I'm back...

Once again...I apolgize, I am the world's worst blogger. I think about it often, I should really write something. I want to be a writer when I grow up some day, ha! I love writing. But the perfectionist in me puts off what I can do perfectly. So that leaves 3+ months since my last post, waiting for the perfect topic, perfect words...too much pressure.

So over the past 3+ months, of course there has been good and bad. On the plus side, I have really been enjoying our summer vacation from school. That's a no-brainer! After a long, hard, exhausting school year, this break is exactly what I needed. The girls and I are having lots of fun in the sun...trips to the pool, park, library, movies, etc. They're really enjoying their season passes to 6 Flags Great America. Such a deal. We've already been to the park 4 times (they've been 5, once with their dad). Considering the passes cost just a few bucks more than a one-day ticket, such a deal. On our home days, house is looking good, laundry & dishes are kept up, projects are being chiseled on...so much easier when I'm not working.

On the not-so-plus side, the last 3 months have brought the deaths of 2 more dear grandfathers in my life. So I have lost my 3 grandfathers in 16 months. But how blessed am I to be 37 years old (for 9 more days) and to have these men in my life for so long. My husband's grandfather passed away on April 6, Grandpa Reed. I met my husband's grandparents in Aug. 1995 at my first mega-family reunion. Since we married in '96, they've been my grandparents, too. Grandpa Reed was an incredibly genuine, caring, godly man. My husband did an amazing job eulogizing his grandfather at his funeral and spoke of the great influence he'd had on his life. It was a beautiful funeral but an even more beautiful life. We miss you, Grandpa and look forward to the day we are reunited with our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ in heaven.

Then on June 14, my dad's dad Grandpa Dietz passed away in Florida. It had been 10 years since I'd seen him and even that day I wasn't sure he remembered me. He was 91. My Grandma Dietz had passed away from cancer when I was 9, many years ago. The majority of my memories of my grandpa also include my grandma. Camping trips, UNO games, homemade brownies in their red & white kitchen, and Glen Rock pop always stocked in their basement fridge. :)

Father's Day left a lump in my throat that I could not swallow. How I missed these 3 men who had left their mark on my life from very different periods of time. My heart broke for my dad (who'd lost his dad 6 days b4 Fathers Day). My heart still breaks for my husband on Father's Day after he lost his dad at such a young age. For my girls to lose 3 great-grandfathers. But yet...my dad and my daughters' dad are here and so worthy to be celebrated.

How blessed am I...to be loved by my family, to have a family to love. I am grateful, Lord Jesus. It's funny (well not funny but you know what I mean) how grief comes in waves. You think all is well and you're cruising along, then the thoughts come...the tears...the memories.

Thank you Lord for blessing me abundantly with the gift of my family!!

The End of the Summer photos (I promise) & the Beginning of a new school year

First Day of School

My sweet little Katey is officially a preschooler! She loves getting up and dressed for school with backpack in hand. She tells us about her "fends" and her day with such excitement. It is incredibly fun to watch and listen to her but also makes me sad. Where did my little baby go?

Kelly started 3rd grade on 8-26. Thank God we are still in the same building. She is growing into such a beautiful, smart girl. I am so very proud of the person she is becoming.

Shawn's First Triathlon

We were very proud of our Daddy on 8-16-08. Shawn participated in his first ever triathlon in Pleasant Prairie. There were tons of people biking, swimming, and running. His friends Shawn and Rob joined him in the race. We were quite impressed with how well he did, great job Daddy!

Wisconsin State Fair 8-5-08

Our annual trip to the fair was so much fun, as always. The girls enjoyed the rides and the food! It was a hot, summer day... Kelly and I were lucky enough to go to the Corbin Blue and Vanessa Hudgens concert that night. We loved it! It was so much fun for Kel to see two of her favorite High School Musical stars in person.

Camping trip

We celebrated Aunt Jenny's birthday with a camping trip to Indian Trails in Pardeeville, WI. Our friend Michele and her family joined us, too. We had a great time relaxing in the sun, swimming in the lake, and hanging out together.

Six Flags with Kyle & Sam... our best buddies & cousins 7-30-08

Grandma & Grandpa Reed's golden anniversary

July 25-27 we drove down to Quincy for several very good reasons. First, to celebrate our dear Grandma & Grandpa Reed's 50th wedding anniversary. My mother-in-law Mary and her sibling thru a great celebration to honor Gr. & Gr. Many family members (which in the Reed family means tons of people!) and their friends came, they are an amazing couple who have lived out biblical marriage for many years. They encourage and challenge me to live out that kind of marriage every time I think of them.

Second, we drove down to meet our very special little cousin Garrett!!! He is so precious, Aunt Rachel & Uncle Blake's first baby. Katey was IN LOVE with him and had so much fun holding him and talking to him. She talked for the next few weeks about having her own little baby brother, yikes. Kelly, of course, loved him to pieces, too, who couldn't? The girls are thrilled to have a new baby cousin.

I love this photo of the girls with their great-grandparents.

Whenever these big Reed family reunions happen, the girls are reunited with some of their favorite cousins. Nichole, Ashley, and Amanda are close in age to our girls but live far away in Tennessee. It is so much fun to watch them always pick up right where they left off last time.