January to December 2014 take 1
"Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat, please sir put a penny in the old man's hat....the lyrics to this song blare through our house as Miss Piggy and the rest of the muppets sing a long with John Denver. It's a music tradition in our family that stems from my side, going back to when I was a little girl. I am sitting here in my dining room, looking out of the windows at the newly fallen snow, and it makes me nostalgic for our holiday traditions. My mind then goes to wonder where we have come in 2014 and where we are headed in 2015.
Every year we face so many changes and every year our lives continue to be shaped by what we have faced and how we continue to fight it or how we have conquered it. There are so many things I would love to talk about but it would take forever, so I've gathered a handful of memories from the past 11 months.
These are the highlights from 2014 that have left a mark on us.
January's favorite memory is from January 10th. Serta delivered Katie's new mattress and box springs set. For this memory we go back to 2013......We had originally ordered them from Serta direct in November and they were coming from the warehouse that is in Des Moines. On the day that they were heading to Davenport to deliver it, the drivers were on interstate 80 when a deer ran out in front of the car in front of them. The car in front swerved and slammed on their breaks, the Serta truck tried to swerve to avoid it but ran into the car. The car behind the serta truck crashed into them and the impact caused the trucks latch to open in the back of the truck and Katie's mattress flew across the interstate! Thank goodness everyone involved was ok. But the mattress and box springs did take quite a hit when it hit the road at a high rate of speed. It was in plastic though, so I didn't understand why she didn't want it?? I'm kidding!
She was thrilled when, at last, they delivered her a new unscathed mattress set!
February was a month of winter refreshment and a prayer vigil for a neighbor.
Katie left on Valentine's night for winter jam. Our youth ministry has an amazing, life changing weekend event every year and it's a time for our kiddos to be together and share their life and love for the ONE that changed so many of their lives, Jesus christ!! For the most part it's a time for the leaders to mess around and laugh at whatever Jeremy & Garth have come up with that's usually not on the intelligent side of life!
February 23rd was a prayer vigil at St. John's in Davenport for a young woman that lived near us by the name of Carrie olson. Carrie was last seen on December 28th 2013, the night of Katie's super sweet 16 party.
Carrie was last seen with a friend who at one time been her boyfriend. Carrie stuck with me all of the time in my heart. I didn't know her until she came to light in the media when she went missing, but my heart ached for her!! Every time I drove by her house I was saddened. My heart ached for her parents that they would find her and find her alive. I was watching the parks, streets, pathways, any where she could be. As the days kept passing, hope began to fade.
Her body was later discovered in April, on a piece of land in rural Minnesota. She had been murderd and her ex-boyfriend, Tim McVay, who she was last seen with, was arrested for her murder! As of today, Tim still sits in the Rock Island County jail awaiting trial.
March didn't bring many showers but a little Warmer weather than what we were used too.
Lamar started working part time for our church (which he still absolutely loves).
My sweet, Irish auntie Joyce turned 60 and we all got to celebrate her 60 years together as a family at my cousin Lori's house.
Katie started drivers Ed with Meredith. Katie and Mer have grown up together and have done so much together since they were little, so it was only fitting that they took class and did drive time together. I can close my eyes and see the little blonde and little brunette driving Meredith's Barbie car. Mer would let Katie drive and she would always do two things no matter what! 1. She would hit the tree in Mary and Tim's front yard and 2. Run over their drain pipe!! Every single time, I swear! I think their drain pipe is still flat. Katie did do better driving in behind the wheel then she previously had. Her & I were out one day when I was in the passenger seat and I was on the phone with Melissa. Katie got into our neighborhood and was turning north onto Arlington Avenue, a car was heading south in the other lane, she didn't want it to hit us so she drove on the sidewalk. I calmly said to Melissa, I need to call you back, Katie is driving on the sidewalk. We all have those learning to drive moments that later entertain us!!
April was exciting with Katie finishing drivers education and getting Her drivers license! The most important thing that happened that month was that her high school had a blood drive and she was legally able to give and for the first time, in honor of my brother David, Katie gave her blood to help save lives. September 2000, my brother was sick and diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Over a short period of time he received roughly 30 transfusions. Thanks to everyone that had ever given blood, my brothers life was saved and now Katie gives in honor of my brother. Her goal is to give a gallon by the time she graduates high school!
April finished with a Big Bang and Good Friday was not all that good. I was busy making lunches and was my normal sweat pant, no make up, unmakeuped self when the phone rang. It was my mom and she was upset saying that my uncle Jack fell and thought he had broken his wrist. I dropped everything, grabbed my mom and got strait to him in Rock Island. Um, yea, it was broken!!! I'm not a nurse and knew it was. He broke his wrist in 5 different places and they did surgery that same day.
It was a long and traumatic day for him and we all learned very quickly what you cannot do with only 1 hand! He had planned to host our family for Easter lunch and still did on Sunday. He was a huge blessing to me because he had everything catered and on that Easter morning I was able to get up and focus on family and not making food. That was huge for me and I will never forget that.
So What's to come for the rest of 2014? Part 2 includes: Cancer diagnosis(es), Katie interviewed on the news, babies being born, surgeries, a memorable trip to Niabi zoo, and so much more!
Memories are an amazing thing and at times, they are the only thing that we have to keep us connected to the past!
To Be Continued.................
Every year we face so many changes and every year our lives continue to be shaped by what we have faced and how we continue to fight it or how we have conquered it. There are so many things I would love to talk about but it would take forever, so I've gathered a handful of memories from the past 11 months.
These are the highlights from 2014 that have left a mark on us.

