April 20th

A couple of weeks ago it dawned on me that Tom’s birthday and Easter were on the same day this year. Then I took a deep breath as I realized that April 20th is also the 6th month anniversary of our girls being in Heaven. When I shared this with Tom his face got so sad. Neither of us could imagine a day without our girls let alone 6 months.

As we sat there discussing what our Easter/Tom’s birthday weekend would look like, Emily and Ben here for the weekend, Threads of Life Quilt Ceremony, church, play practice and possibly a hike somewhere fun,  I had an overwhelming thought. We get to decide how we respond to these dates on the calendar. Six months, a year, three years – these time markers will all come and we will get through them by the Grace of God. Today we are six months closer to seeing our girls again in Heaven.

Today we will celebrate Jesus. Today we will celebrate Tom. Today we will thank God for his Grace and for taking care of our girls until we are with them again. We are six months closer to that day and for that I am grateful.

I couldn’t ask for a better husband and father to our children. I am so blessed!

Happy Birthday Tom, I love you to Heaven and back.tom 1

tom anna 2 Tom and Abs 1 tom and ben 1emily tom

Everyone Needs a Bunny on Easter

Linus likes to chew on things, anything really. I forgot how much puppies love to chew.

The other day he started chewing on some Easter decorations and then I remembered the bunny ears.

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

linus bunny2linus bunny 1

It is Finished

blog image

These words are so sweet and so true. The Grace we are given through Christ is such a blessing. I feel that Grace every single day and I know that one day I too will be in eternity with Jesus and with my girls. I am looking forward to the hug!

I can’t help but think of Mary today. How proud she was of her son but at the same time not wanting him to leave her. My heart hurts thinking about the pain she felt, I know that pain.

I also know the peace that Jesus brings in the depths of our suffering. I know first hand that he provides us with a shield that protects us from this world and gives us, if we let him, peace knowing that there is more than just this life on earth.

Mary’s son saved us, all of us, and all we need to do is believe and allow him to love us.

I can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, my girls are in the arms of Mary today ~ just like I’m in the arms of Jesus every day.

 

Watching over the Girls

I have started a blog post four times this morning and have found that I am at a loss for words. I have so much going on in my head and in life that I’m finding it really hard to sort it all out. So I’ve decided that I’m going to post a picture today instead.

This month my old guy would be 14 years old. Sampson was my constant companion for so many years and when I used to think about the day he would go to Heaven I would get sick to my stomach, couldn’t imagine my life without him. I know now that he has a more important job in Heaven than he ever did here on earth. His new job is to watch over Anna and Abigail, to enjoy the splendor of paradise and to chase hundreds of tennis balls and never get tired. My old dog is with my girls and for that I am grateful.

So instead of trying to sort out all that I’m feeling today I’m going to spend some time and remember all of the unconditional love that my big old lab gave me and the rest of my family.

So much Love!

anna and sampson

Dance Party in Heaven

Rowan is eight years old today.  Anna was so blessed to call Rowan her best buddy and the one friend in her life she knew the longest. Wishing she was here to celebrate on earth with him today but I know that there’s a dance party going on in Heaven in his honor.

Rowan’s 1st Birthday

Rowan 1st birthday

Rowan’s 2nd Birthday

year 2 rowan and anna

Rowan’s 3rd Birthday

rowan 3

Rowan’s 4th Birthday

rowan 4

Rowan’s 5th Birthday

rowan 5

Rowan’s 6th Birthday

Rowan 6th

Rowan’s 7th Birthday

Rowan 7

Happy 8th Birthday Rowan! We love you tons and so does Anna and Abigail.

rowan and anna

 

 

 

Cool Girl

I’ve been out of commission with writing lately and it’s a real bummer. It’s not because I can’t find the words but rather I can’t sit at my desk and type for too long because I can’t find the perfect chair/desk combo that doesn’t make my body hurt when I type. I’ve tried lowering my desk, raising my desk and sitting in every chair in our house to see if it would help. Nothing.

Tom and I are going to go and find a better “office” chair that will adjust to see if maybe that will help the situation. It’s really frustrating to me because writing helps my grief and without it I feel a bit lost. I’m hoping to fix the problem soon.

I’ve been working on putting all of my photos onto my new computer and while doing that I am finding some real treasures. I love looking at photos and videos of when Anna was little. We had so much fun together and I cherish those times when it was just the two of us. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Missing my girl!

anna young