We miss and love you DADDY
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thank You Veterans
For the service and sacrifice you have given and continue to give to a grateful nation.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Saw this on a blog and with permission posted if here, it is kind of how i feel
What Grieving People Want You to Know
>
> By Virginia A. Simpson, Ph.D
>
> 1. *I am not strong.* I'm just numb. When you tell me I am strong, I
> feel that you don't see me.
>
> 2. *I will not recover.* This is not a cold or the flu. I'm not sick.
> I'm grieving and that's different. I will not always be grieving as
> intensely, but I will never forget my loved one and rather than
> recover, I want to incorporate his life and love into the rest of my
> life. That person is part of me and always will be, and sometimes I
> will remember him with joy and other times with a tear. Both are okay.
>
> 3. *I don't have to accept the death.* Yes, I have to understand that
> it has happened and it is real, but there are just some things in life
> that are not acceptable.
>
> 4. *Please don't avoid me.* You can't catch my grief. My world is
> painful, and when you are too afraid to call me or visit or say
> anything, you isolate me at a time when I most need to be cared about.
> If you don't know what to say, just come over, give me a hug or touch
> my arm, and gently say, "I'm sorry." You can even say, "I just don't
> know what to say, but I care, and want you to know that."
>
> 5. *Please don't say, "Call me if you need anything." *I'll never call
> you because I have no idea what I need. Trying to figure out what you
> could do for me takes more energy than I have. So, in advance, let me
> give you some ideas:
> /
>
>
> * Bring food.
>
> * Offer to take my children to a movie or game so that I have some
> moments to myself.
>
> * Send me a card on special holidays, birthdays (mine, his or
> hers), or the anniversary of the death, and be sure and mention
> her name. You can't make me cry. The tears are here and I will
> love you for giving me the opportunity to shed them because
> someone cared enough about me to reach out on this difficult day.
>
> * Ask me more than once to join you at a movie or lunch or dinner.
> I may so no at first or even for a while, but please don't give
> up on me because somewhere down the line, I may be ready, and if
> you've given up, then I really will be alone.
>
>
> 6. *Try to understand that this is like I'm in a foreign country where
> I don't speak the language and have no map to tell me what to do.*
> Even if there were a map, I'm not sure right now I could understand
> what it was saying. I'm lost and in a fog. I'm confused.
>
> 7. *When you tell me what I should be doing, then I feel even more
> lost and alone.* I feel bad enough that my loved one is dead, so
> please don't make it worse by telling me I'm not doing this right.
>
> 8. *Please don't call to complain about your husband, your wife, or
> your children.* Right now, I'd be delighted to have my loved one here
> no matter what they were doing.
>
> 9. *Please don't tell me I can have other children or need to start
> dating again.* I'm not ready. And maybe I don't want to. And besides,
> what makes you think people are replaceable? They aren't. Whoever
> comes after, will always be someone different.
>
> 10. *I don't even understand what you mean when you say, "You've got
> to get on with your life."* My life is going on, but it may not look
> the way you think it should. This will take time and I never will be
> my old self again. So please, just love me as I am today, and know,
> that with your love and support, the joy will slowly return to my
> life. But I will never forget and there will always be times that I cry.
>
>
> By Virginia A. Simpson, Ph.D
>
> 1. *I am not strong.* I'm just numb. When you tell me I am strong, I
> feel that you don't see me.
>
> 2. *I will not recover.* This is not a cold or the flu. I'm not sick.
> I'm grieving and that's different. I will not always be grieving as
> intensely, but I will never forget my loved one and rather than
> recover, I want to incorporate his life and love into the rest of my
> life. That person is part of me and always will be, and sometimes I
> will remember him with joy and other times with a tear. Both are okay.
>
> 3. *I don't have to accept the death.* Yes, I have to understand that
> it has happened and it is real, but there are just some things in life
> that are not acceptable.
>
> 4. *Please don't avoid me.* You can't catch my grief. My world is
> painful, and when you are too afraid to call me or visit or say
> anything, you isolate me at a time when I most need to be cared about.
> If you don't know what to say, just come over, give me a hug or touch
> my arm, and gently say, "I'm sorry." You can even say, "I just don't
> know what to say, but I care, and want you to know that."
>
> 5. *Please don't say, "Call me if you need anything." *I'll never call
> you because I have no idea what I need. Trying to figure out what you
> could do for me takes more energy than I have. So, in advance, let me
> give you some ideas:
> /
>
>
> * Bring food.
