Any New Posts?

I have been a blog and internet board follower for many, many years. It's funny how through one blog, you get connected to another blog and soon you are following many lives through the internet world. I also know that when I visit a blog, I hope to see a new post. Many times I click on "Bump on the Road" and absent-mindedly hope to see a new post. But then I think, just who would post that? That'd be me. And I have a touch of melancholy. I miss the surprise of seeing a new post on "Bump on the Road". The things I have discovered that bring a flash of sadness....

Many of you tell me that you still visit the site and I am glad that you care for us and our grief. Quite honestly, I personally have been feeling very low lately. Things are settling, change is occuring, sorrow grows and grief is heavy. Sometimes it feels like I'll never see the light of day again. Another holiday has come and gone and I can't help but reflect on the carefree days of 5 years ago, or 3 years ago even. I grieve. We grieve.

I have been reading through many of Annette's files this past while. I feel close to her when I read them, like we're having a conversation. I can hear her voice like she is beside me. I also feel much sorrow when I read them. I think I will leave the files for the time-being.

She had written her own obituary. We hadn't found it before (it was on her laptop and not on the home computer). I think we did it justice, but there were a few lines that she had written herself that we hadn't included:

"Annette was a chartered accountant but had spent the past 3 ½ years at home taking care of her beloved children. She enjoyed spending time with her family and before her illness, volunteering with the Down syndrome community.

Please come rejoice with us as we celebrate Annette’s triumphant return to the Lord. Her faith was a source of great comfort to her and she received great strength by knowing that her God carried her in his hands throughout her illness."

Triumphant. What a great word! And I'm sure it was... triumphant.

Amen, Annette. I will carry those last 2 senteces with me throughout this week.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is another milestone in our family.
Dad is turning 70 today and we are very excited to celebrate this day with him! But it is more than a day, really. It is a landmark to a legacy. Dad, as many other people by the age of 70, has led a well-traveled life of joy and grief, good times and bad. The last 2 years, of course, have been very difficult. However, Dad has always been our rock in the midst of the storm. He has weathered much because of his faith in God. He has shared and passed on his faith and love, and we are grateful for the gift he is to us all. Some of Annette’s last words on her final day here were, “You are the best dad ever!” And I certainly share those words whole-heartedly. Thank you, Dad, for your never-ending love and generosity, your kindness and caring, your endless free babysitting and the joy you have for your grandchildren. We pray that today you will feel blessed by a lifetime of love, and that this year will bring you much happiness and excitement, come what may. We love you!
So, even if you’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Dad, come on out of lurk-dom to wish him a wonderful birthday!

Lisa, Steve, Sara and Connor
Tom, Kurtis and Ryan

Life Goes On...

Life goes on and in so many ways it is a blessing.

Life goes on and in some ways it is really crappy.

Joy and sadness walk hand in hand.