I'm really not ready. Although I don't have a choice in the matter. Someone I thought would live forever passed away yesterday afternoon. My Uncle Jim. My favorite Uncle. I couldn't tell you what it was about him. He was just kind, strong, silly. Most of the time he was quiet during conversations, but he would speak his piece. He had the best sense of humor. Just like Pappy.
His health wasn't very good. He had type 1 diabetes. Diabetes will eat your body. He lost most of his sight. Eventually his kidneys started to fail. He was put on the transplant list. Lo & behold! His 50th birthday and he got THE phone call! Not only did he get a donor kidney, but he also got a donor pancreas. Amazing. Goodbye diabetes. Goodbye insulin shots. He looked so healthy. Even though he never complained. Time marched on. There were some problems with the kidney, but it wasn't rejecting. The last few years were very hard on him health wise. He had open heart surgery. Aunt Billie told me a few weeks ago that they were going to the hospital in St Louis.
Welcome to the 21st century. I found out on Facebook that he had a bad infection & that his breathing was labored. They were going to put him on a ventilator. He was a fighter. He always fought so hard & I assumed that he would fight this also. He was tired. God saw that he was tired and he took him home. Resting in the arms of our Savior. He's with Granny & Pappy. He's all healthy now and won't ever have to put up the fight again.
So until we meet again, Rest in peace, Uncle Jim. Rest in peace.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Two Days and a Wake up!
Three days from right now we will be comfortable & relaxing in Tucson at Mom & Dad's!! We've been planning this for quite some time. I'm very proud of us though. We saved & saved for this trip. We started packing tonight & despite their most eager efforts, we didn't let Oliver & Gracie help. Oliver wanted IN the suitcase. He alone would probably put us overweight. I have lists on my desk for everything. I even called Southwest a little bit ago to make sure I had been given the correct information regarding the CPAP machines back in September. (I had) The weather was not so bad here today. About 31. It actually feels pretty nice for this time of year. They are calling for freezing rain & snow tomorrow, but it looks like most of it will be north of here. As long as we don't get hit with nasty weather Friday night/Saturday morning I will be fine.
TUCSON HERE WE COME!!!!!!
TUCSON HERE WE COME!!!!!!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Goodbye 2012. Hello 2013.
Here we are. December 31, 2012. It's been one heck of a year. Some good. Some bad. But we made it through it all relatively unscathed.
Eric got married to a wonderful woman that we all love. Julie. She has made such a difference in Eric. He is calmer & more at peace than I have ever seen him.
Nicholas met a wonderful woman. Ellie. I'm not sure about everyone else but I think they all agree with me. I love Ellie. She has made the biggest difference in Nicholas' life. He flew to NY to meet her. Alone. Nicholas doesn't like to fly, let alone fly alone, to meet someone he has never met before. And plan on staying there for 3 weeks. Since then he has made a few other trips back & forth between here & NY. He's more confident. Maybe I should just say he's confident. Period. On Christmas Eve he told me that he is moving to NY. Yes, I'm sad. But I'm so happy that he is finally spreading his wings & taking the necessary steps to be on his own. Not that I didn't have faith in him, but I honestly believed that he would be 40 yrs old & still living with Rick.
Michael. Michael was able to come home for Eric's wedding. He stayed with us most of the time. He left here and had to catch a plane to Camp Fuji, Japan 2 days later. Well, it ended up being more than 2 days because of the typhoon in Japan. He really seems to be enjoying his time there. He has Mt Fuji practically out his back door. He just applied for a passport so that he can go to other countries & finally enjoy the benefits of military life. Seeing the world. (and not get shot at).
Daniel. Daniel is a work in progress. I am trying to keep the lines of communication open with him. Sometimes he doesn't make it very easy. I know that he is working & going to school. I'm very proud of him for that. I'm not going to give up. I will have all 4 boys under one roof. One way or another.
Amber. Amber & Tim are getting married on May 7th. I'm very excited & happy that her, Tim & Sammy are going to officially be a family. We will be there.
Mom & Dad. Retirement agrees with both of them. Mom is now 4.5 yrs cancer free! Praise God! We are flying out to visit them in their new mobile home in February. We're both very excited.
I guess for me this has been a bittersweet year. Michael & Amber turned 30. Eric got married. Daniel seems to be getting his life straightened out. Nicholas turned 21 and is turning into an independent young man. That's a lot of emotion for 1 Mom. I made it through. Lots of tears were shed. But I made it through stronger than ever.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Eric got married to a wonderful woman that we all love. Julie. She has made such a difference in Eric. He is calmer & more at peace than I have ever seen him.
