Death is not the end!

I thought that hearing no news about my aunt meant good news. Well, last night at 10:00 o'clock, I got a phone call from my father, telling me that my aunt passed away Wednesday night at 10:30. I shouldn't have been shocked, but I think that even though I knew she wasn't going to be around much longer, I was still hopeful. Its hard to think that I just went about my day painting, taking Easter down and just getting Springy! I know that as hard as it is for us right now, I just pray for my uncle and what he is going through.

I remember when my mother died, we all stood there not really knowing what to do next. We ended up all going our separate ways just so we could get out of that hospital. Thinking back on that day, we just got the hell out of there, but we left my father standing there to "Deal". I don't think you realize that when someone dies, there isn't time to grieve right away because of all the details. I think of what my Uncle is going through and how tired he must be. He is 85 and not in the best health himself. I am so thankful for my cousins that are with him now so they can help with arrangements. My aunt had requested to be cremated and then only a mass said in memory of her. I believe she wanted to make it easier on everyone and not have a funeral because of how far away everyone is. I am in Iowa, my sister is in California and my father and rest of my siblings are in Nebraska. She was a pretty selfless wonderful woman.

I am truly thankful for all your prayers during this time. I know my Aunt would not want us mourning her, but celebrating her and her life with us. She is where she is suppose to be right now. She had a very strong faith and is with her maker.



I found this poem, which I think is beautiful!


I AM FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God laid for me
I took His hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, to laugh,
to love, to work or play.
Tasks undone must stay that way
I've found that peace at the close of the day.

If parting has left a void, then fill it
with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times,
a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
God wants me now, He set me free.

Anonymous

Have you heard about these great giveaways?

Melanie of http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-time-is-it.html
is giving away these amazing weathered clock hands from Wisteria! I'm so excited about these, they look huge and I can think of so many places for them! Go on over to her blog to enter. She will pick a winner on April 13th!



The other giveaway is....

Traci from http://beneathmyheart.blogspot.com/2010/04/giveaway-from-vintage-pearl.html is having a wonderful giveaway from one of her sponsors. Its Erin, owner of http://www.thevintagepearl.com/

Erin has graciously offered a $50.00 gift certificate to her online store for this giveaway! Ooh and just in time for Mother’s day even!



Ladies, don't wait another minute, the giveaway ends at midnight tonight, and she will announce the winner on Friday, April 9th. So, hurry up and head on over!

I wanted to thank everyone for all the kind words and prayers for my aunt. You are all so dear to me! There has not been a change with her condition so all your prayers are still greatly appreciated!

Your prayers are needed!

My family and I could really use your prayers today! We just found out that my Aunt Kathryn has had another stroke. This is her third stroke and it doesn't look like she will recover from it! My aunt is my mother's sister and she is 85 years old. I believe that ever since my mother passed in 2002 my aunt has not been the same. She took it terribly hard when my mother died and was not able to get to the funeral. She and my mother were the best of friends and spoke on the phone several times a week.



My aunt and my mother were voracious readers and I know that is why I am. They would exchange books through the mail and I always loved seeing what books my aunt sent to my mom! Then they would get on the phone and do their book reviews. When my mom passed away I got a lot of my mother's books that even have my aunt's name inside, so I am thrilled to remember that!

When my aunt and uncle would visit we would stay up late and talk and she just always had the best advice about boys and friends and faith. My aunt hated goodbyes though and would often get up early in the morning before us and pack her bags and leave. She would call later and act like her leaving was no big deal!

My aunt never had any children of her own, but she had several nieces and nephews and grandchildren through her husbands first marriage. We spent countless summers of our childhood in Ohio at their lake. I have fantastic memories that I will never forget. I remember my parents allowing my sister's and I to fly without them for the very first time. We were 16, 14 and 13. My older sister Julie just got her driver's license so my uncle let her drive his Fiero. We thought we had the coolest uncle to have a Fiero, and she thought she was pretty neat to get to drive it! I remember being so jealous of her I don't think I spoke to her for the rest of the day! There was another time that seems like it was just yesterday. I was painting my cousin's nails who was probably 4 at the time, and one of us knocked over the nail polish remover all over my Aunt's dresser. Honestly, I don't think it was me, but because I was older it was my fault. I can still hear her yelling at us, boy the look on her face was not pretty! It's funny how when I got older we would still talk about that!

I absolutely adore my aunt and hearing this news has really broken my heart. I know Heaven is where she needs to be and the fact that she can finally reunite with my mother is just beautiful, but I haven't spoken to her in a couple of months and I am beating myself up about this. I had just said to my husband this past week that I needed to call her but I never got around to it. I hate living with regrets and I know my aunt knows how much I love her but I just wish I could have said it one more time.

