Today is Saturday, and all day I have been very tired. Maybe that big day at the hospital was more than I should have tried? I really felt right about it though, some days are like that...I just have to pay quite a few days when I do something that big. I spent the morning with Amy, it was fun being with her again. I had missed being with the kids while I was gone. We went shopping for material for the baby's room (Jenny's room). Actually she and Angie will have to share, but still we need to get her bedding and blankets made. Afterwards I had to come home and go to bed for a couple of hours and then Amy and I started helping Lauren get ready for Prom. She and a bunch of friends are all going together this year. It is hard to imagine that she will be graduating this week.
It doesn't seem that long ago that Lauren was the fired up little toddler, who could never stop from getting into trouble. Oh I worried how I was going to raise such a tough little spirit and look at her now. She is all grown up and beautiful on the inside and the out. She knows who she is and has a 1000 dreams and plans for the future.
I missed my mom today and our family who is out of town. It is always during these SPECIAL MOMENTS in your life that you want family and friends to be there to share them with. Brad and Krystal are in Idaho going to school and the rest of our family is spread out. Mom, has been gone for almost 9 years now. I remember how funny and crazy she thought Lauren was, wouldn't she love to see her now? I hope she can. I truly feel like she isn't that far away. When she first passed away, I continued to email her every day. I know that sounds crazy but it was very therapeutic. I am not sure why I stopped?
So tonight, I guess maybe because I don't feel very well or ...just because I am missing my family right now... that I would like to share with you a sweet story that I found. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Good night
BENNY'S BALLOON
BENNY WAS SEVENTY WHEN HE DIED RATHER SUDDENLY OF CANCER IN WILMETTE, ILLINOIS. BECAUSE HIS TEN-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO SAY GOOD-BYE, SHE CRIED FOR DAYS. BUT AFTER RECEIVING A BIG RED BALLOON AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY, SHE CAME HOME WITH AN IDEA---A LETTER TO GRANDPA BENNY, AIR-MAILED TO HEAVEN IN HER BALLOON.
RACHEL'S MOTHER DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO SAY NO, AND SHE WATCHED WITH TEARS IN HER EYES AS THE FRAGILE BALLOON BUMPED ITS WAY OVER THE TREES THAT LINED THE YARD AND DISAPPEARED.
TWO MONTHS LATER, RACHEL RECEIVED THIS LETTER POSTMARKED FROM A TOWN SIX HUNDRED MILES AWAY IN PENNSYLVANIA:
DEAR RACHEL,
YOUR LETTER TO GRANDPA BENNY REACHED HIM. HE REALLY APPRECIATED IT. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MATERIAL THINGS CAN'T BE KEPT IN HEAVEN, SO THEY HAD TO SEND THE BALLOON BACKT TO EARTH--THEY JSUT KEEP THOUGHTS, MEMORIES, LOVE AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN HEAVEN.
RACHEL, WHENEVER YOU THINK ABOUT GRANDPA BENNY, HE KNOWS, AND IS VERY CLOSE BY WITH OVERWHELMING LOVE FOR YOU.
SINCERELY, BOB ANDERSON (ALSO A GRANDPA)
~Michael Cody
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." ~ Henry David Throreau
"Mourning is not the end of the relationship.
Our love for them does not die with them."
