tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199606672024-03-12T21:01:37.095-05:00Noah's JourneyOn September 21/05 we were blessed with a beautiful son. Born with a chromosome 12q deletion (q15q21.2), the challenges were many...cleft lip/palate, complex feeding issues, developmental delays, failure to thrive, multiple infections, blood clots, asthma, sleep apnea, GI and pulmonary bleeds, TPN dependency and kidney issues. Noah embraced life and taught us how to love. On July 29/09, Noah's journey ended, leaving us on a new journey...this journey on the pathway of grief...Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.comBlogger474125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-21542739820352878572013-04-01T07:51:00.001-05:002013-04-01T08:00:55.654-05:00Easter 2013Holidays are always bittersweet days, no matter how many we have celebrated since Noah has been gone. But it was a beautiful day of celebration. Although we were unable to celebrate with family, we enjoyed a beautiful church service with our new church family and then spent the rest of the day volunteering at Give Kids The World. What better way to celebrate this holiday than serving dinner to the beautiful children and their families! It was a wonderful experience.<br />
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I love Easter and everything it represents to us. As I got out the kids Easter baskets, and looked at Noah's empty basket, I was reminded of the empty tomb...of the reason we celebrate this holiday. <br />
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Death you have not won! <br />
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HE IS RISEN! <br />
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Through the sorrow I can take joy in knowing that this is NOT the end. <br />
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The best is yet to come!! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e4gKk36IvtyECxmg2WaW5xD-zwEvCu4HRTsiTHs_dqK-s6qsd7JF6wedAuAfdKS35sizmFoM7baBadrG541WjqiTFQCfZWtHGAjPWtVZ688NQhimISzymgoP5AuHxxb7-3Tbjg/s640/blogger-image--103261969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e4gKk36IvtyECxmg2WaW5xD-zwEvCu4HRTsiTHs_dqK-s6qsd7JF6wedAuAfdKS35sizmFoM7baBadrG541WjqiTFQCfZWtHGAjPWtVZ688NQhimISzymgoP5AuHxxb7-3Tbjg/s640/blogger-image--103261969.jpg" /></a></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-91371767159897053872012-09-30T22:07:00.000-05:002012-09-30T22:07:10.060-05:00Brand New Chapter<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
It has been far too long since I have written here. I have been pondering the idea for a while of closing this blog and perhaps starting something new. However, this journey that we are on, all began with this amazing little boy, and although he is no longer with us, it still seems fitting for now that I continue to write here.</div>
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We have officially made the big move to Orlando. After tearful goodbyes to many precious friends and memories, we packed up the trailer and arrived here mid August. We were immediately welcomed with open arms by an amazing church (who literally showed up on our doorstep, fed us, unloaded the entire trailer, and put together furniture) and wonderful neighbors (who came by with cookies, and invited Kailyn to a sleepover on our second night here). Yes, from the very moment we arrived, we felt very blessed to be here. We literally picked this house off the internet, sight unseen, and hoped for the best. We couldn't have asked for a better community to be placed in. God's hand was obviously in it all and although we are still adjusting and missing our friends and family, we are quite happy here. </div>
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We took some time to settle into our wonderful new house, do some volunteering at Give Kids The World, and then took a couple of weeks off to enjoy some Disney vacation. After putting it off as long as possible, we finally enrolled the kids into school. We hope to get into more of a routine of volunteering in the next few weeks.</div>
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Joshua is in grade 5 at the elementary school, which is very close to us, and reminds me very much of our school back in La Salle. He was assigned a fabulous teacher and much to our surprise, settled in almost immediately. He has made some close friends who happen to live just down the street and he is able to bike to school with them each day. Although the mountains of homework he brings home each evening are not fun, he is enjoying his school year. He is slowly developing his confidence and I am really enjoying watching him flourish here. </div>
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Kailyn, on the other hand, has had a very different school experience. She entered the middle school system (grade 7) which was completely overwhelming for her. The first week brought many tears as she struggled to try and make friends, adjust to the HUGE school and adapt to a whole new school system. She is my strong, independent spirit, who usually excels in situations such as these, however this has been a real challenge. I was uncomfortable with the school from the moment we set foot in it. It was overwhelming even for me and I felt like I had absolutely no idea what was going on there. </div>
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Meanwhile, as she was struggling at school, Kailyn began connecting with the girls in the church youth group, all of whom are homeschooled (homeschooling is very popular here in Florida). And suddenly it seemed as if we had been plunged this brand new world of homeschooling. Everywhere we looked, we were surrounded with homeschooling families who have made it work for them and have these beautiful, happy, well adjusted kids! It's an idea that I had been mulling about in my head for a while, even before the kids started school...an idea that I never thought I would consider, and anyone who knows me well, knows what I used to think about homeschooling. I was never against the idea, and thought it was fine for others, but I definately never thought it would be for our family. I used to be one of those moms who couldn't wait for school to begin, and I cherished the time I had when they were out of the house. But our family has grown and changed so much since Noah's death, and I have come to enjoy my children so much and truly cherish the time I have with them. I also now suddenly find myself without a job and alot of free time, searching for a new purpose to my days. And the more I have thought about it and prayed it over, the more homeschooling just makes perfect sense for our family, and especially for our Kailyn who has such a heart and passion to serve at Give Kids the World. Homeschooling will give us the freedom and flexibility to spend time serving and and the same time, allow us to teach our children meaningful life lessons and instill our Christian values into their hearts and minds. </div>
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And so tomorrow, our family will begin a brand new chapter in the journey, as we are withdrawing Kailyn from the public school system and officially starting homeschooling. We have registered with an online umbrella school (Homelife Academy) in order to make it simpler to abide by Florida state laws and give me some guidance. We will be using ACE PACES (an independent Biblically based workbook style curriculum...perfect for my independent daughter!) She will get lots of social interaction through church and youth group, as well as with other activities with other homeschooled kids. Kailyn is thrilled, and has already spent the entire weekend working on her assignments. Joshua will continue in the public school for this year as he is settled there and I think it's important for him to solidify the friendships he has made. However, since this is his last year in the elementary school, next year the plan is to homeschool both of them.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It really is crazy to think that we are here...sometimes I have to just take a moment to look around and take it all in...how so much has happened in a few short years to lead us to this place in our lives...</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">beauty from ashes</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We still miss our little Noah so very much...not a day goes by that I don't ache to have him in my arms. We celebrated what would have been his 7th birthday last Friday. I missed being able to visit his grave that day. Although I have never spent a lot of time there, there is something comforting about having a tangible place to go and visit. Instead, we enjoyed angel food cake, and envisioned Noah enjoying his special cake and dancing with the angels. Can't wait to dance with you my little man!!</span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-27440116186325684822012-07-29T18:14:00.000-05:002012-07-29T18:14:47.323-05:003 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Remembering today...and everyday. It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that it's been 3 years. Seems like only yesterday, and yet so long ago all at the same time.<br />
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<i>My little Noah...you continue to be my inspiration to have the courage to step out of my comfort zone and make a difference. How very blessed I am to have had you in my life. Miss you so very much. </i>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-22403759517162110142012-07-18T17:44:00.000-05:002012-07-18T17:44:07.674-05:00Watch Out Florida...Here We Come!Our US visas have been officially approved!! We are excited to begin preparing for a move to Florida in mid August and look forward to devoting our time to Give Kids The World. The move will be bittersweet as we leave behind so many wonderful friends and family, and so many precious memories in this place. But we are ready for this change and look forward to making a difference. Next big hurdle is selling our home, and looking for a new home, but we continue to trust in Him for all the details.
