Laurie...

This week...

Moving into the week before the third anniversary of Laurie's death should be filled with sadness and part of it is that way. But I am also struck with the realization that God has allowed me to appreciate every minute I am here on earth. We just had a really great weekend with lots of cool things, sledding with the grandkids, dinner with old friends, seeing the movie "Water Horse", just neat things.

Tonight was Grief Support and since we were hit with another major snowstorm, many did not make the journey to Willow but one couple at my table did get there. Their loss is like ours; a beautiful, handsome young son who took his own life. The dad asked me if I thought our kids were selfish and I knew my answer immediately. No. She was in pain. She was not selfish. Laurie was never selfish. The dad's look of relief was so apparent. That was exactly what he thought about his son's decision. Too much pain and no way to deal with it but to go to Jesus. How I wish these two bright lights could have reached out and explained how hard things seemed and allowed those around them to walk them through their pain and back into joy!

I am still trying to decide whether or not to do an "In Memoriam" picture in our local newspaper this Sunday. Does it serve anything? Does it make me feel better? Or is it something I think I should do? Plus March 2nd is also the birthday of our dear friend John who just passed last year on August 24th. We miss John so much too. Maybe a toast to two wonderful lives is the thing to do...I'll ponder this for a few days.

It is still and quiet outside with the most beautiful snow right now. I think I will go snap a few pics...

925 Posts

I would have felt good if this was the 921st post. We live at 921. Today was my 204th day of not smoking. It would have been cool to point that out on Day 200. So the point would be I miss the mark sometimes on the significant. But that to say, I am trying hard to hone in on the important stuff. I am working hard on finding out what God really, REALLY, wants me to be about.

I type this from the Berwyn home hoping that Denver, Maya and Isaiah are really asleep. We have some traditions, one of them is going to a local Mexican restaurant almost every week. The kids hug Carmen, a beautiful, round Mexican woman. She knows our orders, never asks questions on the odd combination of family members. Carmen smiles at the twins when they are here; listens to each child order their food. She obviously loves us; she stops whatever she is doing to hug each of the kids. When I see her, I feel good. Right now I wonder what her life is like when she leaves the restaurant. Is there hard stuff like this family has? I need to make that my priority next time I am there. I think God wants me to be about others' lives.

I am loving that we are in a season of relative calm. Legal things won't be happening until the end of next month and God knows what needs to be prayed for in the meantime. Katie is a real nurse, taking care of real patients! Her head is on pretty straight and her time living with us is coming to a close soon as she gets her own nearby apartment. I hope we are still a bigish part of all the kids' lives. I love being a grandma and that is the key, grandma not mom, not parent, not disciplinarian...grandma :)

So 925 posts, crazy. Reminds me that my car has 170,000 miles on it and is still running strong. Crazy...Almost three years since Laurie left us, crazy...still.

What a great winter! Two snowmen so far this year!

Friday Isaiah and I visited the Snow Sculpture building.

The elk don't seem to mind the cold at all.

Our elk visit to where else? Elk Grove Village.

Hey, Reecer-Piecer...

"You're Out" snow sculpture was so cool!

A few hours following this picture the temperature dropped to -2 !

Maya stands in front of the first place sculpture, "Reflections"

The snow sculpture drawing board...

I love this one, "Slow Dancing..."

Looking for a buyer for Pete's dad's truck. Know anyone?

Yippee! Souvenir California Tee Shirts for everyone!

Nurse Katie ready for work.

Snow fun...Read, 'It's no fun"

Since my last blog, we have been dealt snow, snow and more snow in the Chicagoland. The snow prevented me from getting home last Thursday from California as I was scheduled. After six hours in a plane, we were told to change to another plane and all the time Pete is telling me that nothing was letting up in Il. I asked to be bumped and be rescheduled to a new flight Friday AM. My new ticket actually bumped me to first class so that was very cool. However, in the ways of air travel these days, we had no sooner boarded the plane Friday when we were told to gather all our belongings; this plane had water in the under belly...not a good thing.

Now I am starting to wonder if I will ever get home again. We eventually got a new plane and I arrived home 24 hours late but home nevertheless.

The snow just keeps coming. Pete plows out us, our friend Karen and his mom and dad's place everytime there is new snow and the prediction for today is MORE snow, 8" to 12"! Good thing he looks so cute in his snowgear! I noted that the ole' groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog's Day so buckle up for six more weeks of this.