Happy Birthday Karen!!! There are a bunch of family birthdays this month. I won't mention age since mine was one of them and I fear retaliation in some form.....I have kind of sadistic brothers.
Saturday Emma spent the day with us so Kyla and Jed could take a class on all that is involved in purchasing a home. We had a good time chasing the chicks, bugging Uncle Brian and watching Toby the floor guy take out his toe prints and hand print from the floor in the kitchen. Well after we all ended up walking in it accidentally or otherwise, we decided that maybe we will fix it ourselves. Toby came back on Sunday to replace a board that was faulty and he again put a finish (in theory) on the kitchen. Still missed a bunch of spots. However, this is it. No more returning to my kitchen. We have been living over, under and around furniture stacked in the living room for a month and a half. Before he came back to fix the boards yesterday, Brian couldn't find his laundry basket!
Hmmm. Later found it in the back of Toby's car.....don't want that back now!! He must have needed it more than Brian.
Sunday Kyla, Jed and Emma came out to sew Emma's Halloween bag that Kyla cross stitched for her. It turned out very cute! I will try to get a picture of it soon and put it up here. We ordered Chinese food and just enjoyed being together.
My aunt Nancy put me in contact with the brother of another brain tumor patient and he sent me an inspirational message that was told by Lisa
Beamer on Good Morning America. I want to post it so that we can be reminded that each and every moment of every day is to be treasured (see below).
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If you remember, Lisa is the wife of Todd
Beamer, who said 'Let's Roll!' and helped take down the plane that was heading for Washington D.C. She said it's the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him. She's now the Mom of a beautiful little girl, Mary.
Lisa recalled this story:
"I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, 'Class is over, I would like to share with all of you, a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. "Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is the powers way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day. Her eyes, beginning to water, she went on, So I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see, it could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of
someones house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted.'
Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook. Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do."
Christmas eve was spent with Dave's parents in their home. Delpha, as is their tradition, fixed her wonderful clam chowder and oyster stew. We opened gifts and it was a nice evening. Jill brought Wade, Kelli brought Isaac, Kyla, Jed and Emmy were there and Brian even made it....couldn't miss a gift! Mike and Linda came as well as Brett, Carrie and Mat.