Noah, you have inspired us to dream big and have the courage to make those dreams a reality. Because of you we will live life to the fullest with no regrets.
This is for you my sunny boy!!Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-91692973573053732562012-05-13T22:07:00.002-05:002012-05-13T22:07:56.040-05:00Mothers Day 2012Mothers day will always be a difficult day. There is just no getting around it. I miss my Noah each and every day, but today is especially tough. When everything is focused on the relationships between mothers and their children, I am even more aware of everything that this day, or any other day, can never be. <br />
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Thank you to my wonderful hubby for putting together this beautiful video for me today...<br />
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Longing for my son... <br />
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<br />Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-1785713599531986642012-04-06T18:05:00.006-05:002012-04-10T08:57:47.098-05:00<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;">"All I know is I'm not home yet.<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i>This is not where I belong.</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);" ><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i> Take this world and give me Jesus.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i>This is not where I belong."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Easter...a holiday filled with such hope and promise always brings me to tears. The little white basket sits empty...another holiday without Noah. I miss him so very much...my heart aches to hold him...to see him one more time. The longing can be so overwhelming. But the promise of the cross fills me with hope.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This life is fleeting...temporary...One day I will be home. </span></div><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I can hardly wait...</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lOtsB4O1p3o?fs=1" frameborder="0" height="270" width="480"></iframe>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-71941528774410746952012-02-28T19:57:00.005-06:002012-02-28T20:29:29.010-06:00Cherished<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This has been a difficult post to write, as I am having trouble putting into words what this means to me. Once again, our Noah has been honored in a very special way, by people who mean more to me than they will ever know.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxJhpsDChRK27whjfUqbN6TOQZYS4sz3fPIGR57Kg2R3oN5j2rpmJsPKY75yWy6YmW4Eir9MMiadMNpmIYIepuA6m7FXhFihGRDQixLgHh3HNl4ZqXCqQCqr8Yc9VvILiR6f51Q/s1600/IMG_5697.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxJhpsDChRK27whjfUqbN6TOQZYS4sz3fPIGR57Kg2R3oN5j2rpmJsPKY75yWy6YmW4Eir9MMiadMNpmIYIepuA6m7FXhFihGRDQixLgHh3HNl4ZqXCqQCqr8Yc9VvILiR6f51Q/s320/IMG_5697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714375893695507330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Very recently a beautiful new space opened up at the Assiniboine Park, called the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.assiniboinepark.ca/attractions/qualico-family-centre.php">Qualico Family Centre</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. There is a pathway in front of the centre, where memory stones could be purchased.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSySM7uNzFZSRChgTREj5GvPj1dstgCtb4hCMaC-8tkCOjR07wPZRbdbhgIgZyu0ff_qo8JJlUCjB5lIkhkHWj-J6e_aIb01D16qM-P0N_RaBZsE6j57gIW1ujPD1dRNzpCYwrQw/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSySM7uNzFZSRChgTREj5GvPj1dstgCtb4hCMaC-8tkCOjR07wPZRbdbhgIgZyu0ff_qo8JJlUCjB5lIkhkHWj-J6e_aIb01D16qM-P0N_RaBZsE6j57gIW1ujPD1dRNzpCYwrQw/s320/IMG_5694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714375896648228546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The staff of CH5 thoughtfully purchased a stone in memory of Noah...</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_zUFXrKOxu2B3CbXlypmPlvwq_Xdwjb2vKcA6V6k5CcF0yENtC4p5L8FF6oejPdVJhMx235-YdaLamv80WIAAvCXe3HmijPLK6l_AWKUr6ujpFnGV_7JkXPv1202YG7GxrxPkA/s1600/IMG_5695.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_zUFXrKOxu2B3CbXlypmPlvwq_Xdwjb2vKcA6V6k5CcF0yENtC4p5L8FF6oejPdVJhMx235-YdaLamv80WIAAvCXe3HmijPLK6l_AWKUr6ujpFnGV_7JkXPv1202YG7GxrxPkA/s320/IMG_5695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714374664710584914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qF1VIzBJka-lizm9OPVZzUb4Nouzjm_0FWabhpLT6MyhPxLYPkDF8pVoxK6M_RR6nq89u5lo3TqHo4GdzkP0k_29bqHJuDVt-EVcVRwXSp8Kj2iv3-OuWZj6sWp3Q01c5W5ROA/s1600/IMG_5698.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qF1VIzBJka-lizm9OPVZzUb4Nouzjm_0FWabhpLT6MyhPxLYPkDF8pVoxK6M_RR6nq89u5lo3TqHo4GdzkP0k_29bqHJuDVt-EVcVRwXSp8Kj2iv3-OuWZj6sWp3Q01c5W5ROA/s320/IMG_5698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714374676353187026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">One word...</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>cherished</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">...</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvsFwpsibqbDdkBw57IKGAlOpBEioih24dGwP5oVCd3BPzQh9OWVHIvgLErn5NhBfY04jGIQ6RhOlVMIOaaYCSa_JEPE4jXCOY7HyOs_B0HlEyS67tPGDiiSZYA32wge5pF-Q1A/s1600/IMG_5692.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvsFwpsibqbDdkBw57IKGAlOpBEioih24dGwP5oVCd3BPzQh9OWVHIvgLErn5NhBfY04jGIQ6RhOlVMIOaaYCSa_JEPE4jXCOY7HyOs_B0HlEyS67tPGDiiSZYA32wge5pF-Q1A/s320/IMG_5692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714374658817000194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">We are so touched by this very special gift. Words cannot express how it warms my heart to know that Noah was loved by the staff that came to mean so much to us. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Thank you CH5!! Thank you for this wonderful gift. Thank you for treating our family like your family. Thank you for caring for me and helping me through many lonely days and nights. Thank you for caring for our Noah so well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Thank you for cherishing our son.</span><br /></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-59676535917237460472012-02-01T18:55:00.006-06:002012-02-01T19:47:04.155-06:00Blessed<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's been a long time since I've posted here. Life has been busy and full. And lately, I no longer seem to know what to write here. My grief has become much more private. That doesn't mean that I don't still grieve. I still grieve...I will live the rest of my life grieving. Not a day goes by where I don't think about Noah, and how I desperately wish he was still here on earth with us. No matter how much "simpler" our lives may be now, or how much freedom we have to do the things we've always wanted to do, I would give it all up for one more s</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">mile...one more cuddle. It helps to know that others still care...that his legacy lives on today.</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEGQayr7Tj50AOTAbIPmhyphenhyphenMqVyXTenqfvkBHL37W6Fb1N6V2c6bwrKvD2jTYlDvFlLyagt-uz1OoTgSD9QanalxaPUP3sl0MtAtotfn_Y3VxNfEgS1nHdLpxwdRe0dwPVJlXOlw/s1600/P1000283.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEGQayr7Tj50AOTAbIPmhyphenhyphenMqVyXTenqfvkBHL37W6Fb1N6V2c6bwrKvD2jTYlDvFlLyagt-uz1OoTgSD9QanalxaPUP3sl0MtAtotfn_Y3VxNfEgS1nHdLpxwdRe0dwPVJlXOlw/s320/P1000283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704345968577251394" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This past week, our family was blessed with a most incredible gift. A couple of m</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">onths ago, an online scrapbooking group called the Mousescrappers contacted me. They had been touched by Noah's story, and wanted to make a digital scrapbook of our wishtrip to help us pre</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">serve those precious memories. Of course, I was very excited and eagerly said "yes", so they worked with me to gather all our pictures and help me journal and organize our memories. Over 40 people worked on this project and somehow they turned our precious memories into something amazing!! It ended up turning into such a huge project, that the group made us 2 books as they could not fit it all into one. Needless to say, the books turned out FABULOUS!!! They are so much more than I ever imagined they would be and we are so thrilled with them! I wish I could put into words what this means to me. I can never thank them enough for tackling this project that I was too overwhelmed to ever attempt to do myself.