Remembering Dan

• Open House

  27Jul
  Categories: Family Updates Comments: 1

  Our Open House was a success!!!  The kids didn’t make any major messes.  We had PLENTY of food (we will probably be eating leftovers all week even after we ‘shared’).  We had over 70 people show up, plus the many who showed up the week before and we told several to stop by when they had the time.  A couple stars got added to my map.  We even had an article written about the whole thing and run in the local paper.  Check it out at

  http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_207085133.html

  Thank you all for praying.  Now it’s time to relax, get started on the piles of paperwork, and do some more grieving that I’ve been putting off until after the Open House. 

  My next major hurdle is school.  The kids are pushing me to get started on that.  We need the routine.  I was thinking that I might start early again this year, but then someone informed me that August starts next week.  I haven’t done any ordering of supplies yet, so I think I might miss the “early” part.  I am determined to get my chore lists out and started this week.  The kids need some responsibilities again.  Of course, it does look like it could be a pretty busy week, so we shall see.

• Another Loss

  19Jul
  Categories: Grieving Comments: 5

  The tears are pouring in torents tonight.  I’ve just learned that our little Wyatt has joined my Danny in heaven.  Dan and I prayed for Wyatt and his parents on many occasions and with my own loss still so fresh the pain of yet another loss bowls me over and knocks me to the ground.  I find myself blasting God with all the “why’s?” that I didn’t feel comfortable doing after the loss of Dan.  I struggle to remember that God loves me, and my family members.  I feel like my somewhat shaky faith might have taken another blow. 

  I can remember fighting with Dan.  We would fight, I would find a way to blow off some energy, and then somehow I would find the courage to come back to Dan, touch him, hug him, cuddle back into the arms that I knew loved me.  The problem may not have always been resolved, but I knew that because we loved each other we would continue to work at it until we did solve it.  I didn’t need imediate answers.  I just needed to know that he heard me, and then that he loved me.  I guess I’m doing the same thing with God.  I just need to know that He hears me, and then I can snuggle back in His arms and trust that He is working all things together for good.

  This too, shall pass.  Take good care of Wyatt, Danny.

• Names

  19Jul
  Categories: Family Updates Comments: 4

  I asked the kids what they wanted to name our van (I have always named my vehicles starting with Burpo, and going through Corky, the Green Box, etc, etc).  I had to laugh when they told me they wanted to name our van HERBIE!!  Our 11 passenger van is a far cry from a little bug!

  As for our house, I think I’m just going to stick with “The House that God Built”.  It just really says it all to me.  Not very poetic, but appropriate.

• Boys and Their Toys

  14Jul
  Categories: Family Updates, Grieving, Remembering Dan Comments: 1

  I’m tired this morning.  I was listening to the sound of the big cat running around outside making yard when I heard the little bobcat start its engine.  I smiled and thought, “Grandpa wants to play with his toy, too.”  Then I remembered the times I would sit on his lap while he drove the skidster around doing whatever job needed doing.  Sometimes we got to ride in the bucket, sometimes he let us move the levers, and when I got older I even got the chance to run the thing myself.

  This past summer Dan rented a little “worky thing” too, and did some reshaping of our yard in WV.  He gave his kids rides, too.  Sometimes I would just stop whatever I was doing, take a chair and go sit outside and watch him work.  He’d look up, see me watching and grin as I made exaggerated faces telling him that I was watching those muscles and was quite in awe of his talents.  I liked to watch him chop wood, too.

  Apparently I’m not the only one who woke up tired.  Josiah (6) is whining about not being able to get the bread open.  Guess I’d better go rescue him.  The demands begin for another day.

  Praise the Lord for yard!!!

• More pics

  09Jul
  Categories: Family Updates Comments: 5

  More pictures on the pictures page.    Sorry it’s taken so long for me to get these uploaded.  Like I said previously we are still working on things.  The master bedroom pictures are actually quite a bit outdated at this point due to the arrangement of furniture, adding filing cabinets, a big desk for scrapbooking, bills, etc, and I’m hoping to get a small comfy chair for in there too.

  The garage is also coming along nicely.  I’ve got spots out there for all the kids shoes and coats.  The freezer is out there and we also have a corner that we are arranging for tools.  It’s looking good.

  God has blessed us.

• Pictures!

  09Jul
  Categories: Family Updates Comments: 5
  

  Kitchen

  

  Laundry Room

  

  Play RoomSchool Room