Caleb was in Sunday school and looked outside at the snow covered fields and said, "It looks like the world was just made!"
I am trying to determine which of the sounds Caleb knows. When I inquired about the letter H, Caleb wasn't sure what sound it made. I reminded him he has a friend who's name starts with H. He said, "oh yeah, Henry". Elijah says, "HOT CHOCOLATE starts with H mommy!" WOW! I was impressed to say the least!
Micaiah's newest words, since this morning! We recorded all of her words this morning in her early intervention class and now have three more to add in the three hours she has been home, one of which she was sleeping.
poopy
na na-banana
na ni- na night
She also is out of the self-help/occupational therapy (fine motor) therapy. The therapist will continue to monitor, but she has met her goals and currently is working her way towards, "advanced", the therapist said. She is functioning at an 18 month level. She is 16 months!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
little Artie and big Artie
Last week Elijah and I (Peter) went to Chicago to visit my dad and family. I'm not sure quite why, but Elijah Arthur and my dad, Ralph Arthur, have a special bond. They have not spent a lot of time together but Elijah just loves my dad. While visiting, Elijah would sit on the couch next to my dad and say, "Grampa, I love you." And my dad, who wasn't saying much at all, would more clearly than anything else say, "I love you Elijah." Dad would mumble hellos and needs and things about how he was feeling but his "I love you Elijah" was the strongest thing he said all week. This is a shot of Elijah holding dad's hand. I was sitting on the other side of the bed just holding my dad's hand and Elijah moved the stool next to dad, wrapped his little hand around grampa's finger and put his head down on the bed. I cried. Nobody told him to say "I love you" or to hold grampa's hand... he just knew that was what you did when you felt that strongly about someone. I learn so much about love from little Artie... and big Artie too. Maybe that's where the bond comes from.
While I am amazed at all the things my dad taught me by the way he lived, I'm blown away at how much he has taught me by the way he's dying. I have never seen so much strength, faith, hope, patience, perseverence, gratitude or love. In our brief chats he talks about Jesus, the things he's most thankful for, how much he loves us, how proud he is of who each of his kids have become and how much his Bible has meant to him. On one occasion I asked him what makes him so strong and gives him such hope; without a pause he began reciting the 23rd Psalm. He couldn't remember what day it was, what was going on around him or even what we were talking about sometimes but he didn't miss a single word in the entire chapter. That's the kind of man I want to be. That's the kind of man I want my boys to be. I hope and pray that someday I can be that type of legacy for my kids.
I've come to think that family is one of God's top three blessings... right behind Jesus and the Bible.
On a lighter note... while in Chicago, my mom told Elijah "Elijah, you're a blessing." Elijah asked Gramma, "Gwaama, what's a bwessing?"
Gramma said that it was something that fills your heart with joy and happiness.
Elijah said, "Gwaama, YOU are a bwessing!"
He is so right. She is so right. What a blessing to be part of a family that truly understands the love that God has passed on to us to share with one another.
While I am amazed at all the things my dad taught me by the way he lived, I'm blown away at how much he has taught me by the way he's dying. I have never seen so much strength, faith, hope, patience, perseverence, gratitude or love. In our brief chats he talks about Jesus, the things he's most thankful for, how much he loves us, how proud he is of who each of his kids have become and how much his Bible has meant to him. On one occasion I asked him what makes him so strong and gives him such hope; without a pause he began reciting the 23rd Psalm. He couldn't remember what day it was, what was going on around him or even what we were talking about sometimes but he didn't miss a single word in the entire chapter. That's the kind of man I want to be. That's the kind of man I want my boys to be. I hope and pray that someday I can be that type of legacy for my kids.Finally, I must say that the thing I am most excited about as I have watched God move and work in and around my family is the work He has done in and through my brother. I have seen more love and godliness in him over the past few months than I believe anyone has seen in me in years. I can't begin to describe how inspired I am by him. He has become one of my heroes. And I'd be honered if either of my boys grew up to have his heart. Elijah has already begun to examine and immitate his every move.
I've come to think that family is one of God's top three blessings... right behind Jesus and the Bible.
On a lighter note... while in Chicago, my mom told Elijah "Elijah, you're a blessing." Elijah asked Gramma, "Gwaama, what's a bwessing?"
Gramma said that it was something that fills your heart with joy and happiness.
