Fun Getaway

To add some fun to these last dark weeks, the boys and I met my cousin Charlene and her two adorable boys, J.J. and Jayden, at California Adventure. Zac and J.J. don't get to see each other too often because we live about an hour and a half away, but when they do see each other they are instant best buddies. When we were getting in the car to head home J.J. told his mommy that he loves Zac and that he was going to miss him. When I told Zac what J.J. had said Zac said, "I'm going to miss him too!"
It was so sweet to see them together that Charlene and I vowed to try our best to do more play dates. I am so thankful for that day, we all had so much fum.

A Tragic Loss

This past week, horrible tragedy has devastated the hearts and lives of my family.

Tuesday morning September 9th, a freak accident in the bathtub sent my cousins wife Kristina to the ICU. My cousin Tommy unceasingly prayed for a miracle and diligently stayed by her side around the clock. After some time, it was determined she no longer showed any brain activity. Tommy, along with Kristina's family, came to the impossibly difficult decision to remove her from life support and donate her organs on Thursday.

Tommy was a broken man. Kristina was the love of his life, and he felt completely devastated at the thought of going on in this world without her. From all the stories I have heard about their marriage it easy to tell how devoted they were to each other. He told his sister Kimberly several times during this awful time to tell his children he loved them so much. By Friday, his family thought they had convinced Tommy that he would get through this with the Lord's strength and lots of support from loved ones. No one could have known what was to come. Tragically, Tommy slipped away while others were sleeping Friday morning, and later that day he took his own life. It is unimaginable to know what his parents and sisters are going through right now.

Kristina and Tommy leave behind three beautiful, amazing, loving children: Austin, age 7, Ginny, 2 1/2, and Charlotte, 4 months. My heart breaks for these children, when I saw them I just wanted to hold them and take their pain away.

Please keep these sweet children in your prayers, as well as Kristina's family and Tommy's family, who are all grieving the tragic loss of two vibrant and loving people. I have found comfort in the fact that both Tommy and Kristina were deeply devoted to their Christian faith. I believe they were truly meant to be together, as they now are in heaven.

Kristina & Tommy
Wedding Day 1997

Girl's Night

Some of you may know that almost every Wednesday for about the last 15 years I have gotten together with some of my closest girlfriends. We all met in Irish Dancing and have stayed close even after we all quit. About 4 years ago we welcomed our very good friend Tim into the group who also did Irish Dancing with us (even with his pleading we still refuse to change the name from "Girl's" Night). We use this time to update each other on what's going on in our lives, basically it's our form of therapy.

This week was very special, 6 out 7 of us were able to make it to girl's night. Number 7, Therese, lives in Canada so she has an excuse. Now that we are all grown up with jobs, husbands and kids it is really hard for everyone to make it. So, this week was extra special for all of us.

On the left is Tim, Ashlene and Sharla. On the right is Maura, Kara and Me.

Papa To The Rescue

After going to the park today, my Dad and I took Zac, Brayden and Noah to McDonalds to have lunch and play. Brave little Noah figured out how to get up into the sky tubes all by himself, but once he got up there he got scared and started crying. So his Papa came to his rescue to save the day! My dad crawled up into the sky tubes, which if you have ever had to rescue a little one from in there you know how small it is to a grown up, and brought Noah down.
After that Noah didn't try to climb up there again.

Papa and Noah coming down the slide.

You're almost there Dad!
Here comes Brayden!