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZTMTQsoR3JiQq_6wmf_cVgPJRdj51yZgDCNFHJUXw_30uUn3H12-HYxNPlhlJwNo-fc5O-PmOMpxsjfS1mXDadt_JqVR9MPOzOvdufOkZVG8eVoYoJ6G8SK0N5y7yuA74DpMag/s1600/P1000278.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZTMTQsoR3JiQq_6wmf_cVgPJRdj51yZgDCNFHJUXw_30uUn3H12-HYxNPlhlJwNo-fc5O-PmOMpxsjfS1mXDadt_JqVR9MPOzOvdufOkZVG8eVoYoJ6G8SK0N5y7yuA74DpMag/s320/P1000278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704343715053209218" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EOKpJ1-ZQyy1csthVmXr_9O1dteg-r-D9oI3AqTntlCIqUintJsMmA-dnmuasXahGaVXSHHEtvV7IU1oH5UQk9HHH-d8vywxu_bjcp6wAFc1_nm_-ZPEKAJXWrh2JyVPeRB1Ug/s1600/P1000279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EOKpJ1-ZQyy1csthVmXr_9O1dteg-r-D9oI3AqTntlCIqUintJsMmA-dnmuasXahGaVXSHHEtvV7IU1oH5UQk9HHH-d8vywxu_bjcp6wAFc1_nm_-ZPEKAJXWrh2JyVPeRB1Ug/s320/P1000279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704344365252859362" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLSj1YB9b3XoV0Cg77ThDg_K-e5OuptFICvKjbH1D3q4-C6Xl-jIyO06z04KbGOC6irmINWIzvVRCeBgacH2wLI7b7ZjwslhPnu_1WXgF0o1e4fALdW_wrFHbMGBs0Tbh1ChF5Q/s1600/P1000281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLSj1YB9b3XoV0Cg77ThDg_K-e5OuptFICvKjbH1D3q4-C6Xl-jIyO06z04KbGOC6irmINWIzvVRCeBgacH2wLI7b7ZjwslhPnu_1WXgF0o1e4fALdW_wrFHbMGBs0Tbh1ChF5Q/s320/P1000281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704345002890040130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7T7dVwnbTdaDiaA9BHugxkLs3E0vBHY46VZ_ENti1t-SOTz_HmAtFJVtCuaJp2I-QRq7QiINlbZCelAlB9K3o4M7kW5OBBXbi1kvUEb8lIVQ5kb0UVRy4Yx3dXgR9q4ulac8VA/s1600/P1000282.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7T7dVwnbTdaDiaA9BHugxkLs3E0vBHY46VZ_ENti1t-SOTz_HmAtFJVtCuaJp2I-QRq7QiINlbZCelAlB9K3o4M7kW5OBBXbi1kvUEb8lIVQ5kb0UVRy4Yx3dXgR9q4ulac8VA/s320/P1000282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704345010139569634" border="0" /></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ujadVDNMx45g7BU4HiToi0DdsYDQhCYmKuL-vqesHDkx0vW__qW0ns0W0DGjabq04icznWF6P-G-8tpxcOhyphenhyphensgQVJKRBXz0AMIK2kxl85kun_iZ3XPioX-HaeZg8U5y9Pt-O8Q/s1600/P1000284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ujadVDNMx45g7BU4HiToi0DdsYDQhCYmKuL-vqesHDkx0vW__qW0ns0W0DGjabq04icznWF6P-G-8tpxcOhyphenhyphensgQVJKRBXz0AMIK2kxl85kun_iZ3XPioX-HaeZg8U5y9Pt-O8Q/s320/P1000284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704345978199095858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span> <span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Thank you so much Mousescrappers!! You are all so incredibly talented and this means more to us than you will ever know! I am so thankful to have our memories preserved in such a beautiful way. We have had such a great time going through the books and reliving those precious moments together. I can't wait to show the books off to everyone!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXWl9iZS8slfElCmXHnZ8hJzptcljDqyrcBzGUn0NMxOUzn-pl18HX1-nUdypC4sPIezIsR1EIW2uTTdlSelXzwG320o5QR5QJhbmRVpjoJ0lIyurTyhY4mUdT1kkAgoMystGGA/s1600/P1000285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXWl9iZS8slfElCmXHnZ8hJzptcljDqyrcBzGUn0NMxOUzn-pl18HX1-nUdypC4sPIezIsR1EIW2uTTdlSelXzwG320o5QR5QJhbmRVpjoJ0lIyurTyhY4mUdT1kkAgoMystGGA/s320/P1000285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704345983812461714" border="0" /></a></span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-10491656384544691652011-09-21T19:23:00.003-05:002011-09-21T20:16:22.538-05:00SixSomehow summer has disappeared and fall has quietly crept up on me, bringing with it this day once again. 6 years ago today we were given a most precious gift and I will always look on this day with bittersweet memories. It occurred to me today that we have now marked as many birthdays without Noah as we did with him here on earth. Which means that one day very soon we will have spent more days grieving than he lived. I wonder how time can be so harsh...<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />My little man, I miss you so much and I would give everything to have you here. I will never forget the moment you were born...my heart overflowed with awe and joy. You were beautiful and perfect to me in every way. I was so proud to be your mom. <br /><br />We sent you balloons today. One blue balloon slipped away as we were getting ready to release them. With disappointment we watched it fly to the heavens, and I couldn't help but think of how your life slipped away so quickly, no matter how I tried to hang on. My selfish heart wants you here with me...I will always long for the life I had with you. But I know you are enjoying a celebration far beyond what I could ever imagine. Happy Birthday precious boy.<br /><br /> Love your mama.</span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-40297042832154809572011-09-19T14:43:00.006-05:002011-09-19T15:39:34.177-05:00Life Changes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f_wRoIsQvpy6niT0rUCAjpx0agsbhW4dvebTyRFqz0sj1bFUhcWcnTGZZXP-Iko9Y25-3xKoNUxc8CfeAdvpLcXkrGzjTqrCC6AdEbumuMxcb3GJqdUHX8eEjV2dl4sYnxxeeg/s1600/IMG_4454.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654171485493397650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f_wRoIsQvpy6niT0rUCAjpx0agsbhW4dvebTyRFqz0sj1bFUhcWcnTGZZXP-Iko9Y25-3xKoNUxc8CfeAdvpLcXkrGzjTqrCC6AdEbumuMxcb3GJqdUHX8eEjV2dl4sYnxxeeg/s320/IMG_4454.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Much has been happening in our lives these days. We spent a wonderful 2 weeks down in Florida. We were able to do some volunteering again at Give Kids The World, which we loved! And Kailyn was able to deliver all of the items she has been collecting to donate. <em>(More to come about that in another post). </em>After our time spent there, we met my sister and her family in Disney and spent a fabulous 9 days at the parks together. We will be heading back down there in November to do some more volunteering and this time try a short Disney cruise. Yes we love that place, but there is more to the story... For some time now, we have been feeling unsettled. Our lives have felt in this "limbo state" for so long and we feel like there is more that we need to be doing. Noah has inspired us to step out of our comfort zone and give back...to make our lives count for something and leave a legacy we can be proud of. After much thought and prayer...many nights of wondering...and waiting on God for guidance, we have come to a major life decision. And since it went public in the paper here on Friday, it is time that I share it here too...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654171450873819634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLonLoO5svqa9qu43yOOlk-cIp1D5sa2R0_3fuR87b1f5lSrz__3kyrfmvUVIMJKv7E7bFeWN2pwsrkBlmYhXmo0-eENA1SDOhR6OS_nNUyCSDUiD09KLh2DVLCAjMQTFqBa8Wg/s320/IMG_0300.JPG" /><br /></span><a href="http://www.gktw.org/news/press/09-08-2011-volunteer-moves-to-help-gktw.asp"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.gktw.org/news/press/09-08-2011-volunteer-moves-to-help-gktw.asp</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/family-to-volunteer-at-resort-where-son-got-wish-129938973.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/family-to-volunteer-at-resort-where-son-got-wish-129938973.html</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />So many wonderful memories are tied up in GKTW. Our hearts will always be a part of that place. There is much that will still need to fall into place for this vision of ours to become a reality, so the articles may be a bit premature. It is exciting and terrifying all at the same time, and we really don't know how, when or even <em>if</em> it will all fall into place. But the paperwork ball is very slowly rolling and we are trusting in His perfect plan and guidance in all of this. I have much more to share about Kailyn and the passion and generous heart she has developed for GKTW, but I will save that for another day, for that deserves a post dedicated just to her. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654171457530978930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENCQH1aoH8KPqPaA0z8n1WbrX6GeBqDDDgL0hPcj1Y9ua_7zWT-ScjlTOzd3Ke5QEh1yVS9txDNgsOOHvW1C73Ko-eyupmL3QamS2z6f65SsYDaAIsXXkEufuN82ZIVDbv37rAA/s320/IMG_4392.JPG" /><em>Noah, your life had a purpose and your legacy lives on. I can only hope to live my life with even half of the courage we saw in you. You are my inspiration. Missing you...</em></span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654171473216239266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uTAVGoNyFNKpX8n8xg8ychv6Q8pga26ucI3uM0nJU_X6nJdEwuGF1jrqSjlOPjimhwQVd-kiB2nVY3cafZ9jDtZxbtSNFg8go4aM5uRUqZxrE2RCaa2ev_mbr6M_bZeTJU2W9w/s320/IMG_4437.JPG" /><br /><br /><em><strong>Don't forget to read my last blog post and consider donating to the Children's Wish Foundation Walk for Wishes.</strong></em>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-22664712811380677602011-09-12T21:06:00.004-05:002011-09-12T21:19:03.963-05:00Walk For Wishes<em><strong>In spring of 2009, Noah was granted a very special wish through the Children's Wish Foundation. Our family was able to spend a wonderful week at Disney World where Noah met his favorite character, Tigger. The Wish Foundation gave us this opportunity to create memories which we will cherish always. Now it is time to give back again...</strong></em> <br /><div><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651662301022535442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HS-dDPvr60PMk11Bvw5PWhI3FilCzUiUkZO4rM7gVUiDn8YRGHUZVosU9cT_ExYbNSCy_RHz6CC3-TH_v-0W7S_IMZmvmI0yPNeUdg4Dm4cns0CXH8hnEyzvOfZq2_yiiqnxGg/s320/Image478.jpg" /> On Oct 1, 2011, our family will be participating in the Wishmaker Walk for Wishes for the 2nd year, in support of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. We had a fantastic time last year with family and friends and are excited to walk again this year. Thousands of Canadians in over one hundred communities will gather together to help create the magic of a wish for children with high-risk, life threatening illnesses. These children are coping with things most of us can only imagine and the wishes they receive provide a ray of hope during a difficult time. The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada has never refused an eligible child and has granted almost 15,000 wishes! Wish requests continue to increase and they are currently providing 3 wishes a day! I hope you will once again join me and help to create the magic of a wish by supporting my efforts in the Wishmaker Walk for Wishes.<br /><br />To sponsor me online, just follow this link <a href="http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1175575">http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1175575</a> and access my secure fundraising page. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651662310632727810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDPIi7EvoC2UK0SObRbS5UK1xKCPX84qzT3VgrhOurgiRkE6rKL0nQwszT3oopdsJi9t9uQJh3fLeyliQtv8ybD6EV0Kcynhzq-H5Ni4DIAkHJuKRvgckAmGpJaomyqHdborTEg/s320/Walk_for_Wishes_%25289%2529.jpg" /> You can help The Foundation even more by spreading the word about this exciting event! To encourage others to participate or to sponsor me please pass my website address along. It's easy; just paste the above link into an email. Join us on Oct 1, 2011! Visit The Children’s Wish Foundation website and learn more about how you can create the magic of a wish!<br /><br />Thanks for your generous support! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651662750008158082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKNJB1rVxPoGdRILO7E2U0yX3dvht8HqLzYoRGIHe46E6CdujUpk2JFc-cMCODDJ-PSUbYnPhxIDrXAdKMurueDwmFkBmz9nvRmhYF6dyY-vODP-RPThY43hJwTYtn8K2x63vyw/s320/Walk_for_Wishes_%252821%2529.jpg" /></div></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-10397688984986179502011-08-20T19:42:00.001-05:002011-08-20T19:45:02.181-05:00This Is Now<em><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From the heart of a bereaved Mother... This is now
<br />by Unknown</span></em></strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span>
<br /><strong>
<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Normal is having tears waiting behind every smile when you realize someone important is missing from all the important events in your family's life.
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<br />Normal for me is trying to decide what to take to the cemetery for Birthdays Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, Valentine's Day, July 4th and Easter.
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<br />Normal is feeling like you know how to act and are more comfortable with a funeral than a wedding or birthday party...yet feeling a stab of pain in your heart when you smell the flowers and see the casket.
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<br />Normal is feeling like you can't sit another minute without getting up and screaming, because you just don't like to sit through anything.
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<br />Normal is not sleeping very well because a thousand what if's & why didn't I's go through your head constantly.
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<br />Normal is reliving that day continuously through your eyes and mind, holding your head to make it go away.
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<br />Normal is having the TV on the minute I walk into the house to have noise, because the silence is deafening.
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<br />Normal is staring at every child who looks like he is my child's age. And then thinking of the age he would be now and not being able to imagine it. Then wondering why it is even important to imagine it, because it will never happen.
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<br />Normal is every happy event in my life always being backed up with sadness lurking close behind, because of the hole in my heart.
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<br />Normal is telling the story of your child's death as if it were an everyday, commonplace activity, and then seeing the horror in someone's eyes at how awful it sounds. And yet realizing it has become a part of my "normal".
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<br />Normal is each year coming up with the difficult task of how to honor your child's memory and his birthday and survive these days. And trying to find the balloon or flag that fit's the occasion. Happy Birthday? Not really.
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<br />Normal is my heart warming and yet sinking at the sight of something special my child loved. Thinking how he would love it, but how he is not here to enjoy it.
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<br />Normal is having some people afraid to mention my child.
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<br />Normal is making sure that others remember him.
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<br />Normal is after the funeral is over everyone else goes on with their lives, but we continue to grieve our loss forever.
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<br />Normal is weeks, months, and years after the initial shock, the grieving gets worse sometimes, not better.
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<br />Normal is not listening to people compare anything in their life to this loss, unless they too have lost a child. NOTHING. Even if your child is in the remotest part of the earth away from you - it doesn't compare. Losing a parent is horrible, but having to bury your own child is unnatural.
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<br />Normal is taking pills, and trying not to cry all day, because I know my mental health depends on it.
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<br />Normal is realizing I do cry everyday.