Elijah said, "Gwaama, YOU are a bwessing!"
He is so right. She is so right. What a blessing to be part of a family that truly understands the love that God has passed on to us to share with one another.
Let it snow
Daddy took the boys down to the school to sled down the hill
You can't have snow without SNOW ANGELS! aren't they cute!let is snow
The boys made a snowman with a little help from daddy. They decided frosty needed a tie, not a scarf :o)
let it snow!!!
Elijah and Caleb were soooooo excited it finally snowed. After church they bundled up and headed outside!
Caleb is teaching Elijah how to have a snowball fight!
Elijah catches on real quick.
Next, it's time to try sledding. without hills. without dad. they still had fun!
Micaiah woke up from her nap and her and Bailey watched the boys in the warm house!Saturday, January 20, 2007
ELIJAH
What a blessing! and what a cutie! I missed this little guy lots this week and it is so good to have him back! Elijah is the most passionate kid I have ever met!
Every time I say I love you, he always says, I love you too. without fail. Elijah loves to play. He is always making me laugh. His voice is soooo sweet, I don't ever want to forget how sweet he sounds. Caleb is "tay yub" Micaiah is "kie yah"
Elijah is learning to be very generous with Micaiah. He shares with her and just hands things out to her without even being asked. Even his cookies "tookies". We have started doing devotions out of a preschool devotional and we were discussing sin. Everyone does bad stuff, mommy, Caleb, and Elijah. I gave examples of ways each of us sinned and Elijah said, "I don't do anything wrong". I explained sure you do, everyone does, even daddy. Everyone except Jesus. Elijah said, "not me".
Elijah loves to play with Little People, Rescue Hereos, the kitchen, trains, and Deigo. He loves to read books. If I set him up on the couch with a pile of books 2 feet high, he will stay on the couch until he has "read" through each book.
Elijah is great at playing on his own, he often needs his alone time. We try to do lots of stuff as a family and we often times find ourselves all together except Elijah. When we go to join him, he eventually leaves the room and is often off on his own again. :o)
Elijah has such a tender heart and is so sweet. He loves to cuddle. He loves to be rocked and to just sit and cuddle. He loves to hold hands. Elijah also likes to be goofy. He does things he know will make us laugh, or things he has seen Caleb do, and we laughed, so Elijah tries it.
When the boys play football or wrestle, Elijah can hold his own! He loves to play football, last week when Peter was skiing, Elijah asked me to play football with him. He taught me all about football and how to tackle and fumble! We played for over a half an hour. He's got quite an arm on him!
Every time I say I love you, he always says, I love you too. without fail. Elijah loves to play. He is always making me laugh. His voice is soooo sweet, I don't ever want to forget how sweet he sounds. Caleb is "tay yub" Micaiah is "kie yah"
Elijah is learning to be very generous with Micaiah. He shares with her and just hands things out to her without even being asked. Even his cookies "tookies". We have started doing devotions out of a preschool devotional and we were discussing sin. Everyone does bad stuff, mommy, Caleb, and Elijah. I gave examples of ways each of us sinned and Elijah said, "I don't do anything wrong". I explained sure you do, everyone does, even daddy. Everyone except Jesus. Elijah said, "not me".
Elijah loves to play with Little People, Rescue Hereos, the kitchen, trains, and Deigo. He loves to read books. If I set him up on the couch with a pile of books 2 feet high, he will stay on the couch until he has "read" through each book.
Elijah is great at playing on his own, he often needs his alone time. We try to do lots of stuff as a family and we often times find ourselves all together except Elijah. When we go to join him, he eventually leaves the room and is often off on his own again. :o)
Elijah has such a tender heart and is so sweet. He loves to cuddle. He loves to be rocked and to just sit and cuddle. He loves to hold hands. Elijah also likes to be goofy. He does things he know will make us laugh, or things he has seen Caleb do, and we laughed, so Elijah tries it.
When the boys play football or wrestle, Elijah can hold his own! He loves to play football, last week when Peter was skiing, Elijah asked me to play football with him. He taught me all about football and how to tackle and fumble! We played for over a half an hour. He's got quite an arm on him!
