Breakfast for mom...

This weekend Hans and Bethany had a "be good to Mommy" morning and made breakfast for me!  Everyone enjoyed it, but they made it especially for me;  Hans was in charge of the table and decorations (and supposedly had the idea), and Bethany had a recipe she wanted to try, so she made the food.  It was a Blueberry Shortcake recipe, which she made Vegan, and it was AWESOME!  Plus Hans made origami swans, with blue water for them to float on, and a couple of lotus flowers.  It was really lovely, and incredibly thoughtful!  The swans didn't make it - not enough crayon on them - but we fixed up a lotus flower really good, and it will float for a while.  Thank you, kiddos!

This was SO delicious - a restaurant quality breakfast treat.  We all loved it!

Man that boy is good at origami...

Chicago

So, as far as travel, this was the worst experience ever.  We had hours of delays, bad weather, bad turbulence, and even a cancelled flight.  We finally got back home Tuesday, the 26th, and Hans was under the weather.  It was a stressful weekend, and I think the lack of sleep and motion sickness got to him as well.  (He got sick Tuesday evening, but that was it - I kept him home on Wed. to make sure, though).  Monday I took him to the Dr's, and overall he was fine (low grade fever), but I've been getting him to bed earlier and just getting back up to speed.  He's doing much better now!

Bethany was great - they were both troopers, and Monday night she got to have a suite at the hotel all to herself!  She LOVED it...  It was an overwhelming experience in general, but we got there and back safely, and I was grateful that I was there for Hans at the prayer gathering (at the wake), since he broke down during that (a little).

Overall, for me, this was an awful experience, one I will not ever repeat.  Cody was kind enough to let me buy last minute plane tickets for 3, hotel for the weekend, and a rental car, just so Bethany and Hans could be with their grandmother, dad, and family - to give and receive support during this time.  I wasn't told until AFTER we arrived, that - on his death bed - their grandpa still harbored such hate, venom, and a lack of forgiveness for me, that I wasn't even allowed to take the kids up to the door.  Tante Bridgette and Debbie were the only 2 people to acknowledge me on their own, and after the prayers at the wake I was told to leave.  (I made sure Hans and Bethany were okay, but since they were, I left quietly).  The kids' family - NO ONE - even looked at me at the funeral, and their grandmother didn't even acknowledge my presence.  NOT ONCE.  Not even to thank me for bringing her grandchildren to see her.

So, I've heard a few worse stories about families since then (and so I have other people to pray for who have it worse than me), but I am   D O N E.   Cody and I have paid for tickets for the kids in the past (because it was important that they see their other family), we've give the Schumachers financial support - LOTS - in the past (even when their own children wouldn't give them money), a fact they hid from 'grandpa' because he would be SO angry to know we gave them money...     And I'm just finished.  Having to listen to them talk about this kind, loving, forgiving man at the funeral:  who were they talking about?  Because the deceased man that had all these people coming to say goodbye had such a deep, poisonous hatred, that over TEN YEARS LATER people who had no business judging me were gossiping and hating me at a funeral!    Instead of supporting each other, the hate he left behind filled the rooms.  Ugh.  What sad hearts they must have; filling them with hatred for someone (me) they hardly know, who did nothing to them.  Seriously - John and I were married; no one else.  And Cody is perhaps the only person who really knows how bad that marriage was.  My marriage to John ended the day I brought Bethany home from the hospital, and a grown man - now a father - had left our home in such horrid disarray, I thought we'd been burglarized.  After months in a hospital, an emergency C-section, Bethany in NICU for a week, to come home to a house like that...  Anything left in me had broken then.  And 6 months of severe Post-partem depression after and one suicide attempt, and NO help from him?  He nailed the casket shut on our marriage.  So there's some insight into that.  I should have ended us some other way, but at that point I was struggling to hang on to my sanity, and care for everyone by myself.  Including John, who - if you remember - had broken his leg on a jump.  So I was caring for EVERYONE, and working 13 hours, plus weekends, and our asshole commander and first sgt. were NOT helping like they promised, they were making my life harder.  And no one helped me get through that.

Folks, I'm a sinner.  Have done some awful things in my life, and to others lives.  I have never said otherwise.  And I know my ex-father-in-law hated me, and that was fine.  It was a narrow-minded approach to things he didn't understand, but I didn't care.  But to see that infect others?  <shaking head>  That is so sad.  All the horrible things I've done in my life, all the horrible things done to me, all those experiences...  they have made me who I am today.  And I try - everyday - to be a better person.  To try my best not to judge.  To struggle to be understanding and caring of others needs.  To teach my children to WAIT, WAIT, WAIT for the right person.  I am a poster child for "don't get married too soon", and if that means that my experiences will keep my children from making some of my crappy mistakes, then it was worth it.  And if they make some of the same mistakes?  I'll be here to help pick them up.  Because that's how I choose to be - the one who learns from her mistakes, tries her damnedest not to repeat them, and to make life a little better for the next person.

So the good news?  I'm working on forgiving them (my anger is tripping me up a little, but just a little - I'm almost over it), and getting my loving family back on track to improve the rest of the year.  It's been a rough year thus far, but we'll get better!  And just in time for the snow storm!

Love to all...    Seriously.  I'm sending lots of love out to everyone.

(how about some cute pics of the kids?)

The cute kangaroo outside of the Outback
at the Cincinnati airport.  She's sharing her

lollipop!

  

On the monorail after our cancelled flight.  Hans was being
a Pokemon or something...  But always cute!

