PICTURES OF MY AMAZING FATHER!!

MISS ME BUT LET ME GO

WHEN I COME TO THE END OF THE ROAD

AND THE SUN HAS SET FOR ME

I WANT NO RITES IN A GLOOM FILLED ROOM.

WHY CRY FOR A SOUL SET FREE?

MISS ME A LITTLE-BUT NOT TOO LONG

AND NOT WITH YOUR HEAD BOWED LOW.

REMEMBER THE LOVE THAT WE ONCE SHARED.

MISS ME-BUT LET ME GO.

FOR THIS IS A JOURNEY THAT WE ALL MUST TAKE

AND EACH MUST GO ALONE.

IT'S ALL A PART OF THE MASTER'S PLAN.

A STEP ON THE ROAD TO HOME.

WHEN YOU ARE LONELY AND SICK OF HEART

GOT TO THE FRIENDS WE KNOW,

AND BURY YOUR SORROWS IN DOING GOOD DEEDS.

MISS ME-BUT LET ME GO.

MY FATHER, MY FRIEND, MY LOVE!!

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT READ MY BLOG, SEVERAL BLOGS AGO I WROTE A LITTLE ABOUT MY FATHER THAT PASSED AWAY TWO YEARS AGO FROM LEUKEMIA AT THE VERY YOUNG AND VIBRANT AGE OF 43. I AM WRITING AGAIN BECAUSE ON MAY 19TH 2007 WE HAD MY FATHER'S BURIAL SERVICE IN HIS HOMETOWN OF MUNISING MICHIGAN AND WITH THAT DATE APPROACHING VERY QUICKLY I FELT INSPIRED TO TELL EVERYONE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MY HERO WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT MY FATHER IS AND FOREVER WILL BE TO ME!! MY FATHER LOVED CHILDREN (NOT JUST HIS OWN) HE WOULD RATHER PLAY WITH THE KIDS OUTSIDE THEN BE INSIDE WITH THE REST OF THE ADULTS. HE TAUGHT SEVERAL OF THE BOYS IN MY FAMILY HOW TO PITCH FOR BASEBALL, HE ALSO LOVED TO PLAY BASKETBALL WITH THEM. MANY PEOPLE SAID MY FATHER SHOULD HAVE WENT PRO BUT THE ARMY GOT TO HIM FIRST. WHEN I WAS LITTLE MY FATHER WOULD MAKE OBSTACLE COURSES IN THE YARD AND I WOULD DO THEM AS FAST AS I COULD AND WHEN I TIRED OUT HE WOULD A GREAT SNACK TRAY WAITING FOR ME. HE OFTEN VISITED ME AT SCHOOL (EVEN THOUGH HE WORKED THE THIRD SHIFT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESTING) HE ALWAYS SAT WITH ME AND MY FRIENDS AND ACTED REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE HAD TO SAY. EVEN AS I GOT OLDER MY FATHER WAS STILL THAT ONE MAN I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON, HE NEVER HAD A HARSH WORD TO SAY ABOUT ANYONE AND ALWAYS GAVE THE BEST ADVICE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DAY SINCE HE DIED THAT I DO NOT MISS HIM AND WISH HE COULD BE HERE WITH ME AND MY CHILDREN. CANCER IS SUCH AN UNEXPLAINABLE DISEASE. JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE CONCERED IT, IT SEEMS TO CONCERE YOU!!! I DIDN'T REALIZE CANCER WAS SUCH A HORRIBLE DISEASE INTIL IT TOUCHES SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU. WATCHING HIM FIGHT TO LIVE EVERYDAY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS GAVE ME AN OVERWELMING FAITH IN GOD THAT I HAD NEVER KNOWN BEFORE, AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR MY FATHER TO DIE, HIS DEATH WAS VERY PEACEFUL AND FILLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. I WILL NEVER FORGET THOUGH THE LAST TIME MY FATHER WOKE UP BEFORE HIS DEATH. HE LEANED OVER TO ME AND SAID I KNOW WHAT I FORGOT AND HE KISSED ME ABOUT 20 TIMES AND CLOSED HIS EYES!! I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT I WAS HIS LOVE AND HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN MINE!! I AM AND FOREVER WILL BE DADDY'S GIRL!! I WILL DEFINITELY BE POSTING MORE ABOUT MY FATHER SOON, I HOPE I CAN GIVE COURAGE TO OTHERS BATTLING CANCER THROUGH THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES I HAVE OF MY FATHER AND HIS LAST DAYS OF LIFE!! HE WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY FATHER, MY FRIEND, MY LOVE!!

