The Family

“The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.”
Erma Bombeck

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Anchovies vs. Cat food - It's a fine line.

Mark loves anchovies. Today the girls were sat at the kitchen island, watching in horror, as Mark proceeded to scarf a bunch of anchovies while standing over the kitchen sink. Of course, they are completely grossed out.  He gives them a challenge, "If you eat one, chew it up and swallow it, I let you buy ANYTHING you want while we're at Disney". Caroline gives him a devastated look. She wants so badly to win the prize, but it's just too risky! Addison decides to go for it. She grabs one, tosses it in her mouth and skips off. "Oh no, wait just a minute! Get back here and eat it in front of us". She comes around the corner, looking as if she's about to cry or barf, maybe both and spits the anchovy on the floor. Mark polishes off the last one when Addison says "I'll try it again Daddy!". Mark replies, "There isn't anymore sweetie, I ate the last one".  Addison looks at him very seriously and says "There isn't anymore cat food?" ....oh darling, yes, anchovies are simply repackaged cat food for people.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Gail - Treasured Daughter, Sister, Aunt

Wow - has it really been a year since my last post?! It has been quite a year. My older sister Gail moved in with us shortly after her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer just after Christmas 2010. Of course, the girls were ecstatic to have Aunt Gail living with them! But it was a long, crazy, tiring, heartbreaking and heartwarming year. Gail finally came home to my house under Hospice care (Thank God above for Hospice!!) January 19 and she died 9 days later. The first few days were pretty good - here is Addison napping with Aunt Gail (that's a bear tattoo on Addie's face - spirit week at school lol!). I am so thankful that my children are not afraid of death or of people who are dying. This is definitely because of our faith in God, that we have a heavenly home waiting for us and we will be reunited with our loved ones.