Life is a Gift!

Yay! I actually uploaded a picture. This blog won't just be about words. It will just mostly be words. Like most things in my life, this is a work in progress. I am so impressed with some of the postings in the blogger world. Maybe someday I will have fancy pictures, but for now I am happy just recording about my family and our life together. Please bear with the words.

I like this family picture, because right before we took it Caleb wrapped his arms around our necks and held us in tight. Like we were his best buddies. It was so natural and fun. I don't think we showed him how to do that. He just did it on his own. Natalie is at least looking at the camera. She looks like she wants to get down and crawl around. Sorry Natalie - it is tough to get us all smiling at once. This picture captured more of Caleb's personality than anything.

Rick is away right now. He left for Mike's memorial service on Friday night. We miss him. He left about 24 hours after the kids and I got back into town. Thursday night we were all home, and then Friday we were taking him back to the airport. I am so glad Rick went to WA for Mike's memorial service. I think it was a positive experience for him to see Mike's family and his old friends. Rick is also visiting with his family, which I know makes him so happy. Jay leaves for his mission in two weeks, so I am glad Rick was able to see him one more time before Jay leaves the country.

I can't speak for Rick on this, but Mike's passing has left a strong impression on me. He was Rick's friend, but I am glad that I knew him too. Mike's death has given many people a chance to reflect on the life he lived. Mike really enjoyed life. He was passionate about life. He was adventurous and creative. I remember him sharing music with me, and books, and poetry, and outdoor activities. He really knew how to live. I am sure he had his down times - like all of us - but I did not notice them as much. He was always fun in my mind. So, the greatest message I have gained through Mike's tragic ending is to live life to the fullest. Enjoy life.

The other thoughts running through my head deal with the Plan of Salvation. This life is a gift. We came to this earth to be happy. Which is one reason why the Plan of Salvation is also known as the Plan of Happiness. This earth life is a huge part of that plan. The other comforting part of that plan is knowing that we live again after we die. I don't even know if it is best to say "live again". Our spirit really does go on living. There is no end. I know that when our time on earth ends, our life does not end. I know that Mike's family will see him again. That is such a comforting thought to me.

Here is a link to Jennifer's blog. Jennifer is Mike's wife. She has an amazing way with words. She has sincerely described the life Mike lived and the heartache of losing him. I hope it is okay if I share her blog. I think her posts have been beautiful, and they really have strengthened me. http://lovecatandcaterpillargirl.blogspot.com/

Missing Rick and Life is Fragile

The kids and I have been out of town for 9 days. We came home tonight, and it feels good to be back in our home with Rick. Before I left town, I told a friend of mine that I really don't like going on vacation without Rick. When we lived in Buffalo and now that we live in NYC, it is common for moms to leave town with the kids while the dads stay home and work. We live far away from grandparents in the west, so I understand why so many families do this during the summer. I don't have the luxury to take off for a long period of time, because I also have a job. I am impressed with the moms who do make these long summer trips happen, because I get to a point when it is really tough for me to be gone without my husband. As I explained this to my friend, she was quick to realize that Rick must be a big help to me. He really is. I am so glad to be back home with him.

Rick is a wonderful husband and father. He likes to play with the kids, and he likes to challenge them to try new things. He is the one who taught Caleb how to spell his name, and he taught Natalie how to give high fives. While we were gone, he cleaned our apartment. I hate to admit this, but it was probably the cleanest it has ever been since we have lived here. It looked awesome. There are many times when I think, I am so lucky to be married to him.

Rick is generally a positive guy. He has not cried since he was 12 (or maybe younger). So you guessed it, I have never seen him cry. I am the opposite in the emotional department. I've been known to cry at small things, like if our kids start acting up. Since Rick shows emotion differently than me, it is tough to know if something really bothers him.

Tonight when Rick picked us up from the airport, he told me that he had some bad news. Rick only shares bad news if it really is bad, so I knew this was serious. He told me that his friend from high school, Mike McCullough, had passed away in a scuba diving accident. Wow. We talked about it for a little while, but I think I was mostly in shock. I had known Mike while Rick and I were dating. He came to our wedding, and we would run into him every other Christmas in WA. I didn't really know what Rick thought about all of this.

We came home. He watched Natalie wobble around the room and rediscover the toys she hadn't seen in 9 days. He helped Caleb get ready for bed by reading him a story and brushing his teeth. And then, when the kids were mostly in bed...I mean mostly because their time schedules were so off that they were not falling asleep. Rick checked out some facebook posts and some blog posts about Mike. He tried calling Mike's parents. We laid in bed talking about what had happened. That's when I realized that most of the night his mind was back in high school remembering Mike. I think Mike's death has affected him more than any other death he has known. Maybe it is because Mike was so young with a young family. Maybe it is because Rick wished he had been in better touch with his old friends. But, I think mostly it is because Rick had a relationship with Mike at a crucial point in his life. Adolescence is a crucial time, and I think Mike helped shape Rick into the person he is today.

We will miss you Mike, and we pray for your family. We are so grateful for the gospel and the knowledge that life goes on after we die.