To say that this last week or so has been an emotional roller coaster may be a slight understatement! So hard to believe how ones life can have so much sadness and happiness in a short period of time.
It all started with the heart break of a young man who is SO special to us. It's so hard when there's nothing we could do but comfort and console. So much pressure for such young people.
We enjoyed a great Labor Day weekend with our friends and family. Helping out by working in the Little League concession stand, then playing in the bags tournament, and taking my turn in the dunk tank to help out the newly formed GT Dance Team. Finished the night with supper with great friends! I didn't make it to the street dance because I had no voice. Too much cheering the night before :)
Labor Day Monday started off great! It was Jace's 2nd birthday and the house was all ready for his big party. I ran a complete 5K that morning. When I finished, I went back and finished again with an amazing young man who has taken control of his life by getting himself healthy. It was his first 5K and I was honored to cross the finish line with him. A couple of minutes later, I gathered my things and saw that my mom had tried to call me twice. I didn't even need to call her back - I knew what she had to tell me. Our family had lost an amazing man that morning - Uncle Patrick. Even though you know that it's coming, it's never easy to accept. Finished the day with Jace's party with our families and then some rides at the carnival.
Tuesday night was amazing! We surprised a dear friend who has terminal cancer. We picked her and her daughter up at their house in a limo, enjoyed a nice ride around the lake, and then headed for a spa night full of pampering. It was so fun to spend time with Gayle and see the smile on her face. I hope that we made many more memories for her and Molli both.
Took off Thursday to head to Des Moines for Pat's wake and funeral. So many great memories of a man who brought a smile to your face and always made you laugh with a joke or a story. We shed tears but we laughed which is exactly what he would have wanted. Standing in the back of the church at the end of his funeral surrounded by the Bormann family and hearing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" is something that I will never forget. You could feel his presence there looking down on all of us.
And then last night we threw a surprise 25th Anniversary party for my sister and brother in law. It was so much fun to see the surprise on their faces and also the smiles on everyone else's faces as well. Enjoyed a great night of celebrating with family and friends. Maybe even a little singing and dancing mixed in there!
So, when I stop and reflect on this last week, there are so many things that stand out. First of all, faith always comes first. But right behind that is FAMILY! I am so blessed to be surrounded by an amazing family - and I am truly surrounded by it! The priest at the funeral talked about dealing with good times and also adversity and how it makes us who we are. I have NO doubt that my family will always be there for me and me for them as well. A special young man's words will stick with me for a long time. "Thanks for being there. I just needed to be with my family."
Another thing important to Janet & Patrick was their life long friendships and their loyalty to these friendships. I, too, am truly blessed to have friends that I know will be my life long friends! I am so fortunate to have family that are also some of my best friends. And others who are like family by always being there for me - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
So, although it's been a roller coaster ride, I walk away with knowing that God has blessed me with my family and friends, I was blessed to have an amazing uncle in my life for almost 41 years, and that you truly have to celebrate every day as if it's your last. Even in sadness - there is something to celebrate!