KYLEE'S BIRTHDAY IS COMING SOON!!

JUST WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT KYLEE'S 3RD BIRTHDAY BECAUSE IT IS APPROACHING VERY QUICKLY. HER PARTY WILL BE JUNE 14TH 2009. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IT AT JUMP ZONE, WHICH IS THIS REALLY BIG BOUNCE PLACE WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT INFLATABLE BOUNCE HOUSES. THE THEM IS BARBIE AND THE PRIVATE ROOM WE GET TO DECORATE IS GOING TO BE DECKED OUT WITH BARBIE BANNERS, TABLE CLOTHES, STREAMER, BALLOONS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE BARBIE THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE. THE CAKE HAS ALREADY BEEN BOUGHT AS WELL, IT WILL BE A 12" INCH ROUND CAKE WITH AN 8" BARBIE CAKE ON TOP OF THE ROUND CAKE. BOTH CAKES WILL HAVE EDABLE BOWS, FLOWERS AND BARBIE THEMED THINGS ON THEM. KYLEE IS GOING TO BE WEARING AN OUTFIT THAT MATCHES HER BARBIE THEME, I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE YET, AND IF I CAN'T FIND ONE, I AM GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE MAKE ONE FOR HER. THE CHILDREN THAT ATTEND THE PARTY ARE GOING TO GET REALLY CUTE PARTY FAVORS, THE GIRLS WILL GET BARBIE STICKER BOOKS, AND THE BOYS WILL GET CARS STICKER BOOKS, AND I ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL SURPRISE FOR EACH CHILD BUT I AM NOT GOING TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT UNTIL THE PARTY!!! KYLEE'S (UNCLE FRANK, THAT BUYS THE BEST PRESENTS EVER) BOUGHT KYLEE'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT ALREADY AND WE ARE EXPECTING IT IN THE MAIL ANY DAY NOW, I AM GOING TO TRY TO PUT IT AWAY UNTIL THE PARTY, HE SAID IT IS GOING TO COME IN A HUGE BOX AND THAT IT IS A BARBIE ISLAND PRINCESS CASTLE VANITY FOR HER TO BRUSH HER HAIR AT AND PUT MAKE-UP ON. I CAN'T WAIT TILL IT GETS HERE BUT THE HARDEST PART WILL BE KEEPING IT FROM KYLEE UNTIL THE PARTY, WE LOVE ALL THE GIFTS UNCLE FRANK SENDS AND THEY ARE ALWAYS REALLY CUTE!! OH YEAH THE INVATIONS ARE ALREADY DONE, IT TOOK ME TWO MONTHS TO FINISH THEM AND THEY ARE ADORABLE. I WILL POST PICTURES OF THEM REALLY SOON!! HOPE ALL HER FAMILY AND FRIEND CAN COME, IT WILL BE A GREAT PARTY!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!!!

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY AND THAT EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH THERE MOTHER'S!!! I HAD A GREAT DAY, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER BOUGHT ME A BEAUTIFUL NICK NACK OF A MOTHER HOLDING HER DAUGHTER AND THE SWEETEST CARD EVER!! MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME THE NEW NIKON DIGITAL CAMERA THAT I HAVE BEEN WANTING AND A REALLY BEAUTIFUL CARD (THAT HE SAYS TOOK HIM 45 MINUTES TO PICK OUT)THAT I ADORE!!! WE WENT TO CHURCH AND I PLAYED WITH ALL THE KIDS IN THE NURSERY AND SHOWED EVERYONE HOW GOOD THE NURSERY LOOKS SINCE I HAVE BEEN FIXING IT UP!!! ALL THE MOTHER'S WERE PRESENTED WITH BEAUTIFUL ROSES BEFORE LEAVING CHURCH, AFTER CHURCH WE WENT FOR LUNCH AT NANNY'S HOUSE. THE MEAL WAS DELICIOUS AND I LOVED THE CHOCOLATE PIE!!! I DID REALIZE THIS MOTHER'S DAY THAT MOTHER'S ARE AMAZING WOMEN THAT DESERVE TO BE CHERISHED EVERY DAY AND THANKED BY THEIR CHILDREN FOR RAISING THEM AND TAKING THE TIME TO LOVE THEM AND CARE FOR THEM ENOUGH TO GET THEM THROUGH LIFE AND ALL OF IT'S MANY UPS AND DOWNS.

I CANNOT SLEEP TONIGHT!!

