Gone but not forgotten...

Our friends are gone, but never forgotten.  They are forever our guardian angels, watching and protecting us from above.  Monday was the 1 year mark of Carrie's death.  And today (Wednesday) is the 6 month mark of Keith's death.  It has been an extremely tough year, but we take each day at a time.  People say time heals all wounds.  But I believe time turns wounds into scars.  They are always there, never forgotten.  But we wear the scars with pride because it means we have truly lived, loved and lost.

 

DO NOT WEEP

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.

 

I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

--- Author Unknown

 

DEATH IS NOTHING AT ALL

I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other

That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

--- Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918,
Canon of St Paul's CathedralSee More

Tattoos

Last weekend we went to Finn's house for some one-of-a-kind tattoos :)  Devan has never had one before and he had no idea what they were.  He called them stamps.  I guess they kind of are like stamps, because stickers come off.  Anyway, by the end of our visit, he understood what they were and had to show everyone during our errands.

 

 Lexi had to get in the action as well.  Devan picked out a rose and a dragonfly for her.

 After 4, we had to say enough.  They're still on his arms a week later!  Finn gave him a bunch to take home too.  Yay for us :P

On the Move (sorta kinda)

Lexi has quickly picked up the "moves" to start moving!  She's getting closer each day.  Oh no!  I'm in trouble now!!!

 

Video from when we first moved in a couple months ago:

 

From a month ago:

Reaching.....

.... reaching....

..... got it! Well, almost....

From a couple weeks ago:

Trying to get off the chair and onto the floor

This is what I wanted!

From last week:

I REALLY want that cow.... Now how do I get it????

Oh, I fuss until Brother gives it to me!

Scooting backwards.... wrong direction Lexi :)

Rocking back and forth

Now I'm on my knees.... So now what do I do??

I put her on the chair and she was happy as a clam to stand like this

Oregon Trip

We had a great trip back to Oregon a couple weeks ago.  In fact, we had so much fun that we didn't take that many pictures!  Aside from the delayed and cancelled flights (consequently losing a day), it was great!

 

Below are some pics from different people.  I KNOW there's more than this, but this is all I have for now.  So if you have some different ones, send them to me :)

 

Do you see the rainbow?!?!  It's right there!!!

One day we went to the zoo.  It was overcast and cool with a little drizzle.  But the best part- it wasn't crowded AND the animals we very active :)

 

We sat and watched the hipps forever!  I have NEVER EVER seen hippos do anything other than poke their eyes out.  These guys TWICE came out of the water and ate tree branches!  I had no idea they were THAT huge!  Devan's whole body could fit in their mouth! (I know because he did this right by the window we were standing at).

 

 And Devan was SOOO excited to feed the birds.  I'm not sure why he got this in his head because we never said anything to him (maybe he's remembering the Richmond Zoo where you can feed the birds and giraffes??).  So, for $1 we got a cup of nectarine and he actually fed them without pulling away scared!

 He loved the alligators and crocodiles

And of course we can't see the monkeys without making a monkey face :)

Look!  It's Whoo-Whoo!

 After the zoo we went to Derek & Annie's for a BBQ.  One of the kids had a blow-up house.  What fun!

I was jealous so I had to get in with Lexi :)

Time to wrestle!

Love this pic- the fam :)

One day we went to the fountains at the waterfront and met my cousin and her 3 boys for some fun in the sun!

Awww... pure love

Yes, she actually let Papa hold her!

Weeee!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you

 Devan got to go boating with daddy, Grammy and Grandpa.  Some good ol' fashioned fishing!

The men :)

They were fishing until Devan starting feeding crackers to the fish.  Then they forgot about the hook and went for the easy stuff :)

Devan's getting a lesson on rowing

 Another day we picked blueberries.  These were perfect for Devan.  Easy to pick, no thorns, and a lot at his eye level.  He picked it up quick and was off.  Luckily, he doesn't like blueberries so we came back with a bunch more because he didn't eat them all :)

Sidetracked by a ladybug

Whoops, he fell.  Gotta pick him up!

Feeding the goats red blueberries

I also got to see my preggo friend and she got to meet Lexi!  The last time she saw me, I was pregnant with her.  It was a much-needed get together :)

We also had a pool party at the grandparent's house, smores in the backyard several times, Dustin's high school reunion.... and a bunch of other things!

I love trips back to Oregon!