>
> * Offer to take my children to a movie or game so that I have some
> moments to myself.
>
> * Send me a card on special holidays, birthdays (mine, his or
> hers), or the anniversary of the death, and be sure and mention
> her name. You can't make me cry. The tears are here and I will
> love you for giving me the opportunity to shed them because
> someone cared enough about me to reach out on this difficult day.
>
> * Ask me more than once to join you at a movie or lunch or dinner.
> I may so no at first or even for a while, but please don't give
> up on me because somewhere down the line, I may be ready, and if
> you've given up, then I really will be alone.
>
>
> 6. *Try to understand that this is like I'm in a foreign country where
> I don't speak the language and have no map to tell me what to do.*
> Even if there were a map, I'm not sure right now I could understand
> what it was saying. I'm lost and in a fog. I'm confused.
>
> 7. *When you tell me what I should be doing, then I feel even more
> lost and alone.* I feel bad enough that my loved one is dead, so
> please don't make it worse by telling me I'm not doing this right.
>
> 8. *Please don't call to complain about your husband, your wife, or
> your children.* Right now, I'd be delighted to have my loved one here
> no matter what they were doing.
>
> 9. *Please don't tell me I can have other children or need to start
> dating again.* I'm not ready. And maybe I don't want to. And besides,
> what makes you think people are replaceable? They aren't. Whoever
> comes after, will always be someone different.
>
> 10. *I don't even understand what you mean when you say, "You've got
> to get on with your life."* My life is going on, but it may not look
> the way you think it should. This will take time and I never will be
> my old self again. So please, just love me as I am today, and know,
> that with your love and support, the joy will slowly return to my
> life. But I will never forget and there will always be times that I cry.
>
Friday, November 7, 2008
Home Again
So glad to be home again with the girls BUT wish we lived closer to family. My dads passing still seems surreal. We made a video tribute FIRST ever to attempt this and will post it on McKenna's blog hopefully this weekend. (DAD has to show mommy how)
Monday, November 3, 2008
Life Has A Way of Kicking You Where It Hurts
We have been MIA for a few weeks. October 24 got a phone call that has changed our lives. My dad had collapsed. A short three days later he passed on. We have made a tribute video for him but can't post it until we get home next week. Will also post a few pictures of the GREATEST DAD in the world.
It really puts life into perspective about what really matters and what doesn't.
It really puts life into perspective about what really matters and what doesn't.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I Forgot Picture Day
Well today is picture day at McKenna's school and guess who forgot money and that it was even picture day. I can't believe it I am usually so on top of this and have the envelope in the bag days before. Oh well more pictures for me.
Daddy is taking us on an adventure in the Spring. He says it involves trains and driving there is within an hours time. I am thinking the train out to the Grand Canyon or Death Valley. He also says Discovery Specials and in 1997 a movie special to me was filmed there. Now the movie clue I DO NOT get because I am so blank on a special movie to us that we saw before we were married. So any help here would be appreciated. There is the a Stateline Casino that has a train roller coaster on it. So anyway my mind is blank so Jayne if you read this any clues.
Daddy is taking us on an adventure in the Spring. He says it involves trains and driving there is within an hours time. I am thinking the train out to the Grand Canyon or Death Valley. He also says Discovery Specials and in 1997 a movie special to me was filmed there. Now the movie clue I DO NOT get because I am so blank on a special movie to us that we saw before we were married. So any help here would be appreciated. There is the a Stateline Casino that has a train roller coaster on it. So anyway my mind is blank so Jayne if you read this any clues.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Three Years Ago Today
We stepped off the plane in Salt Lake City, Utah and we were back together as a family of four.
I remember seeing McKenna's face and her big hug. We had missed her so and I still wish we had taken her....for sure next time.
Marielle has always been friendly with everyone and loved her big sister and cousins instantly. She even loved going to her Grandparents.
We are so happy that she is a part of her family. We again want to thank Great Wall of China Adoption agency and the CCAA for allowing us to adopt her.
I remember seeing McKenna's face and her big hug. We had missed her so and I still wish we had taken her....for sure next time.
Marielle has always been friendly with everyone and loved her big sister and cousins instantly. She even loved going to her Grandparents.
We are so happy that she is a part of her family. We again want to thank Great Wall of China Adoption agency and the CCAA for allowing us to adopt her.
