Funtimes

Today was a great day. A busy one, but a great one. Jon's best friend, Gary and his wife, Sam are in town. They are expecting their first baby and we haven't seen them since we heard the news. So, we were excited to celebrate! Friday night, we went to dinner together in the city...without kids...and it was so nice to catch up and have some adult time. Then, today we spent the morning at the farm. The weather was beautiful and the company was great. Nikki, Eko and Sean were there and we also saw quite a few friends. It was so nice. Afterward, we took Gary and Sam to walk through our,"new house," assuming we sell this house..) and then we headed home for some quiet time.

This afternoon Jon, Gary, Uncle Rick and Jake went to see the Phillies game. It was Phillies versus Mets which is perfect because Gary is a huge Mets fan. Jake could not hold back his excitement all day. While the big boys were out...the babies and I went to have some much needed Aunt Janet and Kim time. What a great, easy, perfect day.

Just Dance...

More Easter ...Morning and Afternoon

We started the day with Easter baskets at everyone's door... Then, after a long fun filled morning of church and brunch... the festivities continued... Easter dinner at Rick and Janet's. What a wonderful day.

Thank you Lord for this glorious day.

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Easter Brunch...pictures say a thousand words

Easter Egg Hunts Galore

Just a quick picture update of some of the Easter happenings going on over here..

Week started with Jake's Easter party at school on Wednesday. Jon was a volunteer and took this picture of Jake and some of his pals. Then, Thursday I had MOPS and Jake's little," church class," as he calls it learned about Easter and had some fun.

Today, we invited some friends over and walked up to the local park to attend our town egg hunt. It was a blast and the kids seemed to love it. We had everyone over after to play, make a little craft and eat some snacks.

At bedtime tonight, we talked to Jake about the true meaning of Easter and then prepared their baskets once they were all asleep... so fun!

Easter isn't even here yet and we have already had such fun. Can't wait for tomorrow! Happy Easter.

should be sleeping...

I should totally be sleeping, but.. Kevin is crying and I am trying to get him to soothe himself. Torturous sleep training has begun for poor Kev. This is by far my least favorite part of parenting.

Aside from sleeping training, I'm wide awake for another reason. Today is April 2nd. Wednesday, April 2nd, 2003 was the night my mom suddenly passed away. Nine years ago. Nine years ago.... at this very moment... I was returning home from the hospital to a mom'less home. I will never forget that feeling. As much as I've grown, learned and changed in the past nine years, that feeling still lingers in my heart. There is a,"momless' ness" about me now. Being a motherless daughter changes you. Since that night, I have been a different person who has a different perspective on just about everything! I remain the same ol' Jo in some ways... sure. But, overall my perspective on anything important has changed. That and I sadly hardened a little bit. I've tried to lose the new, "hard," feeling I have sometimes, but I can't shake it. I also can't remember a time since that night where I have laughed a true laugh... that bothers me. I laugh, I find humor in life, I love laughing actually... but post mom... I haven't really belly laughed. You know the laugh...the one that makes you cry or run to the bathroom if you've had a baby like me... I know it is a silly thing to think about, but for me it just shows me that I am still not there yet. Will I ever be? Not sure... I know God has me on this grief journey for more reasons than I can fathom, but every once in awhile I just want to say," This stinks God." I trust Him and his plan for me... but today I just felt stinky.

Being mom'less has made me notice things that the average person may not notice. Like mothers and daughters shopping at Target together... or a grandmother with her grand baby at the local play place...a loving motherly look from behind a bride who's trying a dress on... a mother answering the door of her daughter's home as you deliver a "new baby meal"..little snippets into a life I wish I could have had with her. I know I wasn't meant to and that she lived out her lifetime, but days like today the,"what if''s" get the best of me. I usually try and watch a home movie of my mom today, but I couldn't handle it... hearing her voice just seemed like too much today.

I can't believe that it has been nine years. When I relive that night in my mind, which I try not to do, it feels like I'm watching a bad lifetime movie. I really survived that? My family really went through that? It's crazy... if anyone knew how often I still think of her/talk to her throughout the day, they would probably be a little concerned about me... but it just happens... all day long. I can't help it. I probably think of her at least five times a day still. Some days more. Personally, I hope that never changes...

