheduling play dates (8/3/2013)
- Sweet Potato Pie (8/4/2013)
- D’Melvin and the Silver Bullet…on the loose (8/11/2013)
- You…Drive to Delaware???? Umm (8/21/2013)
- If you have ever been attacked by a shark…well…don’t read this (8/23/2013)
- March on Washington…1963 (8/25/2013)
- Baby sit down (8/28/2013)
- No filter. At. All. (9/9/2013)
- Please pass the Ranch Dressing (9/11/2013)
- Save much? Another day in the life of Melvin Ford (9/14/2013)
- Ouch!!! Tweezers maybe?? (9/26/2013)
- We Cute! (10/6/2013)
- Thanksgiving and Chicken Juice (10/8/2013)
- Thanksgiving…chicken juice…COSTCO!!! (10/14/2013)
- Uncle Donald, Uncle Buddy & Daddy…oh my!!! (10/28/2013)
- Look what I found….Look what I found!!! (10/30/2013)
- Happy Anniversary to the dynamic duo!!!!! (11/12/2013)
- From the Bride to her Groom 47 years later… (11/12/2013)
- Us… (11/13/2013)
- Cutie Pie in DC and Fine Lady in Philly (11/19/2013)
- Thanksgiving…So very Thankful (12/2/2013)
- In his handwriting (12/9/2013)
- Netflix & chill… (12/21/2013)
- Netflix & Chill – Part 2 (12/21/2013)
- If I were a boy (12/24/2013)
- Rollin, Rollin, Rollin… (1/3/2014)
- Rollin, Rollin, Rollin, UPDATE! (1/3/2014)
- Mom…BOOM…drops mic!!!! (2/17/2014)
- Whipped cream…and bleach??? (3/4/2014)
- The Fabulous Life of Toni & Mel (3/29/2014)
- Head massage…so sweet…I just love them!! (4/13/2014)
- My Dad lost his best friend…they were friends since they were 5 🙁 (5/13/2014)
- Gone fishing!!! (6/21/2014)
- Gone fishing…what a catch!!! (6/23/2014)
- I’ve been summering for a LONG time (8/12/2014)
- BuiltFordTough on THE VINEYARD (8/18/2014)
- Gotta keep the mind sharp (8/22/2014)
- I ain’t scared of you M*!%#r F&*%$rs (9/14/2014)
- Netflix & chill…Again (9/26/2014)
- 1937 Birth Announcement (9/27/2014)
- Jazzy and Honey (10/21/2014)
- 9/11, Intensive Care and Us. Built Ford Tough (10/21/2014)
- Howard University Letterman (10/22/2014)
- Ninja Toni….Happy Halloween (10/31/2014)
- I guess I look like my Mom…Thanks!!!!! (11/2/2014)
- Happy 48th Anniversary (11/12/2014)
- Spear Holder, Combine and Redskin Cheerleader…Oh My!!! (11/21/2014)
- December 14 & December 15 (12/14/2014)
- Smile and begin to talk….she smiled back (12/26/2014)
- Built Ford Tough UNCUT (1/24/2015)
- Girl I wanna kick it witcha (2/16/2015)
- B+, O+ and O+ (3/2/2015)
- That time I met the Jackson 5…yup, THE Jackson 5 (4/3/2015)
- Fantastic Voyage!!!!! (4/6/2015)
- All Aboard! Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage (4/11/2015)
- The Fords and The Jacksons…yes..those Jacksons (Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon) (4/12/2015)
- Mom and Dad…White Night Party on the ship!!! (4/14/2015)
- The King and Queen of the Fantastic Voyage Prom (4/14/2015)
- Daddy kickin’ it with rapper Juvenile!! (4/15/2015)
- Where is my Daddy? The Casino (4/15/2015)
- Mommy can’t hang!!!! (4/16/2015)
- Sushi…deep fried?! (4/16/2015)
- Jamaican me Built Ford Tough!!! (4/17/2015)
- Mommy, Mardi Gras and no sleep!!! (4/18/2015)
- Fords down…Home Sweet Home (4/19/2015)
- Falling in Love (5/16/2015)
- Look Daddy, I got my ears pierced!! (6/15/2015)
- Happy Father’s Day Daddy!! A little girls first love (6/21/2015)
- My hot date!!!! (10/3/2015)
- The Playa and Playette…how they met!!! (10/7/2015)
- There is only one Woman in the Ford House (10/17/2015)
- 49 years!!!!!! Happy Anniversary (11/12/2015)
- Luncheables for dinner (1/20/2016)
- My Mom went Postal (1/21/2016)
- Snow Angels (1/24/2016)
- Mommy has a crush….Magic Mike!! (1/25/2016)
- Faye Hampton Ford (3/6/2016)
- Jesse & Ford…the beginning (4/1/2016)
- National Only Child Day (4/12/2016)
- Friends for 75 years!!!!! (4/17/2016)
- Prince…When Doves Cry (4/21/2016)
- I’ll always love my Momma…she’s my favorite girl!!!!! (5/6/2016)
- Dear Daughter…. (5/25/2016)
- Toni the speedster….teaching Toni how to drive (6/12/2016)
- Toni the Gray Panther (6/27/2016)
- Who remembers Gino’s? (7/3/2016)
- What should I title my book? (8/7/2016)
- Mommy is turning into her Mommy (9/10/2016)
- Doing my Civic Duty (9/16/2016)
- Regan. Please be careful (said with sadness in her voice) (9/21/2016)
- Grabbing the P (10/14/2016)
- Toni & Mel. Living life like it’s Golden! (11/12/2016)
- Toni ain’t scared…she’s from Philly (11/20/2016)
- Regan’s Happy Thanksgiving (11/24/2016)
- DNA & Bunny Slippers (12/9/2016)
- Happy Birthday Mommy!! My Woman Crush Everyday (12/14/2016)
- Happy Birthday to my Man Crush Everyday (12/15/2016)
- Here Kitty Kitty!! (12/17/2016)
- Our new pet (12/17/2016)
- A Special Drive Through Order (12/21/2016)
- Merry Christmas from the Fords (12/25/2016)
- Me. Mom. Dad. Maybe?? (1/10/2017)
- I’m gonna live to be 100 dammit (1/20/2017)
- Toni the Flower! (3/12/2017)
- Mom. DNA. Hmm. (3/24/2017)
- The Ho & the Hot Bundle (3/31/2017)
- Mrs. Ford…you have a very special invitation (4/19/2017)
- A Morning Melvin Joke (5/8/2017)
- Un-Robbed!! (5/10/2017)
- 947 months and 3 days (5/18/2017)
- Too Tulle Much! (5/19/2017)
- As Seen On TV (5/22/2017)
- People been… (5/27/2017)
- Going vegetarian…well… (5/28/2017)
- Probability and Mathematics (6/1/2017)
- A quickie… (6/3/2017)
- Orthodontist Daddy (6/7/2017)
- Black Girl Magic (6/21/2017)
- Heaven (7/5/2017)
- Moments (7/7/2017)
- Voices… (10/3/2017)
- Breathe & Rollerskate (10/10/2017)
- Driving Miss Regan…HELP!!! (10/27/2017)
- Mom. Dad. Roller Skates…OH MY! (11/1/2017)
- Ford -vs- Ford -vs- Ford (11/4/2017)
- Hot in herre…(sigh) (11/7/2017)
- GOOD Morning!!!! (11/8/2017)
- #51 (11/12/2017)
- Wow!! WOW!!!! (11/29/2017)
- Wow!! WOW!!!! PART 2 (12/1/2017)
- c.1975 Christmas Eve (12/23/2017)
- Vows?? (1/30/2018)
- Super WHO? (2/8/2018)
- The MRI and the Crooner (2/13/2018)
- CVS or Home Depot?? (2/22/2018)
- Cruisin’ (4/11/2018)
- Sturdy Shoes (4/14/2018)
- FANTASTIC VOYAGE!!! (4/25/2018)
- Jesus take the wheel…well Jetway!!! (4/25/2018)
- Ready to ROLL (4/27/2018)
- It’s a Family Affair (4/28/2018)
- Sooo Daddy… (6/6/2018)
- Pretzels, Bunnies and Chocolate…OH MY!!! (6/13/2018)
- Go to bed and get up and get ready…oh my!!! (6/15/2018)
- Tougher Than Ever! (9/24/2018)
- Alexa & Tito… (9/25/2018)
- $90,000! (10/17/2018)
- We are growin’ old together (10/28/2018)
- Parents or Teenagers?? (12/11/2018)
- Our New Normal (3/18/2019)
- Sorry…it’s been a minute. (6/22/2020)
- Still steppin’ (6/24/2020)
- Caregiving is hard! (4/12/2021)
- Howling!!! (4/19/2021)
- Driving Miss Toni!!! (6/16/2021)
- Introducing…Arrow!! (7/8/2021)
- Antoinette & Arrow (7/14/2021)
- Daddy…forever (9/28/2021)
- Card Tricks! (9/29/2021)
- H U…You Know!!!! (9/30/2021)
- How..to celebrate? (10/1/2021)
- I miss my Dad (11/3/2021)
- Clouds… (11/10/2021)
- Thankful… (11/25/2021)
- This is 80!! (12/14/2021)
- Happy Birthday Daddy!! (12/15/2021)
- I am… (12/16/2021)
- 2022 (1/1/2022)
- Summer Camp (6/3/2022)
- The Black Dog on MV (6/4/2022)
- Arrow, Lulu and a Yacht (6/8/2022)
- Arrow, Mommy, Horses…oh my!!! (6/8/2022)
- Thursday the 9th (6/9/2022)
- Ummm yeah…NO! (6/13/2022)
- Who is the parent now??? (6/14/2022)
- Whew…NEXT!!! (6/15/2022)
- Happy Heavenly Father’s Day (6/19/2022)
- Arrow the graduate. (6/25/2022)
- Just Me. (7/2/2022)
- Just like him. (7/19/2022)
- Cover Girl (7/21/2022)
- The Master Plan is working…YES!!!! (7/28/2022)
- Arrow is in TROUBLE (7/30/2022)
- Sisters!!! (7/31/2022)
- Sister time!!! (8/1/2022)
- Arrow LOVES Auntie Cheryl (8/2/2022)
- SURPRISE!!!!! (8/10/2022)
- I love my Summer Camp!!! (8/10/2022)
- Surprising Auntie (8/10/2022)
- I did it!!! (8/11/2022)
- Love. Gratitude. Appreciation. (8/12/2022)
- Loving the small moments (8/14/2022)
- One Year. (9/9/2022)
- Hampton Strong (10/1/2022)
- The Ford Girls are doing a thing!!! (10/4/2022)
- Andiamo!!! (10/4/2022)
- Buongiorno…My GOLDEN Girl!!! (10/5/2022)
- Water taxi to our hotel (10/5/2022)
- Travel & Leisure (10/7/2022)
- Lay your head on my shoulder (10/10/2022)