Not long ago, I wrote about one of many causes of importance observed in the month of October.You might also know that October is the month in which Breast Cancer Awareness is observed as well as Down Syndrome Awareness. I became (more) aware of another cause of importance this month. I mean, I’ve been aware of it for quite some time but it didn’t become something that was deeply personal to me until now.
I was, admittedly, nervous when this school year began. I’m not sure why the transition to first grade seemed like a trip to the moon from kindergarten … but it did. Not only were the kids no longer protected in a separate wing; they had their own mailboxes for crying.out.loud. Continue reading
I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.
– Bob Seger, “Against the Wind”
I posted this to Facebook as well, but then I realized I wanted to have it forever and ever. Seeing my baby boy … playing in the leaves … forgetting (at least momentarily) the other stuff … pure joy.
I didn’t lay there for long, though, to be clear. The leaves were wet. Eww!
if you had a store in west michigan, tragedies like this could be avoided.
sincerely,
one of your biggest (and tonight, saddest) fans
happy wedding day, travis and mandy!
I’m so grateful to know people that have connections to ‘the big city’ where awesome events like Lego® KidsFest take place. I would never have known 1.) about it and 2.) that the traveling show would be in Novi this past weekend. I asked Connor if he wanted to go and as per usual he was like, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about, but okay.’ ‘Sure, I’ll go.’ Continue reading
Today was, as I explained in a couple of messages, rough. So, in the spirit of pretending like everything is fine keeping things light, I now present the Leep family.
There are few people in this world that can rival the ‘happy’ that is Kammy. You cannot help but feel better when you’re around her. And to be around her family for an hour? So.Fun.
Curt, Kammy, Chase, Jayna and Grady … thanks for braving a chilly Sunday afternoon and sharing your joy with me (even if Smarties bribery was involved).
one beautiful family
We’re all given a name at birth, right? I (fortunately or otherwise) was given the name Staci. No, it is not short for Anastasia. And yes, it is spelled with an “i”. I did learn in a very brief InterWeb search that my name is Greek in origin and means “Resurrection” (which is awesome and makes all kinds of sense) and that its most popular year was 1973 … many, many years before my birth.
But, aside from that very strange pique in self-confidence we all get when we hear our name and that very awkward feeling we get when we have to write it on those silly stickers at an event, how much can we really identify with our name? In my opinion, it ultimately takes a back seat to all of the other labels we might be given throughout our lives. Continue reading
The very best part about this tour was that I’d never seen an inch of it before.
inexpensive therapy
a little bit country
seeing red
covered
closer to home
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
– Robert Frost
I went to visit him last night. To be completely honest, I didn’t get out of the car but I still talked to him. I told him that I was sorry and that I can’t believe he’s been gone for four years. And then, in typical fashion, he made me laugh. I remembered that last in-person conversation we’d had just a few months before October 6, 2008 … the one where he invited me to his funeral. He laughed and I may have punched him but he reiterated that he meant it. I really was invited. You still make me laugh today, JJ. I’ll love you forever, and just like I signed off the text to my dad last night about that story … brat.
the only great-grandpa he ever knew
a brand new ending 