It's a New Year - January 1, 2016

First of all let me say that I am "blogging" again.  It took me a couple of days to realize that some of you are getting e-mails with my blog posts.  I must have set that up a while back.  I thought it would notify you by e-mail that I had posted an update to my blog.  Well it seems as if it is actually sending you the blog post.  SOooooo, if you want me to take you off that e-mail list, just let me know.

That being said -- Dave left early this morning to catch his flight to St. Louis, MO to go home for his Uncle Joes' funeral.  He flew American and made it to Dallas just fine.  They loaded the plane at Dallas and pushed off from the gate, but then had to go back to the gate because a woman was drunk and beligerent.  I told him to get it on video and we could make it go viral - but he didn't do that.  She actually was sitting just across the aisle from him.  He said the police came on the flight and escorted her off.  So that was exciting.  I started praying fervently then, because he needed to get to St. Louis on time in order to get to Illinois on time for the viewing and the rosary that was scheduled for tonight.  Well he did make it on time.

My thoughts on his Uncle are many.

I talked to Mary today on the phone and we talked a little bit about when dad died.  When dad died, I don't think I cried at all.  Well I take that back.  I did cry when I called Cal State Pool to tell them I wouldn't be at practice that day because my dad had died.  My best friend Pam answered the phone and she had just lost her dad a few years earlier.  She immediately began crying, which in turn made me cry.  But after that I called neighbors and friends and told them.  I almost felt bad for not "grieving."  But in his case, I knew he wasn't suffering anymore.  But throughout my life, my "grieving" comes when I hear of others losing people.  Perhaps that is what Pam felt when she answered my call that day at the pool.  Like when John Zeilman fell asleep.  I couldn't talk to anyone about that.  It broke my heart and also made me miss my dad like crazy.  When Mary Kay lost her Andy - same thing.  And when we lost Uncle Joe - same thing.  Curious if any of you have the same experiences??  Anyway - I know the Word and the scriptures and that we'll see them again.  And I know how to change what I am thinking about so that I will stop being sad.  I'm just sharing my deepest thoughts with you all here.    Heck the other day I cried my eyes out when I had Ben listen to "His Favorite Christmas Story" by Capitol Christian Music.  Crazy when it hits you.

Okay moving on.  Today I attacked Joe's room.  He has a walk in closet that you can't walk in to because I keep storing things in there.  I got pretty far and he will definitely be able to walk in to it now.  But in my cleaning I found the following items.  This room was Jessica's before Joe and she had her 4th grade "Night Writer" still in a drawer in his closet.  I also found the letter Fear Factor wrote to her after she asked if she could be on the show.

Then I found this letter that Joe had written in 7th grade.  He talks about how he was named after his great Uncle Joe (the one who just passed away.)  This blessed me to read this again.

I felt like a sappy mom just sitting on his bed and reading their writings.  There are just some things that we should never throw away.  At least that's how I feel.


Matthew took Jessica and Joe into the city today.  It looks like Ryan and Stephanie came too.  I'm so glad that Joe is experiencing New York.  Laura came in today so I imagine Angie picked her up at the airport.

Stephanie - your hair looks incredible!

Tonight I stopped for a little while and watched Coat of Many Colors that mom had told me about.  It was really good.  Sounds like Dolly's mom was a strong woman of faith.

Tomorrow Ben and I go to the Business Incubator Center and put together a 3d Printer with a Robotics team.   Jess and Joe were going to do this too, but now their trip has been extended so they told me I could bring the kit home and they could make it at home later.  

Happy New Year!