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<br />Normal is disliking jokes about death or funerals, bodies being referred to as cadavers, when you know they were once someone's loved one.
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<br />Normal is being impatient with everything and everyone, but someone stricken with grief over the loss of your child.
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<br />Normal is sitting at the computer crying, sharing how you feel with chat buddies who have also lost a child.
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<br />Normal is feeling a common bond with friends on the computer in England, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and all over the USA, but yet never having met any of them face to face.
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<br />Normal is a new friendship with another grieving mother, talking and crying together over our children and our new lives.
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<br />Normal is not listening to people make excuses for God. "God may have done this because..." I love God, I know that my child is in heaven, but hearing people trying to think up excuses as to why healthy children were taken from this earth is not appreciated and makes absolutely no sense to this grieving mother.
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<br />Normal is being too tired to care if you paid the bills, cleaned the house, did laundry or if there is any food.
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<br />Normal is wondering this time whether you are going to say you have three children or two, because you will never see this person again and it is not worth explaining that my child is in heaven. And yet when you say you have two children to avoid that problem, you feel horrible as if you have betrayed your child.
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<br />Normal is avoiding McDonald's and Burger King playgrounds because of small, happy children that break your heart when you see them.
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<br />Normal is asking God why he took your child's life instead of yours and asking if there even is a God.
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<br />Normal is knowing I will never get over this loss, in a day or a million years.
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<br />And last of all, Normal is hiding all the things that have become "normal" for you to feel, so that everyone around you will think that you are "normal". </span></strong>
<br />Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-64793597871012105962011-07-29T21:38:00.001-05:002011-07-29T21:59:35.182-05:00Two Years<em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thank you to those who have remembered our Noah and our family today. The flowers, cookie bouquet and emails were very appreciated and brightened our day.</span></em><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have been struggling for a while about what to post here today, as we mark two years of life without Noah. Some days it still completely takes my breath away to think that he is really gone for the rest of my life here. Even after two years the pain is still so present. Time has given salve to the wounds, but they are still there and still so very deep. Many days I need to work to block the memories out, or they can completely overwhelm me. I pick my moments to remember when I can...when I feel strong enough. But sometimes the memories come out of nowhere and still completely take my breath away. With time I am slowly learning how to navigate through those moments.<br /><br />Today marks two years since the worst day of our lives...the day that changed everything. Every moment of that one day is seared into my memory. I will never forget the fear and terror of the morning as we stood by helplessly, watching the PICU team do everything they could to try and save our son. Or that early afternoon when we knew that everything had been tried and there was nothing more to do but let go...watching his heartbeat disappear on the monitor...the weight of Noah and the coolness of his skin as I held his lifeless body...the stunning rainbow in the sky on that surreal drive home from the hospital. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Once again we have been at a bit of a loss as to what to do to mark this day. It doesn't seem right to crawl back into bed, or to simply go about our normal routines. Somehow the day must still be acknowledged. Although today is a reminder of sadness and loss for us, for Noah, it marks a day of rejoicing and freedom...his heavenly birthday. and we can't even begin to imagine the celebration he is having!! I am convinced that he is enjoying all the fabulous goodies that he never tasted on earth (with the yumminess factor infinitely multiplied of course!). So today we chose to celebrate with food and fun, just as Noah would want it. The kids spent the day at day camp and Brad and I enjoyed a lovely breakfast out at Cora's. After day camp, we had a fun family evening out at the movies, topped off with a yummy birthday cake. A visit to Noah's grave with some time to share a few memories completed our evening.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Oh my precious little boy...I would give anything to turn back time for just one more smile. Missing you today and every day. Who knew that such a little man could change so many lives. Today we celebrate your life. A life lived with so much courage and joy...you are my inspiration to be a better person.<br /><br />Always and forever your "mama".<br /><br />Till we meet again...</em><br /><br /><strong>Till we meet again...</span></strong><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sx23ywMC2IQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sx23ywMC2IQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-34530938411924504552011-05-08T18:31:00.006-05:002011-05-08T19:30:14.518-05:00Mothers Day<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mothers Day is a tough day. I think that no matter how many years go by, it will always be one of those days that will always be, well, just plain crappy. Although I love spending the day with my other kids, the void in our family is so much more noticable on a day like today. This year Brad was away in BC on business. But Kailyn & Joshua did what they could to make the day special. I awoke to them creeping in my bedroom, with some rewarmed pancakes they had found in the fridge with fruit and yogurt. Along with that came the traditional homemade cards from school of course. It was very cute and I was touched.</span><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We decided to laze around in bed, skip church (another place I don't particularly enjoy being on mother's day anymore), and instead, head to the cemetery so I could spend the morning with all of my children. We always enjoy seeing what others have left at the grave. I love that there are others out there who care enough to stop by the cemetery. Thank you!! We spent some time cleaning up the grave a bit, and had some fun taking pictures. It turned out to be a beautiful morning in between rain showers.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604504518548305506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_dVwHKQ-G-X4DDlF1YyZOCLkHkGhcaNErqZV1MmrU4uUfjbDf9Ep_jJQ-al2LGX2Ab_rpGQxHxGI3b7l1GVTcUNyx5ri9u8MIzamKci-87kaTBJGrOj7Smj3U2wXXLwAO7gsnQ/s320/IMG_4252.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604504527609074434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GURQsYggpJv17wBFnGfooqmzPyQojqri-178v53lcJeSu_txffYbJpIXWeg8ESEm_AxRc-FlU9VNsm_xxz6Y3Q2aYquXtBQaq3L2TtGtc7uTVpIRanMwsC_C2MT1sOB1XpqBeg/s320/IMG_4253.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604504533937781218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIt25Y5QHJ3An72gSCHalWUSz-dStNaGWZJgH4KyI6RMgCQRxSPDdM5zeOmhlg6mAZdz09GSxZLH637a6EZD9CwTxeUllCs1cDKZuUXnIATSTjapuadBkgpnT8tP77OE3u7DGnw/s320/IMG_4255.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604504540193143266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXhfCkLh16hKxcvl-i1i7VqOduCZ83z6GLlWIm9YjWLrsCEe8aDBPL4iij-Yz4RCVWG0OBEjXcJh55_cNDMp1GWl5Pi-MckhaH3mRHcuogxbfveD8sXypc6JYJJ-akvKHrN9nlg/s320/IMG_4256.JPG" /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I miss my little Noah so very very much. I miss having my identity wrapped up in him and being known as "Noah's mom". Oh how I long just to hear him call me "mama" just one more time! I am so very proud that I was given the precious gift of mothering such a beautiful child on this earth. Those years are a treasure to be carried with me always. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604501361425706258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKerV8Y9HUaBqESpTaUyS9sK4uvYzQH8dyL0x5SnuizgpAsq5dg2cImxA4NWVcfdkr40qHPOIHwJnBWlhJm9jleV-aWld6SkTObF1Kg5bzhvCHB1hnv_cNKVNhu1Qm_zmvgGmew/s320/IMG_2225.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Miss you buddy. </em></strong></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>Always and forever your mama...