Happy birthday to my almost teenager!!!!

Unbelievable.



Seriously.



My oldest daughter is 12 yrs old. As of 5:31pm this evening. I cannot believe it.





Eric and I keep shaking our heads at the thought of having an "almost" teenager - a fact that she keeps reminding me of.





My daughter is awesome. She is so sweet, thoughtful, caring, smart and pretty. Seriously. She has the best smile and the most beautiful dark hazel eyes.





As a birthday gift, she is getting contacts. Something that she has been requesting for awhile. I think that she is ready. We shall see.


We went to the eye doctor at Clarkson Eye Care here in Edwardsville. And as he continued to tell me the condition of her eyeballs, I could tell that the bill would be significant. She has astigmatism to beat the band. I knew that her vision was complicated when I had to start, when she was a 3yo preschooler wearing those adorable wire rimmed glasses, putting eye drops in her eye to weaken the strong one so the one with the worst vision wouldn't get too dependent. With me so far????





She was beaming the entire time, knowing that she was taking that leap into NOT wearing glasses, as she has been for 3/4 of her life.





Needless to say, the doctor reassured her (and me) that her contacts would need to be the hard kind, with a super special, one of a kind prescription. They are being made as I type. I picture a small, old, white-haired man (akin to Gepetto, Pinocchios' dad) whittling away at a small piece of plastic/glass to try to make that perfect lens for my girl. I know that is not the case, right?

Anything for our girls, you know?

Happy Birthday to my oldest, sweetheart monkey. You made me a momma.

I love you, forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I am living, my baby you'll be.

Heard in my house....just a few days ago....

"Momma? I have poop on my foot..."

Silence from both Eric and I....I think we both thought that we were dreaming. It was VERY early...too early for poop to be ANYWHERE!!!!

"Momma....I have poop....on my foooooOOOOOOT!!!"

I implore the husband to get up and check. He does. And quickly calls for back-up.

Our 3yo monkey is recovering from a NASTY stomach bug and things...well....things happened.

We got it taken care of. We got the monkey taken care of. And, after 2 trips to the ER in 1 week, with one kid....I am glad that she is on the mend.

By the way....she is in her big-girl bed now. She thinks that it is the most awesome thing ever. She is so proud. In and out. In and out. In and out of that bed. Just because she can. Yesterday evening, I caught her brushing the "hair" of all of her stuffed animals. She wants to be like Aunt Mandy.

Easter....

Well....the plastic grass is put away...
the baskets are put up...
half of the hard-boiled eggs have already found their way into an egg salad sandwich...

Easter is over.

This day has capped what has been an emotional week.
Easter week shall forever have a new meaning for our family.

My mother-in-law met Jesus on Palm Sunday. And on this Easter, her absence is palpable. It doesn't, and probably will never, feel the same.

But, on this Easter, she would want us to remember the sacrifice that was made, that made her admission into heaven possible. Jesus, dying on the cross, making us all worthy of heaven and God's grace.

May we never forget the reason for the season. May we enjoy the chocolate, peeps, jelly beans and family dinners...but always have, in the back of our minds, the real reason that we should be celebrating...

Our salvation.

God Bless you...if you are a reader of my blog. If you are not...God Bless you, too.

I am so thankful for my family...friends....and for my Lord and Salvation. I hope that you are, too.

Today...

Today, we will lay my mother-in-law to rest.

Today, my sweet husband will say good-bye to his mom (until we see her in heaven).

Today, my daughters will tell their Grandma Diekemper good-bye.

Today, my mother-in-law will get her wings (according to Allison).


We have been stuggling with how to tell Allison about Grandma. At 3.5yrs, we know that Allison's comprehension of death is darned near nil. Like it should be.

So today, as we stood by the casket that was holding my mother-in-law's body, I told Allison that Grandma's body didn't work anymore. She won't be opening her eyes or talking to us.
I told Allison that tomorrow (today) Jesus will be coming to get Grandma to take her to heaven.

Allison asked if Grandma will be getting all better in heaven. I told her yes.

Allison asked if Grandma would be coming back. I told her no.

Allison then asked if Grandma will get "some wings". I told her yes. Ally looked at me and asked "Grandma will be the angel?". I told her yes.

Allison smiled a tiny smile, patted the casket, near grandma, and walked away. That was all she needed.

We will tell stories of Grandma til the cows come home. I want memories to be the best thing that they have from Grandma.

By the way...the line at the funeral home? Neverending, for 5.5hrs. Friends, family....you name it. They all came to pay their respects to this woman who touched so many lives. What a testimony.

LaVerne Diekemper

My very sweet, kind, strong mother-in-law passed away this morning. With her husband by her side, she took her last breath and was welcomed into heaven.

We knew this was coming. Knew that it would be days, not weeks, until she went to heaven...

But still, it is so hard.

I am so sad that my heart is just breaking. Breaking for her husband, her children and in-law children, her grandkids, her sisters and brothers.

This kind woman will be missed by family, friends and parish family.

I had to tell my children that a wonderful thing happened this morning.

Grandma got to meet Jesus.

Happy Birthday Sweet Emily.....

My sweet girl, Emily, turned 8 today.
At 7:43a.m.

It seems like yesterday that she was placed in my arms...after a delivery that was exciting to say the least.

Her delivery was awesome. A baby who decides to come on her own terms...when no one was ready to catch her...

And it has been that way ever since.

Our girl is a one-of-a-kind, sweet, smart, awesome, kind, independent, inventive, creative, caring kid. We got one of the best kids in the world....well...THREE of the best kids in the world.

Happy Birthday to you, Emily.

We love you with all of our hearts and are so glad that you are our daughter.

Hug your mother-in-law, if you can...

My family has had a helluva weekend...
Our hearts are so sad.

My sister is doing well physically, but their hearts are breaking over and over.

My daughter's best friend is struggling with a death of a neighbor (an 8yo girl died on Friday...you have probably seen it on the news if you are in my area. My oldest daughter was on the property at the same time this accident happened. Not near it or involved...but shaken to say the least. Her best friend, G, is completely shaken to the core...dealing with something that a 12yo should never deal with. Our prayers are with the family of the girl who lost her life...and the family of my daughter's best friend. She has some healing to do as well...

And my mother-in-law...such a wonderful, kind, caring, welcoming, thoughtful woman...is getting closer to heaven. It is any day now...it is so hard to think of. My husband is beside himself...and I am struggling to comfort him. We really don't know what to do in a situation like this...thankfully, never having to deal with it before...
My MIL has so many family that will miss her terribly.

Please keep my family in your prayers...if you read my blog.
Please keep my husband in your prayers as he comes to grips with the loss of his "mom".
Please keep my children in your prayers as they deal with alot of things that children should never have to deal with...but unfortunately have to. Saying goodbye to your "gramma" is so difficult.
Please keep my brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, niece-in-law, nephew-in-law in your prayers...they are so sad, too.
Please keep my sister and brother-in-law in your prayers as they grieve their first child.
Please keep my mother-in-law in your prayers - for comfort and peace...

Finally, please pray for my father-in-law as he cares so tenderly for his wife of over 50yrs. As my SIL put is so specially...he is fulfilling his marriage vows as promised, caring for his wife in sickness and in health.

I know that this is alot of stuff to pray for, but, please, just mention them once....

God Bless.

And hug your mother-in-law, your kids, your hubby....heck...hug 'em all...