WOW IT IS 1:22 a.m AND I CANNOT SLEEP. I HAVE TOSSED AND TURNED FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS AND FINALLY DECIDED TO COME AND WRITE A BLOG. MY HUSBAND AND THE GIRLS LOOK AT PEACE TONIGHT IN THERE SLEEP, BELIEVE ME I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THEM SLEEP THESE LAST FEW NIGHTS BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON I CANNOT SEEM TO LET MY MIND REST ENOUGH FOR ME TO SLEEP. HOPEFULLY I CAN GET THIS UNDER CONTROL SOON AND BE ASLEEP WITH MY FAMILY BUT FOR NOW I WILL JUST BLOG ABOUT IT. THIS WEEK HAS BEEN GREAT LEADING UP TO MOTHER'S DAY, I WONDER WHAT MY HUSBAND HAS IN MIND TO GET ME (HOPEFULLY IT IS THE NIKON TOUCH SCREEN DIGITAL CAMERA I HINTED TO HIM ABOUT)NOT THAT IT IS A BIG DEAL OR ANYTHING!!! I PRESENTED MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER WITH A SINGING CARD AND GOURMET CHOCOLATE CANDY FOR THEM BOTH OF THEM TONIGHT, THE REALLY ENJOYED IT. WE ALSO WENT TO EAT AT FAMOUS DAVE'S AND ENJOYED A GREAT MEAL AND EACH OTHERS COMPANY!! ON SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A POT LUCK AND GET TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY AND ENJOY OUR MOTHER'S DAY TOGETHER AGAIN!! I LOVE BEING A MOTHER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD, AND I AM SO GLAD WE HAVE A SPECIAL DAY TO CELEBRATE WHAT A MOTHER TRULY IS AND NOW THAT I HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN I UNDERSTAND THE APPRECIATION A MOTHER NEEDS ON THAT DAY!! SO FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT MAY READ MY BLOG, SAY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO EVERY MOTHER YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ALL THE MOTHERS IN THE WORLD NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO US BECAUSE WITH OUT THEM WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY AND A LITTLE APPRECIATION GOES A LONG WAY!!!

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND IN BRANSON!!!!

WOW!!! WE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME IN BRANSON. THE HOTEL WE STAYED AT WAS AWESOME, THE GIRLS LOVED THE INDOOR WATER PARK AND WE WENT SWIMMING ALOT. WE ALSO SHOPPED OUR HEARTS OUT!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE POLO OUTLET, GYMBOREE, GAP KIDS, CARTER, AMERICAN EAGLE AND AEROPOSTALE OULETS. WHEN WE WEREN'T SWIMMING, WE WERE DEFINITELY SHOPPING!!! I GOT SOME REALLY AWESOME DEALS, MY HUSBAND EVEN ENJOYED THE GREAT DEALS AND BOUGHT HIMSELF SEVERAL THINGS. I WAS VERY PROUD OF HIM!!! I HAVE TO SAY THOUGH, WE BOUGHT THE GIRLS THE MOST THINGS BECAUSE EVERY STORE I WENT IN HAD ADORABLE OUTFITS FOR THEM, SO I THOUGHT I HAD TO BUY THEM!!! WE ALSO ENJOED SOME REALLY WONDERFUL FOOD AND A COUPLE OF MUSUEMS LIKE THE HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSUEM!!! I AM VERY GLAD THAT WE WENT AND THAT WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME, I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK, WE ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO GO IN JULY OR AUGUST AGAIN!!!

P.S. I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES TO SHOW BECAUSE KYLEE DROPPED OUR NEWEST CAMERA IN THE WAX MUSEUM AND BROKE IT, SO WE ARE SENDING IT TO KODAK TO BE REPAIRED!! I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE YANKED IT OUT OF MY HAND AND DID THAT, BUT I DO HOPE KYLE GETS ME THE NIKON TOUCH SCREEN FOR MOTHERS DAY AND WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL CAMERA'S THAT WE CAN CHOOSE FROM TO USE!!!

WE ARE OFF TO BRANSON!!!

BRANSON HERE WE COME!!!! WE WILL BE IN BRANSON IN JUST A FEW HOURS AND WE ARE ALL SO EXCITED, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE HOTEL THAT WE ARE STAYING IN AND THE AMAZING INDOOR WATER PARK THAT IS INSIDE OF IT. I AM ALSO SO EXCITED TO SHOP MY HEART OUT NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR MY HUSBAND AND THE GIRLS AS WELL!!! HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND I WILL HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE REALLY SOON!!!