Heaven is for Real and MOM

Just got done reading "Heaven is for Real" last night.

Fast read

Pretty powerful

Really makes you think

Confirms my belief

Have you read it?

I would be interested to hear what say you?

I was feeling pretty blue on Friday, Veterans Day.


Still not sure why mom, not a veteran,


would pass away on, what she always called "Armistice Day".


(I don't think she got the memo from the President,
I think in 1954(?), changing the name.)

Mom at Great America

after the water ride

Can you tell?

My only immediate family, one brother a state north,
one brother a state south, is all I have left.

(L) brother from Missouri

(R) brother from Wisconsin

(M) me still in Illinois

I think I was okay until I jumped on Facebook over my lunch hour.


The first post I saw was from Edna, giving a wonderful tribute to a very special lady, who passed away 2 years ago.  Hard to believe.  I miss you a lot, is what she wrote. 


There was my mom's name in print.


Edna took care of my mom, especially the last few weeks of her life, rearranging her schedule so she could spend as much time with her as possible.  She sat up with us all night, and she was with us when Jesus came to take her home.   


Of course........I lost it.  Yikes, and I was at work.  Had to shut the door to my office in a hurry.   


Regrouped.


4:00 in the afternoon and I got a call.


My sister-in-law from the south asked if we were up for dinner tonight.


WHAT?


You in town?  


"Yup!"  Meet you in Byron at 7:00.


I was so glad to see my brother.  I hugged him, then I hugged my sister-in-law, then I hugged my nephew, and then I hugged my two great nephews.  


I was so glad to see him.


Do I seem needy?


Well, Friday I guess I was.

Chicago Bear game late 80's.

My husband is always there for me, but sometimes, you need that link to the past to get over the hump.  


I think God knew I needed a brother that day.


We miss her very much but know she is in the light.


Heaven is for Real.

Newest addition

The end of a perfect weekend!

I met my great-niece Mia today, just shy of 2 months old.

Look at that smile!

Can you believe she is already sleeping through the night?

Have a good week everyone.

Welcome to the World

 What is in your future?  

Your paternal grandparents have 4 sons

and no daughters.

Your paternal grandparents have 3 grandsons,

and you Miss Mia

 the first granddaughter......

I can't imagine,

enjoy the ride.

Hope to meet you soon.

Your great aunt.

XOXO

Pray for him…………. Pray for me ………Pray for them

Tuesday night was gut wrenching.

We were eating at the popular Mexican restaurant in town.

He doesn’t come to town too often……only when he is working in the area.

He is going to be here awhile…..of course, he gave no notice.

Dinner, or should I say the conversation, took a turn for the worse.

My husband tried to reel me back in.

It didn’t work.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to fight back the tears that came gushing out after we left.

The fear that came over me last August was finally confirmed.

He doesn’t care about his boys.  He REALLY doesn’t care about them.

They bug him.  It is overwhelming.  They are too much for him. 

After 24 hours, he can’t stand to be around them.

How do you leave your wife and 3-1/2 year old twins?

Really, how selfish can you be?

Every word out of his mouth made me sick to my stomach.

“I’m finally happy.” 

Really?  Do you really know what happy is at 33 years old?  Apparently an immature 33 years old.

 How do you love someone like that?

I have always been his biggest supporter.  When the world was against him, his aunt [ME] was always there for him.  I didn’t give up on him………ever.  I was there for him when his own mother left him at 3-1/2 years old.  How ironic.  However, she did not leave on her own.  She fought until the breast cancer consumed her at the age of 27.  

I am really struggling with this now. 

Clearly, doing the right thing is not even remotely an option for him.

Prayer is the only thing that will save him.

Pray for him that his heart will change.

Pray for me that the disgust I feel for him right now goes away. 

Pray for them because they need a father who loves them.

Water Babies

My weekends have been very busy.

 A 4-1/2 hr drive put me at my brother's house

on the 4th of July.

Is it too late to share my 4th of July?

I hope not.

yes, he does his own fireworks

but the best part is seeing his grandchildren in the pool

I call them "water babies"

Twin 3-1/2 year olds

Landon & Parker

This little guy, Wyatt, is going to be 2 in September.

He is the 3rd grandson. 

The parents had a tough time getting him out of the pool.

He even went down the slide by himself.........numerous times.

Cousins

So fun to capture the moments

AND next year, Mia will join them.

Finally a granddaughter ............

Expected in September.

Hope you all enjoyed the 4th.

I sure did!