</em></strong></span></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-71026205772421966402011-01-29T21:02:00.001-06:002011-01-29T21:02:00.697-06:0018 Months<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's been exactly 18 months since I held my boy. 1 and 1/2 years...it seems absolutely unbelievable to look at those numbers. How is it even possible that I have lived that long without him????</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some people still ask once in a while how we are doing. Other's have stopped asking altogether...assuming I guess that we must be "over it" by now. Although we will never, ever be "over it", in many ways we are doing "ok". Somehow life does go on...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Brad no longer has to play "Mr Mom" at home and keep the household running. This has given him much more time to devote to his business, which in turn has helped it grow tremendously. Although he misses Noah so much, he loves to share Noah's story with everyone he meets. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kailyn has struggled with sleep issues since Noah's death. She was spending every night in our room during the first few months. Gradually the nights have improved, and she is able to sleep through the night in her own room. She did decide to claim the room on the main floor that was meant to be Noah's room. It is still decorated with many "Noah" touches and she is much happier there. She still has some pretty emotional days where she falls apart, but for the most part she has adjusted well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Joshua has never shown much outward emotion or grief. But I know he processes things in his own way and every so often out of the blue, he'll sigh and say "I miss Noah." He still prays faithfully each and every night that Noah will have a good time in heaven. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As for myself...my life has completely changed. I have been back at work for about a year now. I did take a different nursing position with home care as I really needed a fresh start and my job is really a perfect fit for me right now. I have time that I never had before....time to take care of myself, to exercise, to eat right, to spend time with friends, to enjoy my other kids, to travel, to sleep through the night. It has taken me a long time to figure out how to live a "normal" life. As strange as that may sound, I really had forgotten how to do that. I am still in the process of learning how to live this new life. It's one day at a time. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Slowly, I have sorted through Noah's things, giving some away and storing or displaying the most treasured ones. We sent boxes of medical supplies to Romania to be used by a missionary couple. My mom made a beautiful quilt with some of our favorite items of clothing that we snuggle up with on the couch. But the crib still remains in our room. I don't know why that is the one thing I have been unable to tackle, but there is a comfort in having it there. There have been many days where I have felt ready to take it down, but both Brad & I just never seem to be able to get around to doing it. Perhaps it is the huge gaping space it will leave there, or perhaps it is just one last reminder that our lives are completely changed. And so for now it will continue to sit there for as long as we need it to.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The waves of grief still hit me...some days just as intense as if I was back in that ICU room...some days it still takes all my willpower to get out of bed. All I can do is ride them out, knowing that when the wave subsides, I will be able to laugh and enjoy myself...until the next one hits. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I long for my old life back. I long to be eating crappy hospital food...to wake up with an aching back from sleeping yet another night on those hospital chairs...to be stuck in that hospital room thinking I just might go crazy watching baby einstein for the millionth time...to be woken multiple times a night from beeping pumps...to fall asleep to the gentle rise and fall of the oxygen concentrator. I miss planning my day around Noah's TPN schedule and meds. I miss the people who loved and cared for my son. I miss the craziness of our life with Noah. I just really, really miss my son.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A year and a half without my sunny boy. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>A year and a half closer to seeing him again...</em></span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-9249389529654811402010-12-25T18:54:00.002-06:002010-12-25T19:26:30.430-06:00Christmas #2<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Today marks our 2nd Christmas without our little boy. In some ways this day has been easier than last year...in other ways, it is still just as painful, if not more. There is a huge gaping hole here, and every joy that today brings is, and always will be, laced with grief. These are bittersweet moments. Thank you for those of you who took the time to remind us that Noah is not forgotten. That means more to us than you could ever know.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Before we opened our gifts, we trudged through the huge snowbanks to decorate Noah's grave for Christmas. </span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy7w5qYkRrzM9wLywHge9zEYQzPfjsqLinOetlSIu9tzz2_vNQ9JiEo2TXYyv0XjKoR1llPzptzaXP7sY_UC-xMHBs8kH15eWIRXWoNklPerf0bYI5rQNhA7EqWIYImL6MbSxNg/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-25+at+6.55.37+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPy7w5qYkRrzM9wLywHge9zEYQzPfjsqLinOetlSIu9tzz2_vNQ9JiEo2TXYyv0XjKoR1llPzptzaXP7sY_UC-xMHBs8kH15eWIRXWoNklPerf0bYI5rQNhA7EqWIYImL6MbSxNg/s320/Screen+shot+2010-12-25+at+6.55.37+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554788771072889922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Kailyn made a special snow angel for our little angel...</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoBXtVUlXP4OeEorbxf5vU2LrC0cyLFq8MO59Y9E3jQn6H7WUnyyGRTZpUa51vxN_E3d8AWey7g8-FFGCmex8wS3nQ7eiLnhyHn87Jdcqwuwq2omHhvqhJ2EJYgTcGr-5ST8MfQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-25+at+6.57.18+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoBXtVUlXP4OeEorbxf5vU2LrC0cyLFq8MO59Y9E3jQn6H7WUnyyGRTZpUa51vxN_E3d8AWey7g8-FFGCmex8wS3nQ7eiLnhyHn87Jdcqwuwq2omHhvqhJ2EJYgTcGr-5ST8MfQ/s320/Screen+shot+2010-12-25+at+6.57.18+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554789194488947410" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcHfWXGHTJBFPeQIUj0Sgn2A_0s1LS7E48qmjp3ZTan8uub4BacgkP3zYfHXXzcAC4fzMDSYG3WXbDKzGIKSLvJJ-4eE-bNtbX6gBG7jxeGCauUWy7ZjCGBftKTMiLwDrUqW6Fg/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-25+at+6.57.31+PM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcHfWXGHTJBFPeQIUj0Sgn2A_0s1LS7E48qmjp3ZTan8uub4BacgkP3zYfHXXzcAC4fzMDSYG3WXbDKzGIKSLvJJ-4eE-bNtbX6gBG7jxeGCauUWy7ZjCGBftKTMiLwDrUqW6Fg/s320/Screen+shot+2010-12-25+at+6.57.31+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554789202420402594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I miss you, my sunny boy full of more joy than any child I have ever known. I miss celebrating this special time of year with you. However, I know in my heart that you are celebrating today in a way that we can't even begin to imagine...celebrating at the foot of the King, with more gifts than we could ever give you, and all the food you could never have here on earth.</span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-21814157007331571682010-10-07T12:57:00.002-05:002010-10-07T13:05:23.196-05:00Team Noah<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>In spring of 2009, Noah was granted a very special wish through the Children's Wish Foundation. Our family was able to spend a wonderful week at Disney World where Noah met his favorite character, Tigger. The Wish Foundation gave us this opportunity to create memories which we will cherish always. Now it is time to give back...</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On Oct 17, 2010 11:45 AM, our family will be participating in the Wishmaker Walk for Wishes in support of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. Thousands of Canadians in over one hundred communities will gather together to help create the magic of a wish for children with high-risk, life threatening illnesses. These children are coping with things most of us can only imagine and the wishes they receive provide a ray of hope during a difficult time. The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada has never refused an eligible child and has granted almost 15,000 wishes! Wish requests continue to increase and they are currently providing 3 wishes a day! I hope you will join me and help to create the magic of a wish by supporting my efforts in the Wishmaker Walk for Wishes. To sponsor me online, just follow this link <a href="http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2801767">http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2801767</a> and access my secure fundraising page.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You can help The Foundation even more by spreading the word about this exciting event! To encourage others to participate or to sponsor me please pass my website address along. It's easy; just paste the above link into an email. Join us on Oct 17, 2010 11:45 AM! Visit The Children’s Wish Foundation website and learn more about how you can create the magic of a wish! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks for your generous support!</span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-11294724419267919602010-09-21T21:14:00.006-05:002010-09-21T21:40:18.036-05:00Five Years<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Five years ago we were blessed with an amazing treasure that turned our world upside down and forever changed who we are.<br /></span><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519558855659251234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3WpZCmjIhwmdQOpElfDPrvJR_ap16Ra37EfT5UN5ep1-BhlZZLLchSEUbb_k8fMzs7S5jCD5lcJ26MB2ac9sOaOvkK-QnBLr9cpAZFbAlv82VgYve8kZJ8yyFnvMDSD44WUoPg/s320/007.JPG" />Today we celebrate our son and remember his life...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519557775233962898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uXbHBD0R__Tb_88O_LCVbUeJmyCPJHcpdgMfEuSGn_0a3uSPOctM9bFPOFPpzF9iQnEnD70ga16GJSQ69T76r6WWtnHBlDLzyDyQoVOUbMkBWifpaQxoWM0IUJu_L9PAicvpcA/s320/002.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519557802048606658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvi-PdyPStXIrmW4HjTV7YfbrJEfAaZkd7wClxjAACAkpS2LHagAw0wKOEogr6qgTMj6KdmU8trSsXy_ucuIBIDvneZVZEwysFhfwWINVUTxZ4C6ZtoSqLzcVc9gtHoxyUSvm3g/s320/005.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519557814457521010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YzkjDsxdwDSognXvSxKrm63Fkb7VaN_TIv9jtAYu-Pn5i-85lhXO7sRYUB5W34ZFHXQoZad1wdXUNZXEPm_2_bUVEXfS_P7HVHJImbHw7-rjBk-m-NJoD94BqzyTXdTu3lvJqw/s320/009.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519557825996309106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvAWD1XfJxHgDwssM9_B1kxbH34LYKcxLqHbgahVREi-YV5i7Uh7hEETL7EzXGGQK_7-hwB309P1NBVzjDaeJSM9tfzb5kXqlU_t14vOBL8Wqj2UjGRkg8bdYCh7y3k8-RA5FMg/s320/010.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519560802322591666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBJw3W2Hmd0w75TgjwKAR9W5oy4gFTFDZurpAh60mvFLzevChV8GrHHh_ZffKdWCOu7XJK2or8BAgQJ3SVBjuuYL_CpUSEzQStky4nD1AbhpESyg_mJivgRLr4FKX64f4Q4RnoQ/s320/007.JPG" />Thank you to others who also remember our Noah and continue to leave us treasures at his grave...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519558877404514402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsvtgs6rdoFgz5QYfnTWu8cePCg9c4InGJxQjQuQ7xS0alb7WV3Jg_KmmqEBiIp_34GgbFAhyphenhyphenLVxaUsx-FichDGrJ6wbVAif612aDbArPJeaUb71WKuW_tTb_Ai9Mh2HgWyYHaA/s320/586.JPG" /> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Happy birthday Noah. Wish we could be celebrating with you. Missing you today and always, my sunny boy... </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 263px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519560821707364002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3K-ne10h49iQGni6vDecuvOm48KkjtEfCNjYtfNwInndplNe58S1lHCEXN_0glw1tSoMiDlhU4T7zX3MqkL_tdAhAlxa-0TwixyeDzqWT7_cpHNoZzk_JUSV-WouyeqVw3mVi_w/s320/017.JPG" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-84374982333089240752010-08-04T11:35:00.005-05:002010-08-04T17:52:16.264-05:00Another Anniversary<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One year ago today we buried our son. </span><br /><div><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371055401805117138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfZIKnzGEHkptvflSRpV4QW0IR3PQ5iONkKiSNNgIZW0qrGVDpP_ZeYgETnZGm0LjPnNIOKCG60wirwZN0-d9_TIlybtBOn7JMBVQ-3kPsOURFEZh_xI7e6BVZh7yNHDqoaCzOQ/s320/1.jpg" />I can no longer think back to what Noah was doing one year ago at this time. And that makes me terribly sad.<br /><br />Thank you to those who have remembered us this past week in special ways. And thank you to the person who visited Noah's grave and left this stone...</span> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501690675250164898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16xKLe-Co3q-s9aOmxVLvq9XtYdT-pDtJviAyfiYK5MEq0HdsTSKC0beaI7IknqjXZmN-SQLnxmHi_Lbjs2ZK4kDOcmdxNgdMZBZutIlKWHavDFKAiMEKyZ1kLDfD72JQc5We5w/s320/IMG_3390.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501690684677465058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg85Hx1jIsQzoANn9mTcCg2mUDuzxYluu47Lzk5tQdR8rvRObCwYSaM6z7GNV8rg3D-DePLXotidJpLzRHMee5A3mv53hyphenhyphenjQ-bJDkvomUuBQjpjmS8B0rbD9jcZxZsZdQUIgVfw/s320/IMG_3392.JPG" /></p></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-91152438612456243412010-07-29T07:27:00.001-05:002010-07-29T07:27:00.302-05:00One Year<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>One year ago today, we watched helplessly as our son slipped away.</em><br /><br />I do not know where the time has gone, or how I have managed to live 365 days without my sunny little boy. Most days now I can say that I find glimmers of hope. I can find things to smile about and be thankful for. But it is still so very difficult to find true joy in this new life. My mind is no longer focused on the things of this world, but instead, my soul aches as it never has before, for something more...something beyond this life. I cling to the hope of life beyond the grave and I wait impatiently for the day when I will see my Noah.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>This is not at all how<br />We thought it was supposed to be<br />We had so many plans for you<br />We had so many dreams<br />And now you've gone away<br />And left us with the memories of your smile<br />And nothing we can say<br />And nothing we can do<br />Can take away the pain<br />The pain of losing you, but ...<br /><br />We can cry with hope<br />We can say goodbye with hope<br />'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no<br />And we can grieve with hope<br />'Cause we believe with hope<br />There's a place where we'll see your face again<br />We'll see your face again<br /><br />And never have I known<br />Anything so hard to understand<br />And never have I questioned more<br />The wisdom of God's plan<br />But through the cloud of tears<br />I see the Father smile and say "well done"<br />And I imagine you<br />Where you wanted most to be<br />Seeing all your dreams come true<br />'Cause now you're home<br />And now you're free, and ...<br /><br />We have this hope as an anchor<br />'Cause we believe that everything<br />God promised us is true, so ...<br /><br />We wait with hope<br />And we ache with hope<br />We hold on with hope<br />We let go with hope </em></strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>~With Hope~</em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>Stephen Curtis Chapman</em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>(written after the tragic death of his daughter)</em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="center"></div><br /><p align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sx23ywMC2IQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sx23ywMC2IQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Our little Noah, you touched our lives in a way that words could never express. You were such an incredible, courageous little boy who could somehow capture the hearts of everyone you met. We were so blessed to hold you in our arms, even for such a short time. We will forever treasure those beautiful years. </em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em></em></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Missing your bright smile. Missing your precious laugh. Missing hearing "mama" repeated over and over again. Missing how our lives revolved around your needs. </em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em></em></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Missing you today and everyday... </em></span></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-72526571478154109162010-07-27T22:10:00.001-05:002010-07-27T22:10:00.473-05:00Last<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's been a tough month...<br /><br />My mind can't help but relive "<em>this time last year..."</em> over and over again. Those days and weeks leading up to the end...had I only known then...had I only stolen more hugs and kisses, or taken more pictures...had I only taken the time to treasure all the mundane moments.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One year ago today, we headed to the hospital...never believing that this time would be our last.</span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-69154113159183331712010-07-19T21:59:00.003-05:002010-07-19T22:32:23.400-05:00The Myth of Getting Over It<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>When our first child is born, a loud voice says, "Runners, take your marks!"<br /></em></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We hear the starting gun and the race begins. It's a race we must win at all cost. We have to win. The competition is called "I'll race you to the grave."<br /></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I really want to win.<br /><br />Not everyone wins...<br /><br />I'm soon going on stage to speak before a crowd of parents and loved ones impacted by the death of a child. My address is titled, "The Myth of Getting Over It." It's my attempt to answer the driving questions of grieving parents: When will I get over this? How do I get over this?