CALEB
Caleb still LOVES animals
When he's thristy he will do whatever it takes to get a drink from the fountain!I had sooo much fun hanging out with just Caleb this week! While Micaiah was napping we took every opportunity to do something fun. We tried to find things that were a little harder to do when both of the boys are home. Although Caleb and I bonded for two years without interuption, I wish I had more one on one time with him these days. This week was really good for us! Since he goes to school I always get that time with Elijah when Micaiah is napping, and of course, Micaiah being the youngest, also gets her one on one time.
Caleb is such a bright and curious litte boy. He loves to cook. We made most of the meals together this week. He loves making breakfast, lunch, dinner, and of course dessert. We made two batches of cookies, one at the beginning of the week and one at the end. Caleb is soooo generous, we handed out cookies to our friends and he gets so excited about it.
Caleb loves school. He loves his teacher, Mrs. Rider and can't wait to get there each day. He comes home and tells us all about the exciting events of the day. We love when it is warm enough (above 40 degrees, that's my limit) and get the opportunity to walk to school.
Arts and crafts is one of Caleb's favorite things to do. He has choosen to hand make each Valentine this year. We have started already because I know he will a very long list of recipients other than his entire class!
We started using a calendar to teach Caleb about time while waiting for Micaiah and especially during our pick up trip. He knew when Grandma Tina was coming, when we were leaving, and when Micaiah would be home. He always knows who's birthday is next. I found a calendar for him in the $1 bin and he loves it! He has colored school days blue, his favorite color, Home Depot project days, orange, and has made a cross on every Sunday. We often add our upcoming events to his calendar too.
Caleb has picked up more spanish since Micaiah has come home and is great at using it! He loves Diego, CARS, TOY STORY characters, and Veggie Tales, especially Larry Boy. He continues to enjoy music, especially drums and guitar. He loves to play games and read.
We are prayerfully considering whether we will send Caleb to Kindergarten next year. He turns 5 in July and would be one of the youngest in his class. Academically, we feel he is ready. We are just unsure if it is the best fit for him? We are leaning towards sending him but still unsure.
Caleb has tons of energy. Peter's mom always described him as having lots of energy as a kid. Everyone always assumed he was a difficult child. Rita says he was a very good kid. Caleb seems to be the same way, an excellent kid with tons of energy. For Christmas he got two great energy burning games! HULLABALOO and Veggie Tales, DANCE DANCE DANCE. The VEggie Tales game is a home version of DDR, the arcade game of dancing by stepping on the arrows on a floor mat as they come up on the screen. It is connected to our computer, he loves it and is very good at it!
Caleb is such a bright and curious litte boy. He loves to cook. We made most of the meals together this week. He loves making breakfast, lunch, dinner, and of course dessert. We made two batches of cookies, one at the beginning of the week and one at the end. Caleb is soooo generous, we handed out cookies to our friends and he gets so excited about it.
Caleb loves school. He loves his teacher, Mrs. Rider and can't wait to get there each day. He comes home and tells us all about the exciting events of the day. We love when it is warm enough (above 40 degrees, that's my limit) and get the opportunity to walk to school.
Arts and crafts is one of Caleb's favorite things to do. He has choosen to hand make each Valentine this year. We have started already because I know he will a very long list of recipients other than his entire class!
We started using a calendar to teach Caleb about time while waiting for Micaiah and especially during our pick up trip. He knew when Grandma Tina was coming, when we were leaving, and when Micaiah would be home. He always knows who's birthday is next. I found a calendar for him in the $1 bin and he loves it! He has colored school days blue, his favorite color, Home Depot project days, orange, and has made a cross on every Sunday. We often add our upcoming events to his calendar too.
Caleb has picked up more spanish since Micaiah has come home and is great at using it! He loves Diego, CARS, TOY STORY characters, and Veggie Tales, especially Larry Boy. He continues to enjoy music, especially drums and guitar. He loves to play games and read.
We are prayerfully considering whether we will send Caleb to Kindergarten next year. He turns 5 in July and would be one of the youngest in his class. Academically, we feel he is ready. We are just unsure if it is the best fit for him? We are leaning towards sending him but still unsure.
Caleb has tons of energy. Peter's mom always described him as having lots of energy as a kid. Everyone always assumed he was a difficult child. Rita says he was a very good kid. Caleb seems to be the same way, an excellent kid with tons of energy. For Christmas he got two great energy burning games! HULLABALOO and Veggie Tales, DANCE DANCE DANCE. The VEggie Tales game is a home version of DDR, the arcade game of dancing by stepping on the arrows on a floor mat as they come up on the screen. It is connected to our computer, he loves it and is very good at it!
