Golden, CO

I've never seen a wooden dog used as a door stop before.  The town was lined with flowers and flags and copper statues.

They had delicious ice cream cones and a lemonade stand.  Little shops with unusual trinkets and an antique shop that made the drive worth it for Papa.

Interesting folks that made it fun to people watch.  A river and a park with overgrown trees.

It was busy, yet the pace was slow and relaxing.

Tender Mercy

This year, Nathan got to experience firsthand how it feels to rub shoulders with an angel.  His primary teacher, Sister Anderson.

His first week with her, Nathan brought home a framed picture of Christ and immediately put it in a special spot in his room.  A spot, Sister Anderson, said that you could see it every day.

Week after week with her, he soon claimed that she was his most favorite primary teacher he ever had.  He was not the only one.  After several conversations with the other mothers of kids in his class, I found out that she made each child feel like they were her "favorite".  One of her endless gifts.

A few months after the year began we found out that Sister Anderson was sick.  Her cancer had come back and it was very aggressive.

Lots of prayers went out to her, to get better and come back but that was not the plan for her.

Nathan knows that she is safe and okay and happy because now she is with Luke and Granny.

The night before Memorial Day while putting Nathan to bed he asked me if we were going to visit Sister Anderson's grave.  I told him I didn't think so.  I wasn't sure where it was and I knew that Justin was going to be working the next day.

He asked me "Why, I don't have to go to school?"

Memorial day was here and Mammy and Papa invited us to go to Golden, Co.  We all hopped in the car and ended up having a ball in the streets and parks of the little town.  Papa and the boys started to crave a corn dog.  Mammy put the destination in her GPS and in 10 minutes we enjoying the finest from: Sonic.

After we were done, Mammy turned down a different road and pretty soon we could see tons of beautiful flags gently blowing.  It was a cemetery.

We turned in and drove straight to the office to see if just maybe this was where Sister Anderson was.

She was here.

A sweet tender mercy for all of us, especially Nathan.

Soldiers

We went to Fort Logan National Cemetery on Memorial day to show the boys all the soldiers graves.  It was breathtaking!  There were over 96,000 headstones and the each had a flag placed in front. 

We found some that were dated back to the Spanish American War, WW1, and WW2.

There are over 214 acres that make up the cemetery. 

I think it would be so neat to help them put out the flags, someday.

A Mom

I have been thinking a lot lately about why we love our moms so much and what is it about them that makes us feel so deeply connected to them?

Perhaps, its the mere fact that we can go to them and leave all our burdens at their feet and somehow with the weight of the world on their shoulders, they know how to lighten our load and take away our pain and troubles by the time we need to leave.

After every conversation, I feel like I have become a better person in some way.

They are cheerful and fun and have really good advice.

And someday, I hope I can be this for my boys.

A Date with the Rain

A beautiful May morning.  I woke up early and had watched this.  It filled me up.  It challenged me subconsciously.  Peace and direction entered my body.  The day went on and the boys had taken baths and were in their jammies for the night.  While I was reading on the couch I could hear the boys shooting baskets in their room.

It got dark and the sound of pouring rain overpowered the sound of the basketball hitting the door.

I had a flashback of the video I had watched earlier and ran into their room.  I told them to quickly grab their shoes and head down the stairs.

We played and danced and splashed and laughed.

To say it was one of the best times we've had of yet... is an understatement.

Mystery Reader

Every Friday, Nathan's class gets to have a surprise person come and read to the kids for 30 minutes.  They never know who it's going to be.  It was so fun to walk in and see Nathan's face.  He ran up and about knocked me over.

We read: Amelia Bedilia Plays Ball and You Are Special.

Another Buzz!

After much contemplation, two weeks to be exact, swirling around the pros and cons of a much "cooler" haircut, Kendall decided to take the plunge and couldn't be more happy!

A Blue Ribbon

A day full of races and relays and a shoe kick.

Where coming in first place takes on a whole new level.

I'm pleased to say, we survived and had lots of fun in the meantime!

As Fun As It Gets!

The Special Olympics has a dear place in my heart.

When I was a youth, we got to volunteer, and that feeling of pure joy has never left me.

I was thrilled when our group of girls were given this opportunity to volunteer with the kings and queens of heaven.

That 21st chromosome is truly magic!

 

Sick.

This has been quite the month for Nathan.

He has had quite the run.  Strep, fevers, coughs, chills, and colds.

He got another spring break, only not as fun.  He stayed home from school for a week and got lots of rest, ate soup and toast, read lots of stories, drank sprite by the gallon, and went through many boxes of tissues and cans of Lysol.

We'd like to think that he got everything out of his system and his body is getting ready for a great summer!