This past Wednesday, my daughter asked if I could keep Kate because Noah was having a friend over to play. Noah seemed to think that Kate might interfere with his fun day. Since that was also Kara's nap time, she came as well. The girls and I had a yummy lunch of macaroni and cheese, PB&J, and strawberries! It was then time to put Kara down for a nap. For a while all was quiet.
I have been promising Kate a Tea Party for a while. I had told her that when she was born and I held her for the first time, I had told her that we would have Tea Parties. I have wished several times that I hadn't told her that, because I always think I have to do things up big, and was dreading the whole thing. I had visions of making scrapbook invites, finding "dress up" clothes, making cupcakes, cleaning house, decorating, well OK, can you say PERFECTIONIST! I was trying to think of something fun for us to do and Lindsay suggested making cookies and letting her frost and sprinkle them. That sounds fun--well the "frosting and sprinkle" part did. I had had a busy week and was REALLY tired. So--Vanilla Wafers--here we come!
It's amazing what can make a four year old happy! I decided that if I just bought some Sprite (a special treat) and used tea cups, we could turn this thing into an instant tea party! She was so surprised when I put Kara down for a nap and I told her we were going to have a Tea Party. She had a blast putting canned frosting on the vanilla wafers, using pink sugar and pink sprinkles, and licking the spoon--the BEST part. She is so sweet. She made cookies for her neighbors--an older couple that live right next door--and for every person in her family. I let her drink out of my best tea cups, and we "crossed our legs like ladies". Then she informed me that to have a tea party, we needed tea--and a tea pot. I have lots of tea pots, but since this was a spur of the moment, fly by the seat of your pants tea party, I hadn't thought that far. I assured her that next time we would have real tea and a tea pot.
Meanwhile. I don't think Kara ever went to sleep. I kept hearing her calling my name and "talking". She didn't get loud, so I just let her be--who wants a 2 year old and frosting in the same room? Kate and I moved on to the Play Dough and when Kara started getting louder, I decided that I should go get her. I opened the door and instantly thought--frosting and a 2 year old in the same room really isn't that bad. She was standing in the crib with her diaper off and there was brown stuff--ALL OVER MY WALL!! I yelled K A R A J O Y C E!!!!
She instantly squatted down and didn't move--her body or her head. I went to get paper towels to start the clean up, and when I came back she hadn't moved a muscle. I started wiping the walls, and decided I really should deal with her first. So I took her out of the crib, holding her under her arms. I was saying, "I am NOT happy with you right now." She still had a dazed look on her face. About that time Lindsay and Noah walk in the door. She knew something was wrong because Kate was in the front room looking TERRIFIED. She has NEVER heard me yell like that! Poor baby was scared to death! We finally got the mess cleaned up, and Kara was still a little unsure of where she stood with me. We finally kissed and made up. Now she goes around saying, "Mimi, NO NO, Mimi, NO NO!
I hope that Kate remembers the fun that she had at the Tea Party.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
MICHAEL
Fifteen years ago today, I received some very tragic news. The phone rang--I answered--it was my mother. She said, "Your Daddy has something to tell you". I knew this was something that was not so good. My Daddy NEVER talked on the phone independently of my mother. However, I was not prepared for the news I was about to receive--not in my wildest dreams. He just came right out with it. "Mike died today." WHAT? HOW? WHY? A million thoughts raced through my mind. What will Nelson and Marty do? How will they handle this? WHY, HOW? He is 17 years old. Must have been in an accident. No. He was home in his bed in the middle of the afternoon. WHAT? HOW? WHY?
Earlier that day he had come home from school. He didn't feel well. I don't want to get all the facts wrong, but basically it didn't seem to be anything of great concern. A little while later, his mom went to check on him, and he was gone. She called 911--did CPR--but from what I understand and remember, he was already gone, and nothing she would have done would have changed that. WHY? HOW?
We still don't really know the answers to those questions. The autopsy wasn't definitive. No drugs, alcohol, things that are standard to check for when someone that age dies unexpectedly. Apparantly there was a heart issue--just one of those sudden things that you hear about.
