Goodbye Dad

I knew in my heart sometime, perhaps this year; I would be writing this. My father is gone. He left this earth and us on October 29 at 5:30 pm. It was a Thursday afternoon. It all went so fast. You turn around and he is gone. He died in Loyola hospital with my Mom, and sister and I with him. I question if it made it easier being with him when he died. I know being there made his death understandable. Seeing his labored breathing - and the way he did not look at us let us know that he is in a better place.

This picture is the last one of my Father. I took it on Sunday when I had Mom, Dad, Gerry and Bob over for dinner. We were so happy, but; I at the same time was scared. We had a very hard time taking Dad to our house and back and I knew in my heart a problem was coming - and it would be sooner other than later.

The problem is I can't cry. I long to cry. I even feel I am doing Dad a disservice by not crying. I know that the time will come - just in it's own space and time.

Goodbye Daddy. I know you are in good hands in Heaven. God is holding you in the palm of his hand.

Great Day

I will post more pictures tomorrow. But, let me say that I had a wonderful weekend. I am so grateful to be alive. I was lucky last weekend, and this weekend was pure bliss. This just shows that no matter grim today is - and at times it gets very very grim - there is always tomorrow. Thank you God I will never let go of this second chance.......

Change of Life

This Saturday Andy & I drove to Indiana to cut the grass. Neither one of us wanted to go.... I was mowing - as I got up to the birdbath - I hit a nest of yellow jackets. Needless to say they swarmed me and stung me over 15 times. Well, I found out that I am allergic to something and that something is yellow jackets. I ended up in the ER swollen tongue and all. To make a long story short I am ok - but life for me has changed. Many people told me I could have died that day and now I carry an EPI pen with me. I am still at the point of disbelief, but; what I do know for sure is at that point all the little things in my life that seemed so big, work, etc., seemed so very very small, and that lesson is what I want to carry with me throughout my life - that family, friends, love and trust are the only sure things in this world, the rest are clutter that get in the way of what really counts. I thank God for these things, and hope that I will always remember to learn from this experience.

Frustration!!!!!!

I am so totally frustrated today.

Andy & I have had two days off already - little bit left of vacation time. Since Nic is in school we are staying home. Thursday was ok - got our garage door totally up and running - put up my fall stuff-not too bad. Yesterday was awesome - we saw the Julie Child movie - loved it - we went out to lunch - went to Nic's football game (they won & Nic played the whole game) then, we watched a movie, had manhattans, and some great brie cheese. How good was that? Today we were supposed to drive to Indiana but; Dad fell - Mom thought it was a bad idea to go - so we stayed home. I am house cleaning - and it basically is sucking. I am longing for something fun to do. All we ever do is work at work, work and home, and I basically drive everyone around. I want so badly to do something different.....Just have to find out what that different is.....

Garage Door

Well, we finally had to replace our garage door. The spring on the other one broke and there was a big hole in it. Nic's room got very cold in the winter, and then; there was the mouse issue. Well, quite a lot of money later - it is fixed. Here are the before and after shots. Major curb appeal.

Nic's First Day

Nic's first day was last Thursday - here is a photo of how excited he was to be picked up by his bus at 6:15 am. Welcome back Nic!!!!!

Football Season

Click clack.........Here it is - that season that we parents love to hate. Nic has already survived through shin splints (still), and a full blown asthma attack on the field. One can only ask what's next? And sure enough tomorrow you will find out........ Here I sit laptop - and football field - welcome fall!