Marking Time

Three years...
on Saturday
we marked by visiting the rock.
36 deep red roses.
One blossom for each month,
each month we survive,
continue without Dave,
trying to live out loud,
like he did.





We didn't get to the rock until late. The boys had practice twice that day. Then we went to chinese food at the Golden Horse. They were doing karaoke in the bar. We got to hear "Against All Odds" originally by Phil Collins THREE times. Yikes.

And Sunday we marked another milestone, my birthday, although I kept reminding everyone that on Sunday I was still 44. Monday did indeed come, however, and now I really am 45. Not so very old. Not so very young, either!

On Monday, the kids made me dinner and bought me a Foreigner cd and got me an ice cream cake. They were so cute. Sneaking around, planning their surprises. They're good kids.





And it looks like we're going to keep Grumpy. As you can see, he and Zach have become quite attached. Grumpy is living up to his name. Zach fed him CHICKEN in the car on the way home from the beach, and now Grumpy wants people food all the time. He searches the house for Zach and whines at me when Zach leaves. He's quite an annoying little thing. I don't think I could give him to anyone, they'd probably kill him. Zach's thinking of re-naming him. Perhaps that will improve his disposition!


The kids are all settled in school already. Kate has Explorer Humanities and LA, advanced science, algebra, and PE. She started volleyball practice on the first day of school and is really enjoying it. Zach has AP History, AP Calculus, AP Physics, 3rd year Spanish, PE, and English. He explored doing Running Start at WWCC, but decided to stay on campus at WaHi. I think that will be a good choice for him. Kenny has drama, wood shop, PE, english, math and computer applications. He's thrilled to be back at school. He's a SENIOR! His senior pictures got rained out twice...trying again on the 6th.

All in all, a good start to the year. No trouble getting them out of bed, either. Oh...and Kenny and Zach are both 1-6 period, which means they can drive together! Whoo hooo!

I had brunch with Dee today. What an amazing time. We were there three hours and if felt like three minutes. We talked about the Shack and God and life. It was good for the soul. Some of our favorite quotes:

"That's because my love is a lot bigger than your stupidity." God talking to Mack, who is figuring out how clueless he really is, as evidenced by this one:
"I'm beginning to think I have no idea." I can definitely relate to this level of not knowing. It seems the more I learn, the more I discover there is to know.

And then there's this: "Forgiveness is not about forgetting, Mack. It is about letting go of another person's throat."

Wow.

Please continue to pray for Kristi. She's into the second 12 rounds of chemo. The news along the way has been good, but it's a battle with blood counts, nausea, and all the other lovely chemo side effects. So, please pray for short term comfort and long term results.

Our lovely little Hadley-bug Fox has been battling a brain tumor for over four years now. Her mom is an amazingly inspirational woman. Her site always makes me laugh and smile and cry, too. Hadley has reached a new phase of this journey. Please, please visit her site and pray and pray. And let Angela know you're praying.

And lastly, thanks to all of those folks who sent out their remembrances on Dave's day...
Sue C WW, Patti H NJ, Mark N Seattle, Erik H Seattle, Pete T OH, Dee W WW, Lisa D Bellingham, Denise Kelso, Mom Long Beach, Missy WW, Ginger & Dale, WW, Mindy & Bob WW, Bob & Judy WW, Kathy IA, lesleegp TN, Kathie F WW, Cheri CA, Cathy IL, Sherri H Dayton, Lisa B WW, Judy P WW, Bryan S TX, Tami S WW, Lora W WW, Alex F WW, The Moaut Crew, OR. Gosh, I hope I didn't miss anyone! Thank you all for the notes, e-mails, cards, flowers, and especially your prayers. We continue to need those daily!! We are so blessed to have so many people that care and remember.