I would appreciate your prayers during this hard time that the Lord can take away her suffering and that he can help my Uncle John to stay strong. She is the love of his life and the pain he is going through right now is so devastating to him.

Thank you all so very much, I knew I could turn to you!

Candy + Children = Craziness!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend! My sister and Vivienne needed to leave for the airport in the early afternoon on Sunday, so we just had time for Easter baskets. We didn't have the traditional Easter Ham because of our day cut short so on Saturday we had Easter sushi. I bet no one did that for Easter? I think that might be our new Easter tradition! The kids were so excited to check out their Easter baskets! Claire squealed because she got a new Bratz Doll and books! James was excited because he got a new bike! No pictures yet, my husband just ordered it!





The kids asked if they could eat a chocolate bunny and I said just one since they hadn't eaten breakfast yet. Do you know what you get when you give kids chocolate at 8 in the morning? This is what you get.....



You would have thought that I had given Claire crack, because that is seriously what chocolate is like to her. Not that I know first hand anything about crack but she was bouncing off the walls! Thank God we have a trampoline because I told her she needed to go outside and bounce off all her energy, and mommy needs more coffee!

After Vivienne had a nap we packed up my sister's things and headed for the airport. The traffic was a little crazy and Claire was non stop chatty Cathy! She was playing that game when you yell out, "slug bug!", except she was yelling, "yellow car, yellow car!" Then she was singing a song. You know the kind, just putting words together to make a song but doesn't make any sense at all, and you wish you could pull your hair out to make her stop! My sister and I kept looking at each other. She said, " Is it the chocolate?" I shook my head yes. Then, Claire wanted me to keep turning around and watching her but I was driving so I said, "Honey, mommy can't keep turning to watch you because it isn't safe." I said to Claire, "Lets play a game of who can be quiet the longest, remember no talking!" That lasted all of 20 seconds, maybe. She decided to read Vivienne a book and then that was done. Now mind you we were driving to the airport which takes 45 minutes and I think everything she did took about 7 minutes!

If you can't tell already, the trampoline didn't help! My sister then took a magazine out of her bag and threw it to Claire. I think it was the Us Weekly. Ooh, that's great reading material for a 5 year old! She told her to count all the pretty girls and look at all the pretty dresses. Amy and I knew we only had a short time left to talk so we begged Claire to be quiet.
Again chocolate + Claire = Freak! Claire was good for a while and pointed out all her rainbow words in the magazine.
All of a sudden she was sounding out a word. She said, "Tttt, iii, ttt!"
I said, "What!" she said mom it says, "Tits!" Oh, dear God please tell me no! She has to be confused, right? Well, Claire just repeats it about 8 more times, "Tits, tits, tits, tits, tits, tits, tits, tits!" My sister is laughing hysterically and I am trying to focus on the road but am gasping at what I am hearing from the back seat. I told my sister, "You know, tits will be Vivienne's 1st word, don't you?"

Still laughing we managed to get to the airport and get my sister and Viv checked in. I hate that you can't walk up and wait for the airplane to take off anymore. My sister's stay was much too short and I miss her already! Claire and I left the airport only for me to go through the same ordeal again with Claire. I said to myself, "Thank God the day is almost over, she will crash soon and sleep will help!"

Oh, and I am hiding her Easter basket!

Happy Monday!

Hoppy Easter Everyone!

I wish everyone a wonderful Easter with their families!

Life & Death ~

LOSING A FRIEND ~

THIS IS A VERY TOUCHING STORY ABOUT LIFE & DEATH, AND THE FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S CERTAIN TO STIR UP YOUR HEART, TOUCH YOUR SOUL.

THIS IS ONE I COULD NOT AFFORD NOT TO SHARE WITH MY FRIENDS.

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Ha, Happy Easter to you all!

Letter writing...a thing of the past!

When was the last time you got a letter in the mail, or even a post card? How many real Christmas cards did you get this year? Did you even send any out, or did you use the internet and send your family letter that way? Now a days people use email, text messaging, Facebook or even twitter to get their message out there. The other day we were invited to a birthday party via Evite. Instead of an actual paper invitation, people are using this free service to send their invitation. I agree it is much faster and you can track people's responses, but it seems rather impersonal to me!

How would you like to join a postcard exchange? Would you like to receive a postcard from me? Well, I have a friend that is hosting a postcard exchange. She started this back in February but wants to keep it going! Her name is Deborah and her blog is called The Fairfield House.
Click her blog to become a part of this wonderful idea.
http://fairfieldhousenj.com/2010/02/24/youve-got-mail/

Don't you think it would be more fun to receive one of these...



than a pile of these...



Send me your email and we can trade addresses.
My email is....mcarusopartridge@gmail.com