Love and Loss

I read a quote this weekend and loved it. My Mom's been on my mind and heart much recently, as March 30 is 14 years since I've seen her beautiful face and heard her cheerful voice. The quote is:

Wag More.

Bark Less.

It's my new motto for parenting and teaching, and not just because I'm a dog lover! It is exactly what my Mom did for me - constantly encouraging and full of joy while pushing me at the same time....and not 'barking' or grumping much. Thank you for the legacy, Mom. Saturday night at bedtime Seth said, "You don't want to go to heaven soon, Mom, but you know someone in heaven, right?"

"I sure do. First, I know God and He is there! And secondly, my Mommy is there." I shared with the kids a little about her and how she would have enjoyed them so much....playing with them, visiting them, laughing with them, teaching them things, making them food, etc. I told them that I miss her a lot - especially this time of year. Then we prayed and as I tucked them in, I had an idea...I gave them a kiss from me, and then said, "I have something special for you tonight. This is a kiss from Grandma Linda in heaven...." and kissed each of them tenderly. They seemed to understand and like it.

Mom, I miss you, Dad misses you, Brad and Paul and all of us miss you. It's been a rocky year for our family, and your presence is missed in so many big and small ways. I 'envy,' but I don't mean in a bad way, those moms my age and stage who get to visit their moms, whose moms come over to visit and play, whose moms watch their grandkids, and who just enjoy hanging out with their mom. I am grateful that God has brought some kind women from church who enjoy the kids and help us out. Now that I'm older at (almost) 35, I realize how losing you at age 21 when I was a "college kid" was so young. If there are hyacinths in heaven, smell them for me today! And if there are gardens, work in them today and enjoy. And I'll keep trusting God and praying for wisdom to be the best Mom I can be to your precious grandkids.

I'll love you Forever,
I'll like you for Always.
As long as I'm living,
My Mommy you'll be. Rhonda, age 6 - same as Robyn this year!

And I think I'll buy some hyacinths today. :)
A typical morning in our home this year, since I'm teaching in the afternoons.

Another bedtime prayer

Bedtime prayer tonight: "Thank you God for the good day and for the Walsh's as they tell people about God and for us to be safe, and let me, let me, let me be around for a long time because Mommy likes me."

-from my Seth

He has asked about death some lately, and I have assured him that God is in heaven, but that we love him very much and want him to be with us for a long time.

We've been the house of sickness lately...poor Nathan didn't go to school all last week. He had a fever that kept returning and a full cough. It was pleasant playing games, reading, and snuggling with him. Then Robyn came home from school and basically slept from 4 pm Monday until Tuesday at 8:30 am. She had a temp, too. So, she stayed home on Tuesday and Wednesday. I knew she was feeling better on Wednesday when she and Seth had a few spats. If you're able to argue and spat, you must be feeling better! Thankfully, now everything is healthy again.

Just five days of school left until spring break! Teachers and students are READY for a break! We're going to spend some time doing some family things together. Oh, and de-cluttering, organizing, and cleaning, too. Unfortunately, Aaron seems to enjoy following me and undoing whatever I have just done. The kids now know that all bathroom and bedroom doors are to be closed at all times....they're just too interesting for Aaron! I've told people his two favorite places in the house are the kitchen garbage can and any bathroom. He's being redirected often these days. :)

It's 10:14 pm, past my bedtime, and I can't think of much to say, so I will say nothing else.

In the tradition of Paul Harvey,


Good Day!

"And please pray for my Mommy...."

Piggy Back Rides in our Sunday best!
Love those SMILES!
What great static!
3 outta four ain't bad!! This is on Robyn's 6th birthday.

Bedtime Wednesday night: Mom prays, especially that Nathan will feel better-been struggling with a fever for 2-3 days, Nathan prays - he is working on his missionary section, so he is praying for the Walsh's each night, and then Seth says, "I want to pray!"
"OK, that's fine."

Here was Seth's prayer [commentary by Mom in the brackets]:
"Thank you, God, for this day. [he recognizes that each day is a gift!] Please help Nathan to get better. [what a sweet child, caring about his siblings] And thank you that I could go to Cubbies tonight. [how wonderful - the child is being nurtured in the things of God and enjoying it] And please help Mommy not to be grumpy. Amen." [this is when Nathan and I started cracking up]

"Is Mommy grumpy, Seth?"
"Yes."
"When is she grumpy?"
"When I have to sit on the stairs." (i.e. 'time out' - he had a few of those that day)
"Ahhhhh."

[Hugs, kisses, "good nights and I love you's," music, zzzzzzzz......]
A Grumpy Momma?!

I Think....Could It Be?

Could it really be? Is it possible? One can never be sure....I've had snow days on my birthday before (April 12). Hopefully not this year, as April 12 is Easter, and that would be very sad.

But, could it truly be? That one word? Starts with S, 6 letters long . . .

Official definition: "A time or season of growth or development; specifically: the season between winter and summer comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of March, April, and May or as reckoned astronomically extending from the March equinox to the June solstice."

Perhaps? Maybe? The sun shone beautifully today, streaming in the windows from all directions. It lifted our already happy spirits, as Nathan turned 8 today! I haven't felt like I'm sick of winter, but when the sun peeks and I watch the kids running around outside without extra layers of everything, it reminds me how nice warm weather is! And I love the first part of Webster's definition: a time or season of growth or development. I'm going to strive to grow closer to God during this next season. Maybe I'll even sit out on my deck and soak in the rays while doing so.

Check it out!

Mid April

Temperatures for the next few days will feel more like mid April and not Mid March.

Afternoon highs will climb into the mid and upper 50s.

Today	Tomorrow	Mon	Tue	Wed
Clear	Sunny	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy	Few Showers
High: 46° Low: 27°	High: 56° Low: 30°	High: 57° Low: 36°	High: 62° Low: 39°	High: 49° Low: 30°

A Visit to WOOD TV

Nathan's 2nd grade class is studying a unit on weather and they took a field trip to WOOD-TV last week. They watched a live weather report and look who made it on TV that night! In this picture are Nathan, to his left is Katelyn, and on his right is Anna. He enjoyed his trip and we were glad to see this. We had hoped to chaperone (since the trip was on a Monday morning, either Ken or I could have gone), but they had to hold a drawing to select five parents to come. We were not selected, but were excited to see this later!