She was thrilled when, at last, they delivered her a new unscathed mattress set!
February was a month of winter refreshment and a prayer vigil for a neighbor.

February 23rd was a prayer vigil at St. John's in Davenport for a young woman that lived near us by the name of Carrie olson. Carrie was last seen on December 28th 2013, the night of Katie's super sweet 16 party.
Carrie was last seen with a friend who at one time been her boyfriend. Carrie stuck with me all of the time in my heart. I didn't know her until she came to light in the media when she went missing, but my heart ached for her!! Every time I drove by her house I was saddened. My heart ached for her parents that they would find her and find her alive. I was watching the parks, streets, pathways, any where she could be. As the days kept passing, hope began to fade.
Her body was later discovered in April, on a piece of land in rural Minnesota. She had been murderd and her ex-boyfriend, Tim McVay, who she was last seen with, was arrested for her murder! As of today, Tim still sits in the Rock Island County jail awaiting trial.
March didn't bring many showers but a little Warmer weather than what we were used too.
Lamar started working part time for our church (which he still absolutely loves).
My sweet, Irish auntie Joyce turned 60 and we all got to celebrate her 60 years together as a family at my cousin Lori's house.
Katie started drivers Ed with Meredith. Katie and Mer have grown up together and have done so much together since they were little, so it was only fitting that they took class and did drive time together. I can close my eyes and see the little blonde and little brunette driving Meredith's Barbie car. Mer would let Katie drive and she would always do two things no matter what! 1. She would hit the tree in Mary and Tim's front yard and 2. Run over their drain pipe!! Every single time, I swear! I think their drain pipe is still flat. Katie did do better driving in behind the wheel then she previously had. Her & I were out one day when I was in the passenger seat and I was on the phone with Melissa. Katie got into our neighborhood and was turning north onto Arlington Avenue, a car was heading south in the other lane, she didn't want it to hit us so she drove on the sidewalk. I calmly said to Melissa, I need to call you back, Katie is driving on the sidewalk. We all have those learning to drive moments that later entertain us!!
April was exciting with Katie finishing drivers education and getting Her drivers license! The most important thing that happened that month was that her high school had a blood drive and she was legally able to give and for the first time, in honor of my brother David, Katie gave her blood to help save lives. September 2000, my brother was sick and diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Over a short period of time he received roughly 30 transfusions. Thanks to everyone that had ever given blood, my brothers life was saved and now Katie gives in honor of my brother. Her goal is to give a gallon by the time she graduates high school!

So What's to come for the rest of 2014? Part 2 includes: Cancer diagnosis(es), Katie interviewed on the news, babies being born, surgeries, a memorable trip to Niabi zoo, and so much more!
Memories are an amazing thing and at times, they are the only thing that we have to keep us connected to the past!
To Be Continued.................
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