Nicholas met a wonderful woman. Ellie. I'm not sure about everyone else but I think they all agree with me. I love Ellie. She has made the biggest difference in Nicholas' life. He flew to NY to meet her. Alone. Nicholas doesn't like to fly, let alone fly alone, to meet someone he has never met before. And plan on staying there for 3 weeks. Since then he has made a few other trips back & forth between here & NY. He's more confident. Maybe I should just say he's confident. Period. On Christmas Eve he told me that he is moving to NY. Yes, I'm sad. But I'm so happy that he is finally spreading his wings & taking the necessary steps to be on his own. Not that I didn't have faith in him, but I honestly believed that he would be 40 yrs old & still living with Rick.
Michael. Michael was able to come home for Eric's wedding. He stayed with us most of the time. He left here and had to catch a plane to Camp Fuji, Japan 2 days later. Well, it ended up being more than 2 days because of the typhoon in Japan. He really seems to be enjoying his time there. He has Mt Fuji practically out his back door. He just applied for a passport so that he can go to other countries & finally enjoy the benefits of military life. Seeing the world. (and not get shot at).
Daniel. Daniel is a work in progress. I am trying to keep the lines of communication open with him. Sometimes he doesn't make it very easy. I know that he is working & going to school. I'm very proud of him for that. I'm not going to give up. I will have all 4 boys under one roof. One way or another.
Amber. Amber & Tim are getting married on May 7th. I'm very excited & happy that her, Tim & Sammy are going to officially be a family. We will be there.
Mom & Dad. Retirement agrees with both of them. Mom is now 4.5 yrs cancer free! Praise God! We are flying out to visit them in their new mobile home in February. We're both very excited.
I guess for me this has been a bittersweet year. Michael & Amber turned 30. Eric got married. Daniel seems to be getting his life straightened out. Nicholas turned 21 and is turning into an independent young man. That's a lot of emotion for 1 Mom. I made it through. Lots of tears were shed. But I made it through stronger than ever.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Veteran's Day
Today is Veteran's Day. A day we honor all of the men & women you have fought for our country so that we may have our freedoms.
It was a very humbling day for me. We decided to go to breakfast with some friends this morning. The restaurant was busy so we had about a 20 minute wait. I was standing around, people watching when I noticed a couple that each had a set of dog tags around their neck.
The lady had a Marine Corps shirt on so I approached her and asked if she had a son or daughter that was a Marine. She said they had a son that had recently graduated from boot camp. We talked about boot camp & I related my story about Michael giving me his first EGA. The one he got at the end of the crucible. I told her how special it was to me. I asked if they had been able to attend his graduation. She said no. Their older son, a Marine deployed in Afghanistan, had been killed by an IED 2 weeks before graduation. Silence. I apologized more wholeheartedly then I think I ever have before. I cannot begin to fathom what they went through. I shed quite a few tears, mourning for these parents. Realizing how lucky I am that my own son made it home safely.
I thanked them for their sacrifice and told them I would be forever grateful to their sons for the dedication to our country.
Needless to say I am looking at life differently right now. Life is so precious.
It was a very humbling day for me. We decided to go to breakfast with some friends this morning. The restaurant was busy so we had about a 20 minute wait. I was standing around, people watching when I noticed a couple that each had a set of dog tags around their neck.
The lady had a Marine Corps shirt on so I approached her and asked if she had a son or daughter that was a Marine. She said they had a son that had recently graduated from boot camp. We talked about boot camp & I related my story about Michael giving me his first EGA. The one he got at the end of the crucible. I told her how special it was to me. I asked if they had been able to attend his graduation. She said no. Their older son, a Marine deployed in Afghanistan, had been killed by an IED 2 weeks before graduation. Silence. I apologized more wholeheartedly then I think I ever have before. I cannot begin to fathom what they went through. I shed quite a few tears, mourning for these parents. Realizing how lucky I am that my own son made it home safely.
I thanked them for their sacrifice and told them I would be forever grateful to their sons for the dedication to our country.
Needless to say I am looking at life differently right now. Life is so precious.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Days flying by.
It seems like there aren't enough hours in a day. Where has this year gone? Daniel will be 25 tomorrow. I can remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. 6# 8oz 19 1/2" long, born at 12:16 pm. If we had been lotto players back then, we could have made some money. The 4 digit number on his ankle bracelet was the pick 4 that day. Next thing you know it will be Thanksgiving & then Christmas. I have to be honest. I am really looking forward to this year coming to an end. I'm proud of everything that I made it through. Maybe I am tougher than I give myself credit for?
Tomorrow we are driving up to Galena to get away. Alan's Godson has a football game on Friday & he promised him he would go to at least one of his games. Saturday is Hailey's 2nd birthday party. We can't wait to see her. Haven't seen her since July. Nora says she it talking up a storm & making sentences.
We spend a lot of time with Ari & Sloane. They are 9 1/2 months old now. It's been wonderful watching them grow & learn & form their own little personalities. Sloane is ready to walk. She crawls over all over quick as a flash. Ari just takes his time & seems to be content to belly crawl for now. We've all come to the conclusion that he can crawl, he just chooses not to. Sloane is saying Mama, Dada, Aya (Ari). It's been great babysitting. Unfortunately it makes me miss Alise & Sammy even more. At least I will get to see Sammy in May when Amber & Tim tie the knot.
I got 2 pairs of new glasses. I'm excited because now I can see. Wow was I missing out with my old ones.
I'm working on 1 day at a time. Things have been stressful for me lately. I'll work through it. I always do. I have a great psychologist & a wonderful therapist. Part of the therapy, if you choose so, is faith based. This will be perfect for me as I begin my journey to turn my life over to Christ. I worry too much (among other things) and I need to learn to turn things over to God and let him guide me. I've been reading scripture and from a little booklet called "Our Daily Bread".
I will leave you with my favorite verse.
Matthew 7:7-12. Ask, Seek, Knock.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks you for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Tomorrow we are driving up to Galena to get away. Alan's Godson has a football game on Friday & he promised him he would go to at least one of his games. Saturday is Hailey's 2nd birthday party. We can't wait to see her. Haven't seen her since July. Nora says she it talking up a storm & making sentences.
We spend a lot of time with Ari & Sloane. They are 9 1/2 months old now. It's been wonderful watching them grow & learn & form their own little personalities. Sloane is ready to walk. She crawls over all over quick as a flash. Ari just takes his time & seems to be content to belly crawl for now. We've all come to the conclusion that he can crawl, he just chooses not to. Sloane is saying Mama, Dada, Aya (Ari). It's been great babysitting. Unfortunately it makes me miss Alise & Sammy even more. At least I will get to see Sammy in May when Amber & Tim tie the knot.
I got 2 pairs of new glasses. I'm excited because now I can see. Wow was I missing out with my old ones.
I'm working on 1 day at a time. Things have been stressful for me lately. I'll work through it. I always do. I have a great psychologist & a wonderful therapist. Part of the therapy, if you choose so, is faith based. This will be perfect for me as I begin my journey to turn my life over to Christ. I worry too much (among other things) and I need to learn to turn things over to God and let him guide me. I've been reading scripture and from a little booklet called "Our Daily Bread".
I will leave you with my favorite verse.
Matthew 7:7-12. Ask, Seek, Knock.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks you for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Long time no see
I'm a terrible blogger. It's been almost 3 months since my last one.
We made it through Eric & Julie's wedding. It was simply beautiful and everything went perfectly! They both looked amazing and thanks to Mom, I think I looked pretty good myself. It was so nice to see everyone looking wonderful & happy. It was nice to see family members that we don't get a chance to see nearly often enough. We took a lot of pictures & the photographer took some amazing pictures. I think the best part of the evening was my dance with my son. I've waited 27 yrs for that and couldn't have been more happy than I was that day/evening. I'm so proud of him. All of my sons. Missed Daniel. There are a few pictures with myself, the boys & Amber. I will always cherish them, but I still miss having all 4 boys together.
In other news...We booked & paid for our vacation to Tucson in February. We have the car reserved, bought new luggage and now are waiting for February 9th. We have a close friend coming to stay here to watch the house & take care of the cats.
I did hear from Daniel a couple of weeks ago. He called me to tell me what was going on in his life. He really sounded good and said some things that make me very proud of him. I freely admit that I was one of his worst critics. There was something in his voice that makes me believe that he is well on his way to having his life back on track. He told me that he finally realized that if he wanted something, nobody was going to drop it in his lap, but that he knew he had to go get it himself. He is in an apprenticeship program with the Pipefitters union. This is his 1st year so he is making $18 an hour. Not bad. It's a 5 yr program & I wish him the best of luck. He admitted that it took him over 6 yrs to get his head on straight, but I told him that at least now he knows there was a problem and that he is going in the right direction to make his life better. He also told me that he has been having severe headaches and that they can't figure out what is causing them. He sent me a text message today saying that he was on his way to get an MRI. I just hope it's nothing serious.
