and i'm going to try my hardest not to tear up just writing this (although that's probably not going to happen...).
i'm almost willing to bet that everyone who knows me knows my love and respect for Peyton Manning. i mean, seriously. i spent 16 years teaching preschoolers and i can tell you that some of them still, to this day, see this man on a football field and say "Ms. Nicole loves Peyton Manning". the number 18 forever embedded in their little minds. the number 18 representing greatness, gracefulness, determination, drive, talent and just a legend...a pure legend.
i have LOYALLY followed this man for almost TWO DECADES (yes, THAT long) and i have NEVER faltered once due to any loss by the Colts (his then team) or by the Broncos (his now and most likely final team-insert tears)...even after the ugly loss two years ago in Super Bowl 48 to the Seahawks. never. his humility and pure love of the game make him something special. a role model, of sorts. something the sports world alone could learn from this man.
ironically, beginning 6 years ago we wound up having something not so fortunate in common...multiple neck surgeries/fusions. every day (after THREE surgeries) i STILL live in pain....pain that shoots down my right arm (yes, my painting arm) into my hand, back up into my shoulder, down my trapezius and well, it's just not a whole lot of fun. i manage. i'll continue to manage. why? because my drive and determination and pure LOVE and PASSION for my craft will keep that pencil and paintbrush in my hand, no matter what the pain level may be. throwing a football and being one of the greatest players to ever grace a field after FOUR of those surgeries? well, that is nothing short of miraculous. yes, he has access to the greatest doctors in the world, etc etc etc. but he plays still because he has great LOVE and PASSION for the sport. no matter what his physical disabilities may be, his drive and determination is much much bigger.
knowing that today's game may be his last ever, you can bet i'll be crying a whole ocean (or two) just watching this man do what he loves most...honestly, humbly, respectfully and just Peyton being Peyton. not sure what i'll do with my sundays now but i'll still be wearing that magical number 18 and i'll still have his face as the screensaver on my Mac so that when i'm at my easel doing what i love most and the pain gets a bit mundane, i can just look over and know that it can be done. that pain and physical limitations don't have to stop you from doing what you love more than anything else in the world. always promised myself that one day i would pen this man a letter, letting him know how much of an inspiration he truly is....
helmets off to you, Peyton Manning for being a class act all the way to the end. win or lose, you'll always be a winner to this girl!
{my
style may have changed over the years but that's about it when it comes to this man!}
crazy couple of weeks (hence the lack of blogging-*hangs head in shame*) but i've been busy and that's a very good thing!
another good thing? i FINALLY got my SNOW!!! over 30"....not too shabby!
and what's the greatest thing that's happened to me in the last 2 weeks? wait for it, wait for it....PEYTON MANNING IS SUPER BOWL BOUND!!! (should have just done a whole separate post for this one....LOVE THIS MAN) i cried like a baby. EVERYONE who knows me personally knows how much respect and love i have for this man...and have (loyally) for almost TWO DECADES. never wavered once. knowing this may be his last rodeo, well i want him to go out BIG! no one is more deserving. prayers and fingers crossed for a SB WIN on 2/7/16....although this man will ALWAYS be a WINNER to me! love you, Peyton Manning.
know that this little sketch needs NO explanation!
{and for those who don't, well i think it's pretty self explanatory.}
football is BACK....but more importantly than that, PEYTON IS BACK...and that makes for a very happy girl, right here!!!
i have followed this man from his rookie days with the Colts (their loss) to his days with the Broncos (thank you, John Elway for the most wonderful addition your team). classy. humble. respectable. incredibly talented and just an all around awesome guy...and quarterback.
ironically we turned out to to have some unfortunate circumstances in common....like multiple neck surgeries/fusions which if you know anything about the cervical spine, well it certainly affects the use of your arm(s)/hand(s). to still be able to grasp a football and play as eloquently as he does, well that is nothing short of miraculous to me. i feel his pain everyday (literally) as holding a pencil/paintbrush has become somewhat of a challenge on some days...but as peyton says, "these nerves have a mind of their own." they surely do. however, i use that pain to fuel my passion even more. so...take THAT nerve pain! ;)
wishing peyton (and the broncos) a great season and may today be the first day on the journey to the Super Bowl...WIN!
peyton, you are my hero!
melted.
i mean, really. how could it NOT be?! and, who does not know of my undying love and devotion to this man....
it's almost football time and that means i get to see this amazing man on my screen on sundays...and some monday nights...and even some thursday nights. then, all will be perfect in nicole's world!
how freakin' CUTE are his twins?! not as cute as their daddy, but close...;)
so much love for this man (and way before we ever had those life changing neck surgeries in common). he is such an inspiration and such a class act. i mean if you DON'T love and respect the guy, well surely you're not human.
{this is the last sunday with no football! thank you God because i was starting to go a little crazy. pre-season or not, i'll take it!}
LOVE YOU PEYTON!
xxx
to the most handsome, most classy, most humble and most amazingly awesome QB in the NFL! you are everything. I LOVE YOU PEYTON!!!
pure greatness. Super Bowl win or no Super Bowl win. this man is everything.
is it september yet???
and September's sapphire haired beauty, Iris. she is available FOR SALE here:
i'll be posting little Opal (October's mermaid) in the next day or two. just have to scan her, as she's been done for a few days now.
September means FALL and wow, it can not come quick enough for me! this rain forest-like climate is a bit much. never liked summer. never will.
looking forward to all the smells of autumn (like pumpkins, apples, cinnamon...). speaking of pumpkins, i am already drooling at the anticipation of my first cup of pumpkin spice coffee from dunkin' donuts. OMG....SO YUMMY!!! and if that wasn't enough to excite me....
4 MORE DAYS TIL KICK OFF AND MY MAN PEYTON TAKING THE FIELD!!! SUPER STOKED!!!
i thought this was appropriate for this week's IF prompt *tribute*....my mad crazy love for mr. manning!
can't wait for football season to start!!!!
but it still counts!:)
just wanted to show my man peyton some love tonight (as we all know i have plenty of that for him!!!)
so, go kick some bears a**!!!
love, pippa
xxx
ok....so it's not really a *secret*...but my sweet little character Pippa is really ME!;)
i thought i would share some sketches of her as i am currently in the process of re-doing my website and the art work for the home page, bio page and contact page will feature Pippa :)
also, there's a sketch of Pippa in her new little Peyton Manning jersey....as a Bronco now, of course. because as we all know, Peyton is MY MAN! FOREVER! no matter where he plays, i will ALWAYS be his #1 fan!
ok....don't get me going about Peyton...;)
like everyone who knows me didn't know this was coming!
pippa loves peyton:)
as most of you know i am the biggest peyton manning fan there is....and it's so sad to see the colts cut him loose today. after 14 years of greatness! well, mr. manning, i will follow you wherever you go because i love you that much!
so...i shall wear my (colts) manning jerseys with pride...until i need to buy some new ones in the fall.
thank you peyton for 14 years of nothing but greatness and skill. you are the classiest man to ever grace a football field! and a hero and role model for many young boys out there!
love you...xxx
just a quick little sketch i did about a month ago. it was to be my profile pic on facebook everytime my beloved indianaplois colts played a game. well, for all who know me, i am the BIGGEST peyton manning fan alive! LOVE THIS MAN!
sad to say, peyton and i have a few things in common now....neck surgeries:( word is he is out for this season...and poor little nicole is bummed beyond belief! i feel for him literally.. having undergone 2 neck/spinal surgeries/fusions last august and october. no fun!:(
i wish him the speediest recovery and hope and pray he can return to indy next season...better than ever!!!
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So cute and lovely!
thank you so much gigi! :)
ADORABLE!!!!