<br /><br />You don't get over it. Getting over it is an inappropriate goal, an unreasonable hope. The loss of a child changes you. It changes your marriage. It changes the way birds sing. It changes the way the sun rises and sets. You are forever different.<br /><br />You don't want to get over it. Don't act surprised. As awful a burden as grief is, you know intuitively that it matters, that it is profoundly important to be grieving. Your grief plays a crucial part in staying connected to your child's life. To give up your grief would mean losing your child yet again. If I had the power to take your grief away, you'd fight me to keep it. Your grief is awful, but it is also holy, and somewhere inside you, you know that. The goal is not to get over it. The goal is to get on with it.<br /><br />Profound grief is like being in a stage play wherein suddenly the stagehands push a huge grand piano into the middle of the set. The piano paralyzes the play. It dominates the stage. No matter where you move it impedes your sight lines, your ability to interact with the other players. You keep banging into it, surprised each time that it's still there. It takes all your concentration to work around it, this at a time when you have little ability or desire to concentrate on anything.<br /><br />The piano changes everything. The play must be rewritten around it. But over time the piano is pushed to stage left. Then to upper stage left. You are the playwright, and slowly, surely, you begin to find the impetus and wherewithal to stop reacting to the intrusive piano. Instead, you engage it. Instead of writing every scene around the piano, you begin to write the piano into each scene, into the story. You learn to play that piano. You're surprised to find that you want to play it, that it's meaningful, even peaceful to play it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Steven Kalas<br />ForMomsOnly's Journal January 31, 2010</span></span> </em><br /><em></em><br />I`m still trying to figure out what to do with that piano...Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-3593266660238158872010-06-24T17:49:00.005-05:002010-06-29T14:15:23.203-05:0011 Months<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">11 months...</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Summer has kind of creeped up on me out of nowhere. I'm finding it to be a really difficult time of year. We are surrounded by signs of new life, warmth and sunshine. It's a time of year I have always loved. But this year, it brings with it so many reminders...</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the canola fields in full bloom...a stab to my heart as I remember those fields, surrounding us in their beauty on the day we buried our son. </span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488275409688224194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1H7XdlT4v1YQu66q5ylTy2dTsicgW4cghb9qlBafJ9wZbbbCt6ygteuzPhifGb_Tt0oEG4KKbfv9-M8d7vw_UHM84Y6zX32cio7W1fnX3ay2rJ5uyRXKrI06vMnxwolxMXpNtg/s320/IMG_2286.JPG" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am not exactly sure what to do with this all. The memories are both comforting and haunting, triggered by the smallest of things, at the strangest of moments. As much as I want to remember my boy all the time, to have him close to me always, I find that I must push these memories aside in order to get through the day. It becomes a constant battle in my mind. In time, I hope to be able to make some sort of peace with the memories.</span>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-89334007958079459902010-06-01T15:08:00.008-05:002010-06-10T11:13:12.187-05:00Vote To Refresh GKTW<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU-b5v6NjRgZDywadI_UAyClYNAQZeLHjj0kY0ylZQ0_PCDG6fxV9I38_13_lIFnaQh9zCjVE5JnK21sK6tTKAPGWnZVahyphenhyphenudBiRUDdzXGuWzC6EzoEuulDbGWRuvFwKl6OnHgg/s1600/0380+Castle+of+Miracles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481178112845949986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU-b5v6NjRgZDywadI_UAyClYNAQZeLHjj0kY0ylZQ0_PCDG6fxV9I38_13_lIFnaQh9zCjVE5JnK21sK6tTKAPGWnZVahyphenhyphenudBiRUDdzXGuWzC6EzoEuulDbGWRuvFwKl6OnHgg/s320/0380+Castle+of+Miracles.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please help refresh Give Kids The World Village with just a click of your mouse!!<br /><br />By voting once a day, every day in June you can help Give Kids The World receive a grant of $250,000 through Pepsi to refurbish the Village villas. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For those of you who have followed Noah's journey, you know what a very special place GKTW village is to us and to so many other families. We are so grateful to them for the amazing week we spent at the Village, and the very precious memories that we will always cherish. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481177581623172834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRgkGGVJYVykLxIH2hz3OrWyriQATXgSJm60LvxCFZiHBwQc1AjudVbr4ZZhMee4NeBDVXWIh8m6JujffG92wv8lJ73b8htMJWg3c6fRlkcu5yGEKiU9Ey59uKrnZUOqOOi933Q/s320/Wish+Trip+089.JPG" /></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481175359723572354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v1J8BympU34OKxqCy7uFM-fO36oK0oJ8aG_SFbEa_Uh2FTSy7AtAKiWejWRVVrqC5mjDNdw2mPf-R-rSyd7g0u77DK3izlf0Hy-FeotL7AoqxgTWFmscT2V4wekiapRXmc463A/s320/Jan+2009+128.JPG" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Please help us give back to the village!!<br /><br />Follow these easy steps:<br /><br />1) Visit </span><a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/givekidstheworld"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.refresheverything.com/givekidstheworld</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and click the "Vote for this idea" button.<br />2) A pop up window will appear where you will enter your information and sign in. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3) After signing in, you will be taken back to the Give Kids The World page. Click "Vote for this idea" to submit your vote. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4) Tell your friends, family and colleagues to "Vote 2 Refresh" GKTW. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5) Repeat once a day, every day until June 30. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It really is that simple to help GKTW reach this amazing goal!! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481176230464384322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4eo9XIAbmagA6fhDvruidPMmHI59f-L2PlHUQFi0h4fzcOIQY11-si6Mt2zFp9ngwszKVirqcuTY8cSsLzYBq5lPYG1R8rbDHJ81XagFTJnIMiVyLubc9xZlYxBItIBeNWmFJw/s320/Jan+2009+126.JPG" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19960667.post-35361076206900675942010-05-30T14:51:00.000-05:002010-05-30T21:20:15.476-05:00An Ugly Pair of Shoes<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">10 Months...<br /><br />What can I say that hasn't already been said... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Exactly one year ago, I was frantically preparing to leave for Toronto. Our time in Toronto is so closely tied to that last week we spent with Noah. In my mind, it will always feel like the beginning of the end. So there are many memories attached to this month. <br /><br />At the beginning of the month, we attended the Children's Hospital Memorial service. It was beautifully done and it was so nice to see some familiar faces that we have missed terribly. We were given this poem that has become a favorite of mine and helps put into words this journey of losing a child.<br /><br /><br /></span><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am wearing a pair of shoes.<br />They are ugly shoes.<br />Uncomfortable Shoes.<br />I hate my shoes.<br />Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.<br />Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.<br />Yet, I continue to wear them. </span></em></strong></div><strong><em><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I get funny looks wearing these shoes.<br />They are looks of sympathy.<br />I can tell in others eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs.<br />They never talk about my shoes.<br />To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.<br />To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.<br />But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.<br />There are many pairs in the world.<br />Some women are like me and ache daily as they try and walk in them.<br />Some have learned how to walk in them so they don’t hurt quite as much.<br />Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by<br />before they think of how much they hurt.<br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No woman deserves to wear these shoes.<br />Yet, because of the shoes I am a stronger woman.<br />These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.<br />They have made me who I am.<br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Author Unknown</span></span></em></strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><br /><br />Thank you to our wonderful friends for the amazing dinner yesterday evening. Thank you for remembering this day.Nicholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746929191613758595noreply@blogger.com10