Easter

This was my first holiday where I had extensive responsibilities. Mom was always the one to make a big deal out of the holidays. It was a little out of the ordinary beyond Mom not being there.

On Friday night, the email server at Crown stopped working. Nathan went in and worked until 11:30. On Saturday morning, we all headed to Cottage Grove. Nathan dropped us off and then he drove back to Crown and worked until 11:30. Meanwhile, Dad, Brian, the kids and I made do. Dad had picked up the groceries we needed so I did a little prep work so Sunday morning would go smoothly. Ethan and I colored Easter eggs in the afternoon. He participated for a little while until he got bored.

After the kids were bathed and in bed, I put together Easter baskets! Mom would have prepared some baskets of her own. She always did something to make these sorts of days special. The baskets were ready to go so I prepared Monkey Bread for the morning. Dad had no idea what I was making so he picked up cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I explained to him that they wouldn't be necessary so I think he may save them for when the kids are back over there later this week. It wasn't a very restful night because Audrey woke up about 3 times needing her pacifier or just adjusting to a different place. When she woke up at 5:00, I took her to bed with me to get another hour of sleep.

Sunday morning included an easter egg hunt. Dad had put together some little plastic eggs with candy in them. I was very proud of Dad. He picked out treats for everyone. I remember Dad being in charge of a holiday once before and I wasn't impressed! This time, it really was touching. He actually thought to do that on his own. That's a big deal!

After getting everyone fed and dressed, I loaded the kids into the car and we drove to Hastings to pick up my Grandma. We all went to church together. Nathan was still at home and was back at work by 6:30 on Sunday morning. He worked until heading to church in Waconia to run the lyrics. Once the service was over, he drove to C.G. to join us for lunch. He arrived just in time to help with the final lunch preparations.

We ate lunch, laid the kids down for a late nap and I let everyone else clean up. The lack of sleep was catching up with me. Once the kids woke up, we gathered up all our stuff and headed home. We had supper, tucked the kids in and Nathan went back to work until midnight.

I'm just starting to fully realize all the things mom did to make life easier for all of us. And she enjoyed all of it and it was her way of showing how much she loved us. I wonder what the Easter celebration is like in Heaven.

So, it was a crazy weekend. We're tired! Only 3 days until we fly to Georgia!

I need your help!

I want to create some sort of book or scrapbook that I can give to my kids that helps them get to know my mom better. Do any of you know of any ideas or resources I should look into to find out more information about this? Thanks!

Long goodbye's

He didn't really get any sort of "goodbye" with mom, so it's new to me to read the experience that Roger and Joyce Counihan are living.

Here is a snippet from Joyce's latest journal entry on their Caring Bridge site:
Roger is now in bed all of the time. He is no longer to use the walker. Any strength he had in his little legs are gone. The hospice nurse was here this morning and she is so good with Roger. She said that his organs are starting to slow down and his breathing are showing signs of what is to come. Hard words to hear but expected.

Please keep praying for them.

As I was trying to fall asleep last night (the kids are sick again- 3 times in less than 2 months), I was thinking about the specific events of mom's passing and I started to cry. It was a heart-breaking experience. There was a sweetness about it too. There were friends, praying, singing. I'm thankful for all of the memories of that day.

Heaven

I been reading Heaven by Randy Alcorn. It's been really interesting to look at what specific Scriptures actually have to say about Heaven. I think most of my ideas of what it's like aren't based on the Bible.

For instance, there are Scriptures that actually indicate that we are continuing to learn while we're in Heaven and that there is some awareness of what is happening on earth. I wonder if my mom is reading this blog?

And, I never really thought of this before, but, the Heaven that exists now is not the same as the one that will exist after Christ returns to set up His kingdom.

When my mom first told me about Heaven, I was a little nervous about the trip. Flying through the air and all sounded kind of scary. I remember asking her if she would hold my hand when we went to Heaven.

So, what are your thoughts about Heaven? I'd love to hear them.

Ethan and Audrey and missing Mom

I haven't really posted anything lately because I haven't known what to say. I feel like the initial crisis is behind me. I'm slowly adjusting to my new "normal". Maybe it's just in my head, but it seems quieter.

I know that whatever I feel is normal and fine. Sometimes I think that maybe I should feel a little more sad. It's been harder and easier than I would have imagined. I've said this before, I think, but the hardest part is missing the daily phone call where we would just talk about life and she would want to know everything about the kids. Everything they did and said, she wanted to hear it. Ethan and Audrey are sick again and I know that if she had been around, she would have loved to come and rock Audrey and read stories to Ethan and snuggle him at nap time.

There are some fun stories that I'm not sure I've mentioned.

This one I know I haven't mentioned earlier. Yesterday, Audrey was sitting in my lap when I was sitting at the computer. I brought up a picture of Mom and she smiled, got excited, and started gesturing and pointing and babbling at it. It made me so happy. I know she wont remember Mom for much longer, but it sure seemed like she knew she was looking at a picture of one of the people who loves her most.

Also, on Friday, Ethan told me, out of the blue, that I could pray to Jesus. I asked him what I should pray about. He said, "Anything you want." I think he may be on to something there.

Finally, shortly after Mom passed away, I was explaining to Ethan that Grandma Henning was in Heaven with Jesus because she loved Jesus and had asked Jesus into her heart. Ethan replied by shouting out, "Jesus in my heart!". I'm not sure if that was his 2 year old understanding of asking Jesus into his heart, it might have been. If my mom knew that her death would be the thing that caused Ethan to put his trust in Jesus, I know she would have gladly accepted the assignment.

Please pray

Please pray for Roger Counihan and his family. He has brain cancer and feels like his time on earth may be coming to an end soon.

This is his caring bridge site.

Health update

I posted a few weeks ago that I had become a hypochondriac!

Well, I had my physical a week ago. They checked my weight and it was "perfect" (according to the doctor- I still would like to lose 5 vanity pounds!). My blood pressure was "perfect". It was actually on the low end of normal so it was a good thing I stopped taking the beta blocker I got after going to the ER. And, according to the letter I got from the clinic this week, my cholesterol was "excellent" and I don't need it checked for 5 years!

I was pretty sure my health was alright, but it's nice to have it confirmed by an expert. So far, the doctor's who have listened to my heart do not think my heart murmur is aortic. I may have an echocardiogram just for my peace of mind, but they are pretty sure it's benign.

Yeah for good news from the doctor!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program

to post random recent pictures of Ethan and Audrey.