Mada's Highlight To Her Day

I haven't written in weeks.  We have been too sick to do anything cute or funny. 

Today, Madison, led a friend of hers, at school, to Jesus.  We are so proud of our dear girl and the lady she is becoming.  She loves Jesus and her friends notice.  Madison was excited to show her friend how to become a Christian.

Quips From Reece

We were driving home from Madison's orthodontist appointment today. The kids were in the back playing around and going bonkers. It had been a long day of sitting, waiting, shopping and a bit of a history lesson at Fort Stevens. They were blowing off some steam and being a bit more rambunctious than we would normally allow in the van.


"OH, you are going to feel the burn!" Mike and I hear coming from Madison. She is taunting him with her tough talk.

"I don't even know what that means, but I don't think so!" Reece chimes right back, not missing a beat.
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As many of you have read, Mike and Reece had quite the ordeal the first time with the jet skis. If you haven't read that story, read this.

Mike bought a Transformer head decal and a  Decepticons (the bad guy) head decal for his jet skis. Mike was out in the garage taking some call numbers off the side of the skis. Mike showed Reece the decals he was going to put on.
"You should put the Decepticon on the jet ski that tried to kill us." Reece says.
Mike did. So now we have the evil jet ski and the good jet ski.

Monday Game Night

Did you think this meant football??? LOL, no way, not in my world. Monday Game Night has officially been started in my house. A night where we sit down and play a board game. Mostly, it's just the kids and I since Mike hangs out at his friend's house and watches football. We've been enjoying all sorts of fun games. Aggravation has been the best. I have to admit, it's fun to be able to play my own hand and not need to help the kids. How fun they are growing up and can count their own dice and read their own cards. FUN!!
The highlight of the night is watching the kids do their own silly victory dance. They are some pretty funny kids; slapping their booty, doing the caterpillar . . . . all sorts of weird funny things.

My Morning Blessings

Three blogs in two days . . . this doesn't happen often. After my total meltdown last night, I feel absolutely horrible this morning. Is it possible to have a hang over after crying, when no alcohol was involved? Well, my first step this morning is to try and find some cheery things to think on. I was greeted this morning by a very sweet email from my daddy. Just what I needed but then, the water works started again.

I feel so blessed to have my parents. How wonderful they are. Yesterday my mother helped me navigate through a really hard situation. The points she made and advice given was just what I needed. I had been praying for wisdom and guidance and the Lord gave it to me, through my mom. - Thank you Mom!

This morning, my dad's words were the comfort I needed. Also, it was such a great reminder of the love the Lord has shown me, by giving me such a great family to surround me. Thank you Daddy!

This morning, my kids got to open up the prizes they won at the party last night. Reece's reaction to his cap guns was priceless. Of course I wasn't able to capture the first run outside, but snagged his second. He keeps telling me how awesome these guns are. Nothing like my kid's own joy and excitement to take me out of my funk. - Thank you kiddos! I hope my neighbors were already up, if not, I'm sorry they had to wake up to a kid screaming, "WOOHOO!" and a pop gun going off.

After a wonderful evening and coming home to post pictures and videos, I of course, jumped onto my Facebook to get caught up on all my dear friends' lives and pictures. Tonight, I got a little note from a family member and it was very sweet, but it also ripped open a . . . . wound, for lack of a better word.

My dear Grandpa Don passed away earlier this year. Summer was pretty tough. Every Summer, my grandpa came up to Oregon. Most years he came up with my sweet Grandma Barb. Every year they either stayed at my home or in town. Then after a few days, they would go stay on the beach a bit south of here, for a week. During these weeks, I really got to know my grandparents. They would share stories of their lives, give me advice and always leave me stuffed full of happy memories. We often would travel around the coast together visiting fun little places. This summer was the first year, since I have moved up here, that my Grandpa wasn't here with me. Every time I saw a biker riding through town, I would recall stories Grandpa told about his adventures riding down the coast. How bittersweet. On my way to a job up north, I pass by a bridge. I remember biking, on this bridge with my grandpa and parents about 9 summers back. I can't pass this bridge without remembering the moment on this little biking adventure that Grandpa passed me and threw out a little encourgement and laugh as he passed me.

I really miss him. How odd it was to not have him or Grandma up here this summer. I looked forward to summer every year because I cherished those times I got with them. But now, those days are gone. All that I have left are my memories.

Summer has passed, the bikers coming through are slim to none and so are those constant reminders. I still think of him often and see his perfectly parted hair in my mind, but I not being reminded everyday.

So tonight when I read my note, I was taken off guard and wasn't prepared to deal with all those sweet memories. The pain of losing him feels so fresh.

I miss you Grandpa, so so much.