Next, I had a decision to make. I certainly wanted my brother and sister-in-law to know that I was devastated at this news--but how do you make a phone call like that? What do you say? They are in the middle of chaos and grief. Do they even want a phone call from me right now? But what if I don't call--they will think I don't care. I so wanted to be THERE. RIGHT THEN. They live in Colorado Springs, so that wasn't possible. I wanted to hug them, cry with them. Ask questions with them. I decided that I HAD to call. I won't go into all the details of the phone call--it was just hard. Hard for all of us. Hard for me to hear a mother grieving in the background, as only a mother can. But I'm so glad I did it.
Rick and I ended up flying out for the funeral. It was just too costly for the kids to go, too. They wanted to. It was all still so unreal to me. I am the CRYER of the family. I expected to be a mess. It was so unreal to me, that when I saw them, I didn't cry. I guess I just hadn't processed it yet. They attend a small little church, with a country-like atmosphere. When the music started it became real. When they sang--Our God is an Awesome God--it became real. There had been a beautiful moment the day before at the funeral home. Mike had a beautiful voice. One of his singing buddies just started singing "Amazing Grace". I think that was when it first became real. The church had a dinner for the family after the service. My brother said the most amazing prayer thanking God for Mike's life. That was VERY real. It is real NOW, as I sit here typing, still wondering, WHY, HOW? I have debated all day about whether to write about this today. Michael would have been 33 on February 23. I know his parents have wondered many times what he would be doing. What kind of man he would have grown up to be. ONE thing they know. He is with the Lord Jesus Christ. THAT is how they can face each day.
So today Mike, I pay tribute to you. You were funny. You were SO musical and talented. You had a sweet nature. I, too, wonder what kind of man you would be. But I, too, know that you are with Jesus--maybe you and your Grandmother Spires are singing together. She did love to hear you sing. We miss you and we never forget you. But--Because He lives--we can face tomorrow.
Love,
Aunt Rudie
Earlier that day he had come home from school. He didn't feel well. I don't want to get all the facts wrong, but basically it didn't seem to be anything of great concern. A little while later, his mom went to check on him, and he was gone. She called 911--did CPR--but from what I understand and remember, he was already gone, and nothing she would have done would have changed that. WHY? HOW?
We still don't really know the answers to those questions. The autopsy wasn't definitive. No drugs, alcohol, things that are standard to check for when someone that age dies unexpectedly. Apparantly there was a heart issue--just one of those sudden things that you hear about.
Next, I had a decision to make. I certainly wanted my brother and sister-in-law to know that I was devastated at this news--but how do you make a phone call like that? What do you say? They are in the middle of chaos and grief. Do they even want a phone call from me right now? But what if I don't call--they will think I don't care. I so wanted to be THERE. RIGHT THEN. They live in Colorado Springs, so that wasn't possible. I wanted to hug them, cry with them. Ask questions with them. I decided that I HAD to call. I won't go into all the details of the phone call--it was just hard. Hard for all of us. Hard for me to hear a mother grieving in the background, as only a mother can. But I'm so glad I did it.
Rick and I ended up flying out for the funeral. It was just too costly for the kids to go, too. They wanted to. It was all still so unreal to me. I am the CRYER of the family. I expected to be a mess. It was so unreal to me, that when I saw them, I didn't cry. I guess I just hadn't processed it yet. They attend a small little church, with a country-like atmosphere. When the music started it became real. When they sang--Our God is an Awesome God--it became real. There had been a beautiful moment the day before at the funeral home. Mike had a beautiful voice. One of his singing buddies just started singing "Amazing Grace". I think that was when it first became real. The church had a dinner for the family after the service. My brother said the most amazing prayer thanking God for Mike's life. That was VERY real. It is real NOW, as I sit here typing, still wondering, WHY, HOW? I have debated all day about whether to write about this today. Michael would have been 33 on February 23. I know his parents have wondered many times what he would be doing. What kind of man he would have grown up to be. ONE thing they know. He is with the Lord Jesus Christ. THAT is how they can face each day.
So today Mike, I pay tribute to you. You were funny. You were SO musical and talented. You had a sweet nature. I, too, wonder what kind of man you would be. But I, too, know that you are with Jesus--maybe you and your Grandmother Spires are singing together. She did love to hear you sing. We miss you and we never forget you. But--Because He lives--we can face tomorrow.
Love,
Aunt Rudie
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