I love my life. I love my husband and my sweet boys. I love that God has given me passions and interests that occupy my mind. I love that this terrible experience has opened my eyes to the hurt that people feel every day. Today, I saw at least three ambulances go by and I don't think that was an accident. Every time I see one... I say a little prayer and think," man someone's life could be completely changing right now..." I just can't help but think that... I feel blessed for these reminders as tough as they are some days. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily grind of life and miss out on God's wonders.... the beauty... your family and friends... life's short and can change completely in one second. You can go to bed one night after your mom has dropped you off and never see her alive again... it can happen... it happened to me... I just hope that April 2nd always has a profound affect on me. It keeps me," living in the now" (Wayne's world, Jon hates that I still quote Wayne's world.. classic) It helps me to reflect and feel the loss of my sweet and loving mom. Oh how I miss her. I long for the day when we can be together again. She can sip her mocha frappacino, listen to my stories and I can hear her tell me how proud she is of me... that will be a glorious day... night. Oh, and Kevin fell asleep finally...

Matching Jackets...

Enough said... this photo shoot deserved its own post!

Will was a little grumpy so it took a little while to get a good shot.

Park Fun

Random pics from a fun morning at the park! Our neighbors and friends Heather, Alex and Cara came too. Such cuties!

The Farm is Back!!!

We love going to the local farm and look forward to it each year. Jake has honestly been talking about it for months. They re-opened this past Friday and we couldn't wait to go. We went with our friends Talena, Andrew and Lily and Nikki and Sean came too! It was such a fun afternoon. It didn't hurt that it was 80 degrees and they were giving out free ice cream! I can't wait to start our weekly visits to the farm. It was so cute to see Will experience it all for the first time. He LOVED the chickens and the sand box!

been meaning to post this...

I love meeting new people. I especially love when an everyday conversation ends up," wow-ing" me. I am the annoying person who starts talking to you when your in line, or your stretching at the gym, waiting for your car at the wash..elevator...pretty much anytime you probably want to have a minute and just be... I will start talking to you. Annoying I'm sure. I guess I don't do well with silence. The benefit of this highly annoying trait of mine is that I meet some pretty interesting characters. A few weeks ago, I was with Kev waiting for my oil to be changed when a friendly older woman sits next to me. Jackpot! Instant chat partner. I don't remember how our convo started, but it went from babies, grandmothers to poetry. I'm sorry poetry? I LOVE poetry and people who write it. So here she is talking about poetry with me and she gives me a poem she wrote for grandmother's. Instantly...think of mom... But kept chatting. I read it, compliment her and then ask her how long she has been writing. Here is the wow moment... She starts sharing her testimony of how she found God and how He changed her life! Amazing...Turns out, she was in a terrible car accident in the 80's. She lost both legs and they told her it was amazing that she is alive and that she would not ever walk again. She was alone in the hospital that night and feeling hopeless, lifeless and felt she no longer had purpose. It was then she heard the wind blow and God say...write! So she wrote her first poem that night. She just knew that this was her new purpose to spread His love and her story of how He saved her through poetry! I was speechless. I told her I too believed in God and thanked her for sharing with me. She gave me a copy of her first poem...which she carries in her purse and off she went. I'm sure I will never see her again, but I know I was meant to sit next to her and chat. I have always been wow'd by people who confidently share what they believe in or hold dear. I love how she has such strong faith. I love how she has the guts to share it with a stranger because she believes that's what God intends for her to do. I'm glad I met you dear stranger...as I always say... Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet! Oh and by the way...she has prostetic legs, had to learn to crawl and walk again and by the grace of God did it!

Here is the poem:

"Wind Song" by Sandy Hanna

"Praise You Oh Lord"
for this bright new day...
May it exult You
in every way!
The songs from the wind
as it travels through earth;
seem to hum a sweet melody,
expressing rebirth.
And the valleys and mountains,
chime their soft encore...
of peace here on Earth,
and of love ever more.
May we here and rejoice
as we travel through life,
and blend in great harmony,
to God's will, free from strife...
And while trumpets blow loudly
and flutes soft and mellow...
We shall join in the song,
as sweet air through a bellow...
Humming and Praising
each step of the way,
our Lord and saviour...
who is with us each day.

St. Patty's

This St. Patty's was extra special. It is one of my favorite holidays and has been for as long as I can remember. My parents came here from Ireland and I am a first born American. So, I feel the need to keep my Irish-ness alive! This year I decided to have some fun with the kids. We read a story about the history of St. Patrick's day. Did you know St. Patrick brought the pagan Irish word that there is one true God and you can go to heaven?? Never knew that! It made the tradition all the more worthy to celebrate! We also created a leprechaun trap and set it out on Friday night in hopes to catch a wee leprechaun! Jake loved it. In the morning, we found our trap empty. but he left us Lucky Charms cereal and green milk! It was a big hit!

That night, I had a girls night with my college girl friends. I have missed them so much and I really needed a night away to myself. My favorite part was just catching up and talking with the girls uninterrupted. Jon was a trooper and took care of all three boys himself. Thanks hun!! When I got home I was greeted by the biggest hugs and kisses ever. It is always nice to be missed!