    

  

On the plane

Yesterday, Bethany, Hans and I FINALLY made it to Chicago.  We had about a 4 hour delay in Cincinnati, but God must've heard my prayers because we made it!  I'm so grateful; and today they are hanging out with family, hopefully having a great time with Oma and their cousins.  Here's what the flight looked like yesterday...

  

Bethany was so cute - and tired!

Well...  since I have the day to myself, I think I'll see Beautiful Creatures.  And I hope to get some time in at the exercise room they have here.  Wish me luck - you know I can get distracted!

Love to all...

Love and other heartaches...

Bethany, Hans and I are off to Chicago tomorrow for Opa's funeral. He passed away Wednesday morning, after a lengthy duration of dialysis and a life of living with diabetes. I only mention this because now – for those of us who know he's in heaven – he will have an eternal life free of pain, with his mother and brother, and all his other family. It's still sad; I told Bethany and Hans that losing a loved one is – possibly – the most difficult thing to do in life. For most of us, we're never ready to say goodbye; even when it means a better life for that person. It's the selfish side of love; well, there are many selfish sides to love, but this one is bittersweet, and comes from a caring part of our hearts.

On the brighter side, we are extremely grateful Obachan is recovering nicely, and that God was watching over her when she needed help (and Richard and Michelle, too – what an amazing daughter!). This year has started off rather rough; people in the hospital, hospice, passing away – sickness and death. But for all those hard things we've had to deal with, so many have been miraculous blessings. My sister had a cancer scare that turned out to be a poorly read mammogram; thank you, God! Josh got terribly sick a couple weeks ago, gave it to Cody and I, but Bethany and Hans were spared – AMEN! Whoohoo!!! Obachan got the medical help she needed right away, and is recovering... how wonderful!

I apologize if this sounds a little 'preachy' (the AMEN; too much??), but it's important to remember all the things we have to be grateful for, and every one of you reading this is someone I'm grateful to have in my life. So I'll be thinking of you, sending a little prayer of love out to you, and smiling inside as I pack a black outfit to say goodbye. Because love never really leaves – it just changes location.

Skiing Shawnee

We had a great day today - a nice family day we've needed to 'reconnect'. We took our time with the trip itself... Slept in a little, packed up the car, then had nice breakfast at Cafe 11 before we hit the road. Bethany and Hans napped on the drive up here, and then we checked in, had some lunch and got settled. Finally, we hit the slopes, and the powder was awesome! Came back to the resort for some dinner and a movie, and then Cody and I got to do some night skiing; it was like a date! And now everyone is exhausted. Goodnight...

 
  I wanted it to look like I was running into the tree, but - as Josh pointed out - it looks like I'm singing.  A skiing musical?  Could be!

Upromise shopping

Just an update - for anyone who shops online, it would be helpful for both of us, if you checked out my Upromise shopping link.  Through Upromise, you can often find shipping and coupon deals, and a percentage of the purchase (NOT from you!) goes to a college savings fund for Bethany, Hans and Josh.

Here's the link:

http://www.upromise.com/guest/2635266402

So, you get to save a little money when you shop online, and the kids get a little cash back for college.  I use this link ALL the time - if nothing else, I can usually get free shipping!  I love  free...

Election Day...

... and Bethany and Hans had the day off.  So they surprised me with a lovely breakfast!  Mini egg and bacon frittatas!  Delish, and good for you.  Bethany did the cooking, and Hans did the decorating and reading of the directions.  They even made coffee - good coffee!  They are such wonderful kids; so thoughtful AND talented!

Well, I hope everyone got out to vote!  We are still praying for all the displaced families in the area.  Take care!

Love to all...

Hans and I

The other evening, we were all craving ...  cookies!!!  So while Bethany was enjoying an evening ride around the block, and Josh was at his last MMA class, (he'll be returning to  Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo - God bless you!) Hans and I made homemade cookies!  It was a lot of fun; one of those memorable 'ordinary' moments.  We mixed it all together and made half Dark Chocolate chip and half Butterscotch cookies.  Delish!

Cody caught Hans enjoying them fresh from the oven.

That's some hair!

Playing with Hans hair at bedtime tonight, and this is what it looked like. What a cutie!
Love to all...

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Hans and I went to his school today and he got to practice with his locker. They're not as easy as you'd think, but he got it after a few tries! Doesn't he look ecstatic? Lol...
Love to all.

Hans again

I just couldn't help it.  This guy is really taking Hans to another level!

Chicago

Sadly, we said goodbye to Hans And Bethany yesterday...  they took off for a week of fun with family in the windy city!  I'm so proud of them, they flew alone for the first time, and - even more brave - they're traveling back separately.  Totally by themselves!  Hans returns this Saturday, and Bethany will be back at the end of the month.  This will be a good experience, especially for Bethany, since she plans to travel with the People to People Ambassador Program next summer (hopefully to the Galapagos Islands!).  Such amazing kids.

Love to all...

What a day...

Getting ready for a great birthday party tomorrow, and still have Graduation on the brain. Bethany helped me get the cake ready for tomorrow, and in the morning we finish the details. I hope Hans has a great time and is a little surprised, too. Love to all - I'm exhausted!

Happy Birthday Hans!

More celebrating today - starting with lunch after church, where Cody joined us.  (He had been working, but finished early today).  Then a bike ride to the park for frisbee and fun, followed by a movie and popcorn at home.  Then another ride down to Norwood park, since the weather got beautiful while we were inside.  A wonderful family day overall, and thanks to everyone who called to wish Hans the best!

Here's Cody at the park...