Gray skies are going to clear up...

... so put on a happy face.
Okay so this blog is my journaling (since I definitely do not have time to both) it is a way to put my thoughts down, to document what is going on in our lives (to look back on later when I am trying to scrapbook these events -- when I sometime in the future get time to scrapbook), and as therapy (alot cheaper than a therapist!). Its been 3 weeks now since dad has past away and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him at least a hundred times, and thinking of mom another hundred, each of my siblings at least a dozen times, and then of course thinking of my children constantly and nate -- NOW do you know why my head hurts all the time!! :-) It is difficult to know how to move on? It seems weird to go about everything as usual when someone who impacted your life so much is gone, but that is what we must do .... eventually. Every grieves differently too! Some people (like me) like to be constantly reminded of those who we miss and love to go through things that remind us of them. I can't tell you how many times I have looked at pictures or or read the book of questions dad and mom filled out (partially) or just listened to the song "beautiful Exchange" which will forever remind me of dad. Others seem to go on like normal but are grieving inside .. me I like to talk about it... hence the blog... hence if you don't want to hear anymore -- STOP READING. ;-)
This month has really passed by in a whirlwind and the kids weren't able to be there for the last few days of school, but it was special that the day we left Rosetta had her kindergarten diploma ceremony. I am still amazed that she is a first grader!! She ha grown up way too fast.... we are loving learning though. She can't get enough of reading, writing and spelling... we are so proud!

The kids and I have spent alot of time the last month back in Ohio. They are really enjoying spending more time with their grandparents and cousins. The day we returned they asked if we were going back to Ohio the next day, never mind the long drive we just took. Mommy is just getting the house back to normal (as normal as it is going to be this summer with all 4 kids at home!).
Mom took us sisters out to lunch one day while I was home and Lily got to go along too! Here she is all dressed up ready for a day out! She even brought along her purse.

I don't think the swing set has been used this hard for a long time. Everyone of the kids was doing something on the swingset. We spent alot of time trying the monkey bars and building up arm strength!

I don't think we were much help around the house for grandma... here is Lily trying to help. hee-hee

When we were back home in Iowa 2 weeks ago Nate's plant had their 100th anniversary. John Deere went all out and had a wonderful afternoon set up for all the families. The kids really enjoyed it and had fun at Johnny's Farm. They got to plant seeds, milk cows, feed horses, and go fishing all to learn about how each resource uses another. Very Neat Idea!!! Seeing where daddy works was a real treat. The kids got to hang out in daddy's office and see their pictures on his desk.

{Daddy and the kids in front of the Round Baler}

Then after a weekend in Iowa we headed back to the Buckeye state. We even got to spend a few days in columbus (something we haven't done in a loooong time!). Last Friday, Denise and I took the kids to the zoo and got to hang out all day. It was so much fun to spend some time with Jacob and Faith which I don't get to do anymore. When they were little Nate and I used to babysit all the time!! Now Jacob is all grown up and driving to the zoo!!! OH MY!
{The Zoo Crew}
Bad mommy got to the zoo and realized that I forgot all of Lily's bottles on Kathy's kitchen table. But lily was a trooper and wasn't fussy at all the whole time. I am truly lucky that could have been ugly!! Good thing I had brought puffs.

We didn't see alot of animals because there were so many people and it was so HOT, but the polar bear exhibit was really neat.
After the zoo we cooled off at Dennis' and the kids weared off some energy!

{Lily goofing off!}

Lily was entirely too spoiled on the whole trip. Even Dennis got in some lovin' time! The girl sure loves flowers already, must take after her mama!!

{such beauties}

So we have definitely been taking advantage of the summer. We are able to go anywhere at a moments notice because I don't have the kids in anything but spirit camp this week for Rosetta and we just plan on having fun! Too bad daddy isn't home during the day to goof off too! :-(

We did purchase a slip and slide that the kids have been playing with. Best 5.99 I have ever spent!! They usually only ran and jumped in the kiddie pool until there was not any more water in it anyways, so this is more appropriate.

Hoping to make more splashes soon!!!

Feeling a Little Blue

Tomorrow I will wake up and It would have been my father's 72nd birthday. For those of you who haven't heard my father went to be with the lord last Wednesday night. He had battled cancer for the past 4 years and my world has a little hole in it now that he is gone. He was the most amazing father in the world, really hard to live up to -- sorry nate! :-) He wouldn't want us to be sad on his birthday but I am just a little blue thinking of everything he will miss. BUT then I need to put my perspective on what he got to see -- he got to see his 5 kids grow up to the adults we are. I know somedays I probley disappointed him but hopefully there was a few days I made him proud.

I will always remember when I lived in Philadelphia over a summer and was SOOOO homesick and just wanted to come home and called my dad up and asked him if he would be disappointed if I would come home and finish school instead of live the year there in Philly. And he said he would be proud of me either way and I could make whatever decision I wanted..... I have never regretted coming home to be with Nate and not finishing my internship. I sure would have stayed though If dad would have told me too!!

He was my hero and protector, I don't even know how young I was when we were biking around the block and I was sitting on the bar in front of dad's bike and my ankle went in the spokes. He hoisted me on his shoulders and sped all the way home to make me all better.
Dad was there to see his 11 grandchildren -- he got to hold and play and have a relationship with each of my 4 children. Each of my children's lives are impacted by Grandpa Bob, and they will forever hold the memories of fishing and putting together puzzles with Grandpa in their heart. Dad got to see Lily grow up a little bit seeing her go from not doing much to crawling and moving around like a pro. It was cool to see Lily on one of dad's last days up at the hospital and when Lily was in his room all she wanted to look at was grandpa. She wanted down and to be with grandpa. Even as little as she was, she knew he was special. He was a great example to all of us on how to live life like Jesus and to walk with a personal relationship with the Lord. He taught everyone he met just how important it was to live life right and to be a good christian. He was so strong in his faith, even when he didn't feel good he would be up early on sundays dressed in his best, ready to go worship and give praise to God. I don't know about you but I am a perfectly healthy, young woman who sometimes doesn't feel like getting up on sundays to go to church just because I am tired or I have better things to do... (how wrong of me is that!! ) Just knowing my dad has made ME a better person and I know alot of people from all over can say that. We heard that by just listening to some of the stories people have told in the last week. I wonder if I thanked Dad enough for all the sacrifices he made for us, to let us have the very best? I hope he knows just how much he meant to me and to all of us. But dad didn't want his death to be a sad "grouchy" affair -- and it wasn't. Last week was a celebration of his life and it was a testament to his life to see so many people there saying good bye in a very special way. It is truly inspiring!!!

I know Dad isn't done teaching me a few lessons because I still have alot to learn but I cherish every moment we have had with him. I may just feel a little blue sometimes (or as Rosetta said today "mom is having a sad day") but thinking of him also makes me smile. He was alot of fun and could make a joke about anything. He was a HUGE fan of a comedian by the name of Brian Regan and was still making wise cracks and quoting Brian Regan last week. I just know when my kids are learning the solar system they will definitely learn --
"THE BIG YELLOW ONE IS THE SUN!!"
So Happy Birthday Dad, you had an amazing life and your legacy will live on in us. I'm sure you are up there dancing, free from this worldly body and looking down on us still guiding us from above.


2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.