MICAIAH
Well, those of you have not seen Micaiah will be shocked to read this:
Micaiah says
-"pa" this is pacha in Spanish, translates bottle, although we have transitioned to sippy, she still calls it "pa"
-"woof woof" this was her official first phrase, she mimicked Bailey after just a week or two here
-"da da" since daddy's birthday, Oct 6
-"uh-oh" she even uses this to tell me she wants something she has dropped
-"ma ma" since early Dec.
-"da" up, of course, it took awhile to figure this one out
-"ooooo" open, she love to open and shut EVERYTHING
Micaiah says
-"pa" this is pacha in Spanish, translates bottle, although we have transitioned to sippy, she still calls it "pa"
-"woof woof" this was her official first phrase, she mimicked Bailey after just a week or two here
-"da da" since daddy's birthday, Oct 6
-"uh-oh" she even uses this to tell me she wants something she has dropped
-"ma ma" since early Dec.
-"da" up, of course, it took awhile to figure this one out
-"ooooo" open, she love to open and shut EVERYTHING
-"yi ya" Micaiah
-"ya ya" Caleb or Elijah
-and the newest "RORA" DORA. She has become obsessed with Dora. She got a life size stuffed Dora for Christmas from her surrogate auntie Amy Rudge. This Dora is about an inch taller than our little muchkin. We went to the book store and amongst all the books she found a Dora book, brought it to me and said "RORA". So of course, we had to go to the library and get 13 Dora books for her to read.
Yesterday she was in the living room by herself and she said, "Ma ma" (pause) "da" translated this means "Mommy I want to get up on the couch and read all these Dora books" After I put her up on the couch, she preceded to read through all 13 Dora books! happy as a clam to be sitting and reading, she loves books!
Micaiah started walking during the 2 1/2 weeks my sister was here. She is playing so independently, sleeping very well at night, taking 2 short naps each day, and she does lots and lots of screaming in an attempt to communicate (and sometimes to through a tantrum). We are doing our best to replace those screams with words and signs.
she knows the signs for: more, please, eat, and all done!
She is growing leaps and bounds, smiles all the time, laughs back at you when you laugh, and is such a girl! She likes to carry around her Dora bag and backpack, brush her hair, wear her coat in the middle of the day, and she loves to have her socks and shoes on. She has been feeding her babies bottles since she came home and loves to brush her My Little Pony's mane and tail. She attends an early intervention class once a week for 2 1/2 hours. She loves it and we are gaining lots of insight on helping her continue to develop. We see a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist every time we are there. It is so nice to have her constantly being asessed and for myself to continue to gain information on how to help her get up to speed with the development of a 16 month old! She is feeding herself with a spoon and I wouldn't be surprised if she began the dressing and undressing process soon! As I said, she is such a girl! Way different from the two boys I am used to.
-"ya ya" Caleb or Elijah
-and the newest "RORA" DORA. She has become obsessed with Dora. She got a life size stuffed Dora for Christmas from her surrogate auntie Amy Rudge. This Dora is about an inch taller than our little muchkin. We went to the book store and amongst all the books she found a Dora book, brought it to me and said "RORA". So of course, we had to go to the library and get 13 Dora books for her to read.
Yesterday she was in the living room by herself and she said, "Ma ma" (pause) "da" translated this means "Mommy I want to get up on the couch and read all these Dora books" After I put her up on the couch, she preceded to read through all 13 Dora books! happy as a clam to be sitting and reading, she loves books!
Micaiah started walking during the 2 1/2 weeks my sister was here. She is playing so independently, sleeping very well at night, taking 2 short naps each day, and she does lots and lots of screaming in an attempt to communicate (and sometimes to through a tantrum). We are doing our best to replace those screams with words and signs.
she knows the signs for: more, please, eat, and all done!
She is growing leaps and bounds, smiles all the time, laughs back at you when you laugh, and is such a girl! She likes to carry around her Dora bag and backpack, brush her hair, wear her coat in the middle of the day, and she loves to have her socks and shoes on. She has been feeding her babies bottles since she came home and loves to brush her My Little Pony's mane and tail. She attends an early intervention class once a week for 2 1/2 hours. She loves it and we are gaining lots of insight on helping her continue to develop. We see a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist every