2009 has been a much better year!
We've found a new house and will be moving in less than two weeks. It's a single story townhouse with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. We could not have found a more perfect place. Everything we need is on one floor and the layout is perfect for Tricia to get herself around the entire place. There is a huge screened in patio and we are less than 50 feet from the community pool.
I will be sending an email with the address soon. I just wanted to keep everyone updated and let you know we are having a wonderful year so far! Watch for pictures soon!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Goodbye 2008!!!!
I've been thinking of this post for the past few days. So much has happened in 2008, the good, the bad, and the ugly... At the beginning of this year, my resolution was to stay positive. For the most part I was, but there were some events which really tested my resolution.
So let's review: unemployed, no home, no income... whew! The one thing I know I learned was how to receive. How can that be hard, you say? I'm a giver by nature. Receiving is very uncomfortable for me. But, swallow your pride, put away your self image, and do what you need to do to survive. I think the hardest thing about receiving, is to know the right way to give. For years, being a giver was something I didn't even think about. If you needed it and I had it, it was yours. God was always there to refill my cup. But there is a clear and real difference between giving because you really want to help, and giving so you can fill your "charity" square on your bingo card of life. So many people helped us through this year. To many the giving was real, to others we were just a charity case, something they could tell people about, something they could throw in our faces when we least needed to hear it. I learned how easy it was for people to lie. But not to worry. I still appreciated it all and will never forget the help.
We were talking recently about how many times we dreamed out loud of better times and kinder people. I think if I say "when I win the lottery" one more time, Tricia will scream. LOL! (Hey, dreaming keeps you going some times.) We now know what it feels like to have an empty bank account and be living in a car. We know hunger. We know what it feels like to be treated like dirt and talked to like we were worthless. We know how peoples words can leave a scar on our hearts that will never go away. We know who our true family and friends are. It's funny, because I really believed some people when they said they would be there for us, said they were our friends, and gave, even when they rarely ever even saw us. I was amazed to learn how many people judged us by the money we didn't have. We learned unconditional love. Even when we were being judged by people not even knowing the facts, we kept praying and held our heads high. I will never stop praying...
I know our Lord was carrying us this entire year. I describe this past year as if Christ were taking us for a walk through a giant mansion. Each room held different experiences, some good, some bad. Some times things looked beautiful on the outside, but when you got into them you found everything to be fake. Yet Christ held our hands throughout the entire year. He opened our eyes to be able to see the true people from the fakes. He blessed me with a real and true friend, a daughter who never turned her back on me, and the two most wonderful grandaughters ever. He gave me realtives I will forever be indebted to. I am blessed!
The best part of this past year is knowing the future will be better. I pray you all have a beautiful 2009, learn to give unconditionally, love unconditionally, and keep your faithful loved ones close. It will be my year to say thank you to all the people who helped us. I know who you are and know I will be saying thank you loud and clear. Happy New Year!
So let's review: unemployed, no home, no income... whew! The one thing I know I learned was how to receive. How can that be hard, you say? I'm a giver by nature. Receiving is very uncomfortable for me. But, swallow your pride, put away your self image, and do what you need to do to survive. I think the hardest thing about receiving, is to know the right way to give. For years, being a giver was something I didn't even think about. If you needed it and I had it, it was yours. God was always there to refill my cup. But there is a clear and real difference between giving because you really want to help, and giving so you can fill your "charity" square on your bingo card of life. So many people helped us through this year. To many the giving was real, to others we were just a charity case, something they could tell people about, something they could throw in our faces when we least needed to hear it. I learned how easy it was for people to lie. But not to worry. I still appreciated it all and will never forget the help.
We were talking recently about how many times we dreamed out loud of better times and kinder people. I think if I say "when I win the lottery" one more time, Tricia will scream. LOL! (Hey, dreaming keeps you going some times.) We now know what it feels like to have an empty bank account and be living in a car. We know hunger. We know what it feels like to be treated like dirt and talked to like we were worthless. We know how peoples words can leave a scar on our hearts that will never go away. We know who our true family and friends are. It's funny, because I really believed some people when they said they would be there for us, said they were our friends, and gave, even when they rarely ever even saw us. I was amazed to learn how many people judged us by the money we didn't have. We learned unconditional love. Even when we were being judged by people not even knowing the facts, we kept praying and held our heads high. I will never stop praying...
I know our Lord was carrying us this entire year. I describe this past year as if Christ were taking us for a walk through a giant mansion. Each room held different experiences, some good, some bad. Some times things looked beautiful on the outside, but when you got into them you found everything to be fake. Yet Christ held our hands throughout the entire year. He opened our eyes to be able to see the true people from the fakes. He blessed me with a real and true friend, a daughter who never turned her back on me, and the two most wonderful grandaughters ever. He gave me realtives I will forever be indebted to. I am blessed!
The best part of this past year is knowing the future will be better. I pray you all have a beautiful 2009, learn to give unconditionally, love unconditionally, and keep your faithful loved ones close. It will be my year to say thank you to all the people who helped us. I know who you are and know I will be saying thank you loud and clear. Happy New Year!
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Grandchildren's Christmas With Us
We all know the real reason for the season. It's about the birth of the Christ child, the start of something new and beautiful. And that is what this blog is about. My grandchildren always make me smile. They make me want to do fun things and laugh. I watch them and it brings back all the memories of my girls when they were little. We've tried over the years to create special holiday traditions that will become a part of our families history. Since Dan died, it has undoubtedly been difficult to keep up some of those traditions. But we will keep trying and keep smiling as life brings us new and exciting traditions and memories. Here is a collection of photos that have made this year special...
http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=7ba26cda10d495c327d0cb"
http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=7ba26cda10d495c327d0cb"
Monday, December 22, 2008
Daddy's Poem
Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone. But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats One by one the teacher called a student from the class. To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there. 'Where's her daddy at?' She heard a boy call out. 'She probably doesn't have one,' another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, 'Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.' The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom. And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique. 'My Dad couldn't be here, because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone. 'Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart' With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.
When she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud. 'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far. You see he is a Marine and died just this past year, when a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught Americans to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.' And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day. And to her mothers amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side. 'I know you're with me Daddy,' to the silence she called out.
What happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt. No one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there. 'Where's her daddy at?' She heard a boy call out. 'She probably doesn't have one,' another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, 'Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.' The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom. And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique. 'My Dad couldn't be here, because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone. 'Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart' With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.
When she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud. 'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far. You see he is a Marine and died just this past year, when a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught Americans to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.' And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day. And to her mothers amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side. 'I know you're with me Daddy,' to the silence she called out.
What happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt. No one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Palm Bay Christmas Parade
Sometimes you can wait all day for a parade, and then just poop out at the last minute. The girls tried to stay awake, but...
We started out during daylight, waiting for the Palm Bay Christmas Parade to start. Kaylie and Tricia were relaxing and being silly.
These are Makenzie's "Christmas Eyes".
And here are Kaylie's "Christmas Eyes".
Remembering Dan the Magical Way..
http://www.onetruemedia.com/my_shared?z=10691912709064ed438910&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
This year we tried to turn things around and begin to embrace the beauty of the holiday season while remembering Dan. In the past 4 years we were focusing on just him, not on how he impacted our lives during this season. This year was different...
We started our day by Tricia, Jan and I meeting Josh at Disney World. You had to know, it was the coldest day so far this year, with the high reaching 62. We froze. We all planned to "do the day" the way Dan would have, enjoying all his favorites. It started with a Monorail ride to Epcot. One of our favorite spots at Epcot was the Rose and Crown Pub, remembering our lives in England and all the friends we have there. We enjoyed a great lunch, having our favorite potato and leek soup followed by Shepard's pie. That's just the way to bring back some great memories. Jan tried an ale for Dan, but she didn't care for it, saying she'd best leave that for Dan. We laughed a lot and just enjoyed the atmosphere. A quick walk through England brought back not just the sights, but even the smells we knew. Mmmm...
You can't go to Epcot without touring the worlds, so off we went. France was our first stop. I must admit, Bevan was also on my mind as I remembered going to Paris. I'm sure he and Dan would have enjoyed a great time there! America is always a good stopping point for anyone whose ever been in the US Military. They keep it very patriotic, making remembering Dan very easy. Germany was decorated very nicely and I remembered the time we spent there with my brother Steve and his family. Dan said he finally felt like he got to know them after that trip. We had to go to Italy and remember my brother-in-law John teasing Dan about the "great Italians"! At the end of the worlds is an area we shared with the memory of Dan's favorite of my cousins, Jerry. When Jerry died, we dropped a seagull in the water there to remember Jerry. It's still there, and I'm sure the guys check on it now and then to be sure it stays there.
Josh left us after the worlds to get things done at home. We thanked him for sharing time with us and once again making this entire day possible for us. We love you Josh! Tricia, Jan and I headed for the Nemo ride and the giant aquarium. It was very nice, but hot in there. We walked around a bit more and decided to head over to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Celebration. Just our luck, the monorail was out of order so we jumped on a bus to get back to the park. We got on a different monorail once we got to Magic Kingdom. Dan loved to ride the monorail so we looped the park twice before we got off.
Main Street in Magic Kingdom was decorated so beautifully. Dan loved to decorate our outdoors at the holidays and even motivated our entire neighborhood in Fawn Ridge to decorate. We checked out the decorations, noting which ones Dan would like best. You'll see them on the montage. Tomorrowland was a must see for us and there were indoor things to do there, which would keep us warm, so we went there first. Disney really is magical. It can take your problems away and put your head in a better place. We had to go to Small, Small World as Dan loved to take Kaylie there. There were a few emotional moments as we passed the carousel, remembering Dan taking Kaylie on her first ride... Keep smiling!
By now we were getting hungry again so we had a bite before heading for the show at the castle. Mickey and his friends gave us a great show, including lots of holiday cheer and music. The finale was fantastic! Cinderella decided she wanted the park to look more Christmassy. Of course, Fairy Godmother overheard her and made a change. She covered the entire castle in white lights! It looked like it was covered in ice. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! As you watch the montage, notice how the castle keeps changing colors. It's just amazing!
During the down times we would talk about how Jan's husband Bob, and Josh would go outside every night to look at the neighborhood decorations. There was a "Tool Time type rivalry between Jan's house and ours for decorating. Kristy, Tricia and Dan would always decorate the outside together. When all our lights and Bob's lights were up, the competition would begin. If one of added a decoration or lights, the other would also add something. By Christmas night we lit up the whole neighborhood! We had our hot chocolate and cookies to warm us up.
Disney World wouldn't end without a parade, and a great Christmas parade it was. My pics don't show all the pretty colors, and the people in front of us kept me from getting some good shots of the dancers, but I'm sure by watching the montage you will still enjoy it. We talked about how Dan and Bob would have decorated everything. Disney missed out on two great decorators! As we boarded the Riverboat to head back to the car, we were exhausted. It was a day full of happy memories and touching moments. Dan would have been proud. We turned a day that was normally full of tears, into a day filled with memories and warm moments. We miss you Dan, but we will be decorating for the first time this year. We won't do it as well as you would have, but we will try... We love you Dan!
This year we tried to turn things around and begin to embrace the beauty of the holiday season while remembering Dan. In the past 4 years we were focusing on just him, not on how he impacted our lives during this season. This year was different...
We started our day by Tricia, Jan and I meeting Josh at Disney World. You had to know, it was the coldest day so far this year, with the high reaching 62. We froze. We all planned to "do the day" the way Dan would have, enjoying all his favorites. It started with a Monorail ride to Epcot. One of our favorite spots at Epcot was the Rose and Crown Pub, remembering our lives in England and all the friends we have there. We enjoyed a great lunch, having our favorite potato and leek soup followed by Shepard's pie. That's just the way to bring back some great memories. Jan tried an ale for Dan, but she didn't care for it, saying she'd best leave that for Dan. We laughed a lot and just enjoyed the atmosphere. A quick walk through England brought back not just the sights, but even the smells we knew. Mmmm...
You can't go to Epcot without touring the worlds, so off we went. France was our first stop. I must admit, Bevan was also on my mind as I remembered going to Paris. I'm sure he and Dan would have enjoyed a great time there! America is always a good stopping point for anyone whose ever been in the US Military. They keep it very patriotic, making remembering Dan very easy. Germany was decorated very nicely and I remembered the time we spent there with my brother Steve and his family. Dan said he finally felt like he got to know them after that trip. We had to go to Italy and remember my brother-in-law John teasing Dan about the "great Italians"! At the end of the worlds is an area we shared with the memory of Dan's favorite of my cousins, Jerry. When Jerry died, we dropped a seagull in the water there to remember Jerry. It's still there, and I'm sure the guys check on it now and then to be sure it stays there.
Josh left us after the worlds to get things done at home. We thanked him for sharing time with us and once again making this entire day possible for us. We love you Josh! Tricia, Jan and I headed for the Nemo ride and the giant aquarium. It was very nice, but hot in there. We walked around a bit more and decided to head over to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Celebration. Just our luck, the monorail was out of order so we jumped on a bus to get back to the park. We got on a different monorail once we got to Magic Kingdom. Dan loved to ride the monorail so we looped the park twice before we got off.
Main Street in Magic Kingdom was decorated so beautifully. Dan loved to decorate our outdoors at the holidays and even motivated our entire neighborhood in Fawn Ridge to decorate. We checked out the decorations, noting which ones Dan would like best. You'll see them on the montage. Tomorrowland was a must see for us and there were indoor things to do there, which would keep us warm, so we went there first. Disney really is magical. It can take your problems away and put your head in a better place. We had to go to Small, Small World as Dan loved to take Kaylie there. There were a few emotional moments as we passed the carousel, remembering Dan taking Kaylie on her first ride... Keep smiling!
By now we were getting hungry again so we had a bite before heading for the show at the castle. Mickey and his friends gave us a great show, including lots of holiday cheer and music. The finale was fantastic! Cinderella decided she wanted the park to look more Christmassy. Of course, Fairy Godmother overheard her and made a change. She covered the entire castle in white lights! It looked like it was covered in ice. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! As you watch the montage, notice how the castle keeps changing colors. It's just amazing!
During the down times we would talk about how Jan's husband Bob, and Josh would go outside every night to look at the neighborhood decorations. There was a "Tool Time type rivalry between Jan's house and ours for decorating. Kristy, Tricia and Dan would always decorate the outside together. When all our lights and Bob's lights were up, the competition would begin. If one of added a decoration or lights, the other would also add something. By Christmas night we lit up the whole neighborhood! We had our hot chocolate and cookies to warm us up.
Disney World wouldn't end without a parade, and a great Christmas parade it was. My pics don't show all the pretty colors, and the people in front of us kept me from getting some good shots of the dancers, but I'm sure by watching the montage you will still enjoy it. We talked about how Dan and Bob would have decorated everything. Disney missed out on two great decorators! As we boarded the Riverboat to head back to the car, we were exhausted. It was a day full of happy memories and touching moments. Dan would have been proud. We turned a day that was normally full of tears, into a day filled with memories and warm moments. We miss you Dan, but we will be decorating for the first time this year. We won't do it as well as you would have, but we will try... We love you Dan!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A New Life
We all know what today is. We all remember four years ago today. But something has changed this year. Although the pain of losing Dan is as strong today as it was four years ago, today we are beginning to celebrate his life. We have so many wonderful memories of him. Tricia and I made a conscious decision to make this year different. Starting today we are going to focus on the good changes we made and Dan made in our lives.
Dan really didn't care for the Christmas season after the year of his fathers accident. As a matter of fact, he almost hated it. He grew extremely depressed at the holidays. His feelings of guilt for not being able to be there to help his family and his father seemed to sometimes consume him. Slowly, over the years, we were able to show him that there were other good things to remember at Christmas... like what it was really about!
The start of it ironically came at a time when Dan had been laid off of work the day before Thanksgiving. I really thought that was going to be a year he was going to succumb to the depression badly. I sat him down and asked him to try something different that year. We were going to focus on making the holiday about the kids and the true meaning of Christmas. The kids got up on the morning of Thanksgiving and began our routine of preparing the meal. We all had special jobs to do, as in our house, everyone was involved in the meal prep, just like the Pilgrims and Indians. However, on this day, I was the Chief in the kitchen. (Dan usually was as he loved to cook.)
We enjoyed our parades and meal, but then something different happened. Instead of Dan watching football, he disappeared out into the garage. Pretty soon he was calling the girls out to help him. Dan was getting out all the outdoor Christmas decorations! That year, as you can ask the girls, was one they will never forget. Dan made it through the season, still a little down, but determined to move forward.
Whenever our family wanted to have great family time and just "put away" the troubles we may have been going through, we would go to Disney World. It was just a short drive and we had annual passes, so it was easy. We would go to the Osborne Light Show and see all the lights and decorations. Disney would have an annual pass holders night and we would go to it, enjoying the cookies, music, lights and Disney snow!
So today, we are going to move forward in a new way. Our friend Josh has invited us to Disney World again. He is getting us in and helping us to enjoy and remember. We are going to moved forward and change to a positive mood for the holidays. Are we going to forget what today is? Absolutely not! But because of what today is, we are going to remember Dan happy, follow his lead to move out of the depression, and get back to living. I'm sure there will still be tears, but hopefully they will be more happy tears than sad. Dan really wanted to go see the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and planned to do so before he got sick. So tonight...we're going! And we will enjoy it for you Dan! We know you will be with us.
Check back with us tomorrow because we will post pictures as our gift to Dan for his birthday!
We love and miss you constantly Dan!
Dan really didn't care for the Christmas season after the year of his fathers accident. As a matter of fact, he almost hated it. He grew extremely depressed at the holidays. His feelings of guilt for not being able to be there to help his family and his father seemed to sometimes consume him. Slowly, over the years, we were able to show him that there were other good things to remember at Christmas... like what it was really about!
The start of it ironically came at a time when Dan had been laid off of work the day before Thanksgiving. I really thought that was going to be a year he was going to succumb to the depression badly. I sat him down and asked him to try something different that year. We were going to focus on making the holiday about the kids and the true meaning of Christmas. The kids got up on the morning of Thanksgiving and began our routine of preparing the meal. We all had special jobs to do, as in our house, everyone was involved in the meal prep, just like the Pilgrims and Indians. However, on this day, I was the Chief in the kitchen. (Dan usually was as he loved to cook.)
We enjoyed our parades and meal, but then something different happened. Instead of Dan watching football, he disappeared out into the garage. Pretty soon he was calling the girls out to help him. Dan was getting out all the outdoor Christmas decorations! That year, as you can ask the girls, was one they will never forget. Dan made it through the season, still a little down, but determined to move forward.
Whenever our family wanted to have great family time and just "put away" the troubles we may have been going through, we would go to Disney World. It was just a short drive and we had annual passes, so it was easy. We would go to the Osborne Light Show and see all the lights and decorations. Disney would have an annual pass holders night and we would go to it, enjoying the cookies, music, lights and Disney snow!
So today, we are going to move forward in a new way. Our friend Josh has invited us to Disney World again. He is getting us in and helping us to enjoy and remember. We are going to moved forward and change to a positive mood for the holidays. Are we going to forget what today is? Absolutely not! But because of what today is, we are going to remember Dan happy, follow his lead to move out of the depression, and get back to living. I'm sure there will still be tears, but hopefully they will be more happy tears than sad. Dan really wanted to go see the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and planned to do so before he got sick. So tonight...we're going! And we will enjoy it for you Dan! We know you will be with us.
Check back with us tomorrow because we will post pictures as our gift to Dan for his birthday!
We love and miss you constantly Dan!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
A Lego Party!
Remember Legos? We did too, so we decided to have a Lego Party...
We made lots of fun things and invented a few new buildings. By using the trees we even made what looked like a Christmas tree. I was amazed at how much attention to the "details" Kaylie insisted on having. The windows needed shutters, the yard needed plants and trees, the house needed windows and doors with frames. Makenzie made a car with tires, not just wheels, a driver (of course) and even made it work with the crank! These girls are so creative!
Makenzie still loves playing on our laps. She sure loves her Auntie Tricia!
What do you think? I love the flag and the antenna in the yard. We should have shown you the whole thing! Legos are so much fun!
We made lots of fun things and invented a few new buildings. By using the trees we even made what looked like a Christmas tree. I was amazed at how much attention to the "details" Kaylie insisted on having. The windows needed shutters, the yard needed plants and trees, the house needed windows and doors with frames. Makenzie made a car with tires, not just wheels, a driver (of course) and even made it work with the crank! These girls are so creative!
Makenzie still loves playing on our laps. She sure loves her Auntie Tricia!
What do you think? I love the flag and the antenna in the yard. We should have shown you the whole thing! Legos are so much fun!Sunday, November 16, 2008
Watching the Last Night Launch...
Talk about bringing back memories! I can remember being at Edwards AFB, CA right after Kristy was born, and watching the first shuttle landing in the desert. We were all mesmerised by the event, knowing we had just witnessed history being made. After the landing we took Kristy, a little baby at the time, and went to see a display of an actual shuttle. It was amazing to me to see the famous "tiles" that cover the out side of the shuttle. They looked like they were about a foot thick! Dan and I stood there with Kristy and talked about how we wished she was old enough to remember that moment. We never realised she would be living so near the Space Center when she got older.
FLASH FORWARD ALMOST 30 YEARS! Tricia, Kristy, Makenzie and I decided to go watch what may be the final night Space Shuttle launch ever. It's one of those things you can't imagine, you just have to see. We wanted Makenzie to have a memory of this special night, so off we all went.
It was a short drive to the beach to find a good viewing spot. That's funny actually, because anywhere you are you can see a night launch. When the shuttle blasts off, it literally turns the night sky to day. It's so amazing! I can remember taking sisters, brothers, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and parents to see launches when they were here. I wonder who remembers them?
When we arrived, Makenzie and I decided to go exploring until launch time.
We found a "secret sidewalk" that no one else was on, and decided that was the perfect spot to start our exploration. As we walked along, Makenzie stopped to touch beach grass. I said close your eyes and touch it, it tickles!
The moon was hiding in the grass.
When we got back to the car, Makenzie had a Star Wars moment and showed us all how Yoda looked. (Even his funny eyes.)
Tricia had a birds eye view out the car window.
It was time for the launch to start. Makenzie was so excited!
Blast off! (We are about 20 miles from the actual launch site.)
Heading up!
Entering the clouds...
Good luck Space Shuttle. Stay safe!
Space shuttle on the left, moon on the right!
FLASH FORWARD ALMOST 30 YEARS! Tricia, Kristy, Makenzie and I decided to go watch what may be the final night Space Shuttle launch ever. It's one of those things you can't imagine, you just have to see. We wanted Makenzie to have a memory of this special night, so off we all went.
It was a short drive to the beach to find a good viewing spot. That's funny actually, because anywhere you are you can see a night launch. When the shuttle blasts off, it literally turns the night sky to day. It's so amazing! I can remember taking sisters, brothers, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and parents to see launches when they were here. I wonder who remembers them?
When we arrived, Makenzie and I decided to go exploring until launch time.
We found a "secret sidewalk" that no one else was on, and decided that was the perfect spot to start our exploration. As we walked along, Makenzie stopped to touch beach grass. I said close your eyes and touch it, it tickles!
The moon was hiding in the grass.
When we got back to the car, Makenzie had a Star Wars moment and showed us all how Yoda looked. (Even his funny eyes.)
Tricia had a birds eye view out the car window.
It was time for the launch to start. Makenzie was so excited!
Blast off! (We are about 20 miles from the actual launch site.)
Heading up!
Entering the clouds...
Good luck Space Shuttle. Stay safe!
Space shuttle on the left, moon on the right!
I try to imagine what Makenzie will remember of the launch. Even more wondrous is what she may be showing her children 30 years from now. I hope she tells them the story of her first night launch, even if it may be the last night launch ever...
Friday, November 7, 2008
It Hurts
I came home that day, from another numbing doctors visit. This time my cancer had moved to my colon. Now all I had to do was tell my family and fight like mad, just to live longer.
Telling Dan was so hard. He'd been through so much with the first cancer. He had been doing everything for me during that cancer. I was going to do more this time. I already made up my mind that he'd been through enough. We decided we had to tell the girls...
My daughters will tell you, if you need to talk to them about anything serious, don't ask them to sit on the couch to talk. They associate the couch with where they were sitting every time we had to tell them about cancer in our family. Couch off limits!
I can't begin to tell you how much harder it was to tell them the second time. Their lives had been turned upside down before and they were just beginning to regain some sense of normalcy.
But, like the strong women and husband they are, we all hugged, cried and decided this would be different. It was.
First cancer: 5 chemo treatments, 14 radiation treatments. Second cancer: 48 chemo treatments, 12 radiation treatments. I was determined to beat it, just because of the hell it was putting my family through...
That was 5 years ago today. I beat it again. You may be thinking, man she's strong. But the one cancer I couldn't beat is the one that will haunt me forever. I prayed for God to give me Dan's cancer. I dared Him to. I swore I'd beat it in the past and I could beat it if he gave it to me, not Dan. He had other plans.
So today I celebrate beating the second cancer. My heart breaks that I couldn't beat Dan's for him.
Telling Dan was so hard. He'd been through so much with the first cancer. He had been doing everything for me during that cancer. I was going to do more this time. I already made up my mind that he'd been through enough. We decided we had to tell the girls...
My daughters will tell you, if you need to talk to them about anything serious, don't ask them to sit on the couch to talk. They associate the couch with where they were sitting every time we had to tell them about cancer in our family. Couch off limits!
I can't begin to tell you how much harder it was to tell them the second time. Their lives had been turned upside down before and they were just beginning to regain some sense of normalcy.
But, like the strong women and husband they are, we all hugged, cried and decided this would be different. It was.
First cancer: 5 chemo treatments, 14 radiation treatments. Second cancer: 48 chemo treatments, 12 radiation treatments. I was determined to beat it, just because of the hell it was putting my family through...
That was 5 years ago today. I beat it again. You may be thinking, man she's strong. But the one cancer I couldn't beat is the one that will haunt me forever. I prayed for God to give me Dan's cancer. I dared Him to. I swore I'd beat it in the past and I could beat it if he gave it to me, not Dan. He had other plans.
So today I celebrate beating the second cancer. My heart breaks that I couldn't beat Dan's for him.
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