Now it's Amber & Tim's turn to get married! The date is set for May 7th. She found THE DRESS. I am so excited. She, Tim & Sammy already make a beautiful family. Now it's time to make it official. So far we are planning on driving to New Jersey & staying at a hotel. I have my dress from Eric's wedding. I'm pretty sure I will wear it for Amber's also.
One of the proudest moments in my life.
We made it through Eric & Julie's wedding. It was simply beautiful and everything went perfectly! They both looked amazing and thanks to Mom, I think I looked pretty good myself. It was so nice to see everyone looking wonderful & happy. It was nice to see family members that we don't get a chance to see nearly often enough. We took a lot of pictures & the photographer took some amazing pictures. I think the best part of the evening was my dance with my son. I've waited 27 yrs for that and couldn't have been more happy than I was that day/evening. I'm so proud of him. All of my sons. Missed Daniel. There are a few pictures with myself, the boys & Amber. I will always cherish them, but I still miss having all 4 boys together.
In other news...We booked & paid for our vacation to Tucson in February. We have the car reserved, bought new luggage and now are waiting for February 9th. We have a close friend coming to stay here to watch the house & take care of the cats.
I did hear from Daniel a couple of weeks ago. He called me to tell me what was going on in his life. He really sounded good and said some things that make me very proud of him. I freely admit that I was one of his worst critics. There was something in his voice that makes me believe that he is well on his way to having his life back on track. He told me that he finally realized that if he wanted something, nobody was going to drop it in his lap, but that he knew he had to go get it himself. He is in an apprenticeship program with the Pipefitters union. This is his 1st year so he is making $18 an hour. Not bad. It's a 5 yr program & I wish him the best of luck. He admitted that it took him over 6 yrs to get his head on straight, but I told him that at least now he knows there was a problem and that he is going in the right direction to make his life better. He also told me that he has been having severe headaches and that they can't figure out what is causing them. He sent me a text message today saying that he was on his way to get an MRI. I just hope it's nothing serious.
Now it's Amber & Tim's turn to get married! The date is set for May 7th. She found THE DRESS. I am so excited. She, Tim & Sammy already make a beautiful family. Now it's time to make it official. So far we are planning on driving to New Jersey & staying at a hotel. I have my dress from Eric's wedding. I'm pretty sure I will wear it for Amber's also.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Its been awhile!
Yes. I know. It's been awhile since I last checked in. No excuse. I just have not been inspired. We've been spending time with Mom & Dad. Mom & I go our way and talk. Dad & Alan go their way & talk. Mom has been a big help, as usual. Menopause is rough and the symptoms just seem to be getting worse. Also new ones are starting to pop up like dandelions. If it wasn't for my talks with Mom, I would think I was losing my mind.
I have started my countdown to Eric & Julie's wedding. 31 days and a wake up! I think I have everything now. Dress, check. Shoes, check. Purse, check. Strapless bra, check. I think bra shopping was the most time consuming and, surprisingly, the most complicated. I have my hair appointment set for 9 am the day of the wedding and Mom's Mary Kay lady, Judi Tapella, is doing our make up (for free!) at 11:00 am. We don't have to be at the church until 2:00 pm, so that will give us plenty of time to sit & relax before we have to get dressed and take off for the church. I don't think I have ever seen Eric so happy with a woman before. He is so into the wedding & the planning. He is adamant about not seeing Julie's gown until she starts her walk down the aisle.
This is good. Our family is long overdue for a big wedding. Happiness & togetherness. Lots of family pictures. My only disappointment is that Daniel won't be there for pictures. But that's another story.
Just happy thoughts!
I have started my countdown to Eric & Julie's wedding. 31 days and a wake up! I think I have everything now. Dress, check. Shoes, check. Purse, check. Strapless bra, check. I think bra shopping was the most time consuming and, surprisingly, the most complicated. I have my hair appointment set for 9 am the day of the wedding and Mom's Mary Kay lady, Judi Tapella, is doing our make up (for free!) at 11:00 am. We don't have to be at the church until 2:00 pm, so that will give us plenty of time to sit & relax before we have to get dressed and take off for the church. I don't think I have ever seen Eric so happy with a woman before. He is so into the wedding & the planning. He is adamant about not seeing Julie's gown until she starts her walk down the aisle.
This is good. Our family is long overdue for a big wedding. Happiness & togetherness. Lots of family pictures. My only disappointment is that Daniel won't be there for pictures. But that's another story.
Just happy thoughts!
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