Monday, March 16, 2009

March Break ~ Day One

Just as my title says, today was the first day of March Break and we were blessed with a gorgeous day with a temperature of 9 degrees! The sunshine felt so good.

I had a rough night last night. I had a terrible nightmare and I actually woke up crying hard. (Poor Ian, I woke him as well. Sam too...) It was so awful that it was hard to stop crying, and I didn't want to fall asleep again. Eventually I did, and had another nightmare. Ugh. Usually my dreams are rather entertaining and it isn't unusual for me to talk or laugh in my sleep but last night was a totally different story.

Last month Julie asked if we could go to the cemetery where my father is buried so that she could pray for him. We decided that we would go today, so this morning the children and I made tissue paper flowers to take for him. We each had our own design which was so sweet, and I loved watching them create these lovely flowers for a man they had never met and never had the chance to love. But I loved him and that was enough for them.

They each made a little card to go with their bouquets and that sparked an interesting conversation as to what they would have called him, had he lived. My father in law goes by the name "Poppa" so that was out. Julie settled on "Grandfather" and Sam went with "Grandpa". So sweet. I was moved to tears more than once as I watched their little hands crafting, wanting so much for each flower to be perfect.

We headed to the cemetery after lunch. I don't go there very often because while his body lays there, he is not. It's my deepest prayer that he is in Heaven and I will see him again. Ian located his spot, and cleaned off his marker for me.

I asked Ian to take this picture because I wasn't sure if I would end up wanting one, and I'm glad he did. I'm going to share it with you, not to be morbid, but because I am so proud of my children, and love the hearts that God put inside them.



Didn't they do a beautiful job?

While I spent a few minutes alone with Dad, the children wandered about, straightening flower arrangements that had blown over. As we pulled away, I told them that out of all the flowers that people had left for their loved ones, none of them were as beautiful as the ones they had made for their grandfather.

Visiting the cemetery has taken on such a different feel for me since I became a Christian. The hope we have of seeing our loved ones again is so amazing. This life isn't all there is, there is so much more.

Our next stop was the library. I have lived in this city for over 20 years and I have always thought that the library was closed on Mondays. I even asked one of the librarians how long they had been open on Mondays. Her answer was "7 years".

Oops.

Once we were done there we did a bit of grocery shopping then came home. The children rode their bikes outside and played with their friends. Sam was so excited when I told him that it is supposed to be 14 degrees tomorrow. (I'm pretty excited too)

Dancing With The Stars was very good tonight. My girl Melissa is doing so well. I love this show! Tonight the dances were the Salsa and the Quickstep. I'm not a fan of the Latin dances because deep down I'm just jealous that my body doesn't move that way. The Quickstep and the Viennese Waltz are my favourites.

Tomorrow is my appointment with the placement agency, so I went through my work clothes and found something to wear and printed off copies of my resume and references. In the morning Ian will help me review my MS Word and Excel knowledge for the testing they'll give me. I feel like I've been out of the loop for so long and I don't know how I'll present tomorrow. Hopefully it will be like riding a bike.

I'll let you know.

3 comments:

  1. The flowers are lovely. :) You and your children have such loving hearts! HUGS to you all

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  2. Anonymous4:24 p.m.

    the flowers are soo beutful! <><

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  3. The flowers are very pretty. I don't think it's a morbid picture at all....I think it's a beautiful picture. It makes me sad to go to cemeteries and see things "untended" or forgotten looking....to see that he's been gone for many years now(I know it probably seems like yesterday for you)and he's still getting big, bright, beautiful flowers to show everyone that visits there that this man was and is very loved!

    Good luck with your appointment tomorrow! You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sure you'll shine!

    ...Oh and speaking of "shine" it's almost 80 here today ;)

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