A recent weekend brought with it two little visitors in the form of my nieces, Rachel and Jessie.  This visit had been long overdue as every time I visit them they are begging for me to bring them home.  I was up their way that week (then again when am I not up there lately?!) and stopped by to drop something off and Rachel had it in her little head that she was going home with me.  Unfortunately it wasn't possible that day as I had work and plans for the following day, so we tentatively made plans for them to come that weekend and lo and behold the plans finally worked out.  I went up Saturday (after finally passing my EMT practical on this road to obtain my PHRN certification) and picked them up.  They were standing inside the door waiting for me...bags packed and shoes on!  Rachel loudly yelled, "We're weady An Jess!!"  I'm always slightly amazed that they never look back or think twice about leaving mommy and daddy for the night.  I asked Rachel when we got in the car if she was hungry and had eaten lunch.  She said no to being hungry and then wanted to know, "An Jess, did you eat lunch?"  To which I replied with a no.  And she said, "Well then we need to stop before we get home so you can eat."  How very thoughtful she is...when she wants to be.

Uncle Jamie was just as excited as the girls, although don't let on that I know that.  I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for him in pretending that he's the grown up amongst them.  The following documents our interesting time with these 2 crazy, wild, fun little girls...life is DEFINITELY not dull with them around!

I do believe the highlight of the weekend for them was the prospect at helping Uncle Jamie collect eggs.  There was finally a small break in the rain and clouds and we took our chance at getting out before it let go again.  So buckets in hand...

...we headed out to Uncle Jamie's chicken coup.

Rachel has no fear when it comes to animals, a trait she gets from her mother...and her daddy who generally has no fear of anything really, and in true form she just plucked those chickens right off their roosting bottoms so she could collect the eggs from underneath.  (I promise dear chickens they are only here for a short stay...bear with us!)

Sadly this was the state of most of the eggs after their "help".  I was thankful for the shutter button distracting me from hearing the "crack" every time they literally dropped one in the bucket.  But hey it's the experience that matters in the end, chickens lay more eggs every day, right?!

Of course the work wasn't done after the collecting was completed, they had to feed the chickens as well...eat up buttercups, we're gonna need you to lay double time tomorrow since we have little to show for your efforts today, we promise they'll only be here until tomorrow!

Ever the chicken whisperer, Rachel finds it her mission to wrestle chickens every time she's around them and then carry them around, kissing their heads and proclaiming she's taking THIS ONE home with her!

And this was the expression on her face as she attempted to convince Uncle Jamie that she needed to take one home...gotta love the girl for trying.

 A successful egg collection...if you count a dozen unbroken a success...but if the smiles on their faces count towards the broken eggs then we will mark this as a success!  Stay tuned for part 2 of this exciting weekend...

A Tribute to Grandpa

On March 28 my Grandpa's short battle with cancer ended and he peacefully took his last breath and went home to be with the Lord.  His last week it was evident that he wouldn't be with us much longer as his already decreased appetite had gone to almost nothing and he no longer had much energy to get up.  He had been under the wonderful care of my Grandma and Hospice at home but 2 days prior to his passing they had offered to take him to Hospice and thankfully so as both he and my Grandma wanted him to be there.

After 2 nights in Hospice and waiting for my Grandma to show up that morning, my Grandpa finally let go and in the words of the Hospice nurse, "He is singing with the angels now."  Those words will stick we me forever!  The finality of that moment...the realization that Grandpa was now in Heaven and felt no more pain...had no nausea...would be eternally happy...it was a bitter sweet moment.  

The next few days of planning and preparing, supporting my Grandma, and enjoying moments as a family were actually some wonderful days.  We had the opportunity to look back over old pictures and reminisce about the times we had with Grandpa...to laugh and to cry together.  The opportunity to connect with family and to celebrate my Grandpa was such a blessing!

Grandpa died on a Wednesday and the viewing was planned for Saturday with the funeral to follow the next day.  Grandma had hoped to have it sooner but as church plans didn't allow for that plans had to be changed and I think it turned out for the better.

We enjoyed pulling some of Grandpa's favorite things out to put on a remembrance table and what a joy to put this board of pictures together.  To remember the times we shared with him...the memories of better days.

My Aunt Brenda is a florist and does an amazing job putting together flowers and what a beautiful job she did!

Although it's not a very clear photo, the photo above is one of my grandparents in the early days.  I don't remember if they were married at the time or dating but one of my fondest memories of Grandpa in the last few months was a rare moment alone I had with him and for some reason he wanted to tell me about his younger days.  What a gift that memory is now!

While I knew there would be moments during the viewing that would be tearful, I knew that the funeral service the following day would be the hardest.  Grandpa had, to the surprise of many, planned his funeral service and what a beautiful service it was!  As the pastor was finishing his message he closed with an analogy...he said he had a hard time envisioning Grandpa with a crown on his head and in a visit to Grandma's house while we were putting pictures together for the service, he overheard a conversation about the way Grandpa used to wear a ball cap...he ALWAYS wore that brim as flat and straight as could be...drove us nuts!!  But that was Grandpa and he didn't care what we thought, that was how he wore his hat.  And so the pastor envisioned Grandpa's crown like that of a ball cap...with a flat and straight brim.  The thought brings a wide smile to my face.  Thank you, Luke, for your wonderful message!  Both of my Uncle's and my Mom stood up and each gave a tribute to their dad...and I was so proud to sit there and know that this was MY family!  He would have been so proud of his kids and would have enjoyed what they had to say.

The funeral service was closed with the Lord's prayer...said in my Grandpa's voice...in high-German...I don't think there was a dry eye in the church when we got up to walk out!  How touching to hear his voice again and to hear those words, taught so long ago, yet engraved upon his heart!

Mother and daughter...I'm so blessed to be a part of this family!

My Mom and Uncle Randy

My Uncle Kenny and Aunt Brenda

And you should know these 2 by now...looking cute as ever!

And then there was this...out of the 15 or so taken there wasn't one decent one in the bunch, so you both wanna act like dorks, I'll post whatever picture I choose!  (I have to admit though that we probably weren't acting very adult sitting on that couch together...it's a rare moment when the 3 of us are together without kids around.)

These 2 young chaps are my Grandma's brothers, John and Dave...they were going over a bus route for NYC and probably have no idea this picture exists.

Uncle Jason was more than happy to entertain Mike's kids...as were the rest of us.  Thank goodness for the ladies who provided food and snacks for these little guys cause it was a long afternoon for them...AND for us!

Pappy and I are always fighting over this one!

And I came prepared because I knew that pew benches and a long line of people were a disaster waiting to happen with 7 kids under the age of 4...so we locked them in a closet...just kidding...the church library provided a quiet place for Jamie and Maegan to watch the kids...along with my laptop and a few movies to keep them occupied!

And there were a few lighter moments during the entire weekend.  Like the moment when Papa Smurf realized there was a drum set hidden behind the sanctuary and while my Mom was reprimanding, Randy thought it was all too funny.  Guess my brothers and I weren't the only ones to forget we were adults.  But oh to hear my Grandma laugh when she saw the pictures of Papa Smurf at the drum set...like music to my ears!

And lastly, a family photo the day of the funeral.  The quality isn't the best as I wasn't the one behind the shutter button of my camera and it isn't the easiest to operate.  But I must say what a handsome family we were that day...Grandpa would have been proud that we all dressed to the nines for him.  

In the words of my Mom, I do believe when he got to Heaven that God looked at him and said, "Well done, my good and faithful servent...well done!"  

Grandpa, your faith and your love for God were an inspiration to many and I am so proud that I was named for you, that God put me in your family, and for the true blessing you were in my life!

I Love You, Grandpa!

For weeks my planner had March 18th blocked off for a scrapbooking day with my girlfriends.  Little did I know that scrapbooking was only a means to really block off the day so my girls could take me out on the town to celebrate finishing my class...you're both lucky I'm so gullible!  My parents and Jamie apparently knew about it as well.  My wonderful weekend started off with a visit Saturday evening from my parents and as well as my friend KK, who showed up to spend the night before our day together.  As always we all shared many laughs and it was the perfect last minute get together.

I had attempted several times to set things up in the house for our scrapbooking event and every time I was distracted with something else.  Jamie even told me that KK had sent him a message stating the house was not to look spotless and I had also been given instructions not to buy any food for the day...I just couldn't understand why everyone was so insistent that I not do what I normally do for our scrappin' days.  (Again, gullible!)  When Sonya showed up I was given 5 minutes to get ready because we were NOT gonna be scrapbooking!  They labeled the day, my day, and make it mine they did!  Their main goal was to make it to The Cheesecake Factory in Inner Harbor at some point during our day but beyond that no plans were made as to how the rest of the day would go.  We ate at a place called Dick's Last Resort for lunch and if you don't appreciate sarcasm don't ever eat there!  We had a blast!!  The rest of our day up until dinner consisted of people watching, which in Baltimore City is NEVER dull!  It was one of the most relaxing, laid back, absolute best afternoons I've had in a long time!

And then there was dinner....

...hot soup and salad...

...finger-licking, yummy pot stickers...

...AND CHEESECAKE!!!!

The day was just what a girl needed and I felt so loved.  I always knew I had some great girlfriends but yesterday I felt truly blessed to have friends who care enough to plan a surprise day out to celebrate.  I'm so grateful that we landed back East again so I can enjoy the company of those I love!

KK bought herself a "big girl" camera before coming to our house and so she was enjoying taking in the sights of Inner Harbor through a lens...isn't it a thrill?!?

To the best girlfriends a girl could ask for...THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for showering my life with your love and friendship!  I'm so blessed to say you're both MY friends!

"Shut up ugly!"