We said good bye!

It was the hardest thing I have ever had to face! I am so amazed at how my dear sweet simple quiet Paul has touched so many lives. Me??? Well I knew he was amazing, I just didn't know every one else thought so too. So many people turned out to support us and to say good bye! So many have sent such wonderful cards and told such sweet things about this man. I wonder why God would take such a man from this earth when he made such an impact here.
Through everything, I wanted his story told! I wanted everyone who came to the wake and funeral to have a glimps into who Paul was (I didn't realize so many already new). I wanted the picture boards to let people see what kind of love he gave to his family and to his faith. I read my good bye letter to Paul at the wake. As I wrote it to put in the casket, it never accured to me that I would share it. But after I finished writing it, I just knew I wanted to world to know, I wanted to shout from the mountain top how much I loved him. I wanted Paul to hear me tell the world what I thought of him. I needed people to know, to hear what he gave to me. I am glad I had the strength to do so! Words would never be adaquate for him, but at least I tried!
As we came home yesterday evening, I came face to face with the reality that now life has to go on. I fealt (and feel) so lost now.
Mornings are truly the most difficult time of day. I have dreamt of him every night and then every morning I must face that he is gone once again. It's so unreal that today marks one week since my dear hubby left this world to go home! I know the veil between heaven and earth is but a thin covering and he is very near us. Closer today (and now for always) than he ever was here on earth. And I can honestly say, "I have never been more homesick than now." I long for the day when I will see my Lord and my prince charming coming for me! In the meantime, I will choose to find a way, little by little, breath by breath, grace by grace to find a way to go and to keep his memory and all that he held dear alive in his children.
Remember this.... no matter how short the time, how hard the good byes, how painful the days after.... if your spouse knows the Lord, loves you, and lives life fully... then your life is beautiful! Then you have a true blessing. Cherish what you have. Take the time to say I love you. Do not be afraid to give your whole heart, do not hold back. It may get broken someday too.... but it would still be worth it all. I have found that the amount of grief we bare is in direct proportion to the joy we had. And I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I always thought I was a "mom" a few decades late!

89 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Happy Father's Day

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad.

~Author Unknown~

Contentment

What could be more appealing on a cool, rainy day than to curl up in a nice comfy spot and take a nap?

A little bit of sunshine on a very rainy day!

Romance is alive and well in this house today! It has been raining for the entire morning and now into the afternoon. Shortly before lunch my hubby popped in, totally unexpected. He had been up north for work and had to pass close to home on his way back to the wharehouse. And he didn't come in empty handed. He had stopped by the roadside and brought me these:

I love the smell of lilacs and this bunch covers half my kitchen table! All I can say is "Thanks, honey! You totally brightened my day!"

Books, books, and more books!

What could be more fun than finding so many wonderful books! This past weekend my hubby and I attended the MN homeschool conference and I had fun! Friday night hosts a "used book sale" at which I found a lot (as you can see in the picture)of great picture books, history books and chapter books, as well as finding a few new ones from the vendors present.
Friday afternoon my fellow home school group leader and I moderated a "fire side chat" for other home school support group leaders from across MN (and even a couple from Michigan). We were provided with a great opportunity to support and encourage one another. Later that evening (after shopping, of course) we listened to Fr. Mitch Pacwa speak on the history of marriage and what scripture has to say about this great sacrament.
That night my hubby and I enjoyed having time for ourselves (thanks of course to my mother who came to spend the night with the children). We went to a small, quaint cafe across from where we would be staying for the night. We spent some time talking about summer plans and ideas for the next school year while enjoying dessert. After dinner we were privileged to spend a few minutes talking with Jim Weiss(one of the speakers at the conference) as he was at the same cafe that we were. My children have enjoyed his story telling for a while now and it was a pleasure talking with him.
Saturday was filled with vendor booths to visit, curriculum books to order and workshops. The first workshop hubby and I went to was presented by Jim Weiss. He filled us in on some history of G.K. Chesterton (one of my favorite catholic writers) and then told us one of Chesterton's Fr. Brown mysteries. Very enjoyable way to start the day!
After lunch John and Anne Bielejeski encouraged us with words of wisdom for living out our sacrament of marriage in the midst of parenting, homeschooling, and working.
The third and final workshop I attended was a panel discussion on the realities of living a homeschooling lifestyle. I was actually one of the panelists. It was a privilege to be part of this panel as we shared our struggles and successes, laughter and tears, in the hope of encouraging others. We had a very good time together.
All in all, this conference was one of my favorites (and I have been attending them annually for quite a few years). I feel refreshed and strengthened in my vocation as a wife, lived out through sharing this homeschool journey with my hubby and children. I am so thankful to the Lord for placing us on this path; and I am so grateful that He walks along beside us strengthening us in our weaknesses and filling in so many of the gaps our human frailty leaves behind.

Time goes, oh, so fast!

It is hard to believe that my baby is 5 today! It seems like just yesterday I was crying to my hubby, "I'm still pregnant. Is the baby ever coming out?" You see, this little guy kept me on bed rest for three months! With four other kids still running around the house, that is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time to be stuck on the couch and it made the pregnancy seem so long as well. Then he decided to stay put until his due date. Yep, the little guy actually came on the date he was due! What are the odds? But he was so worth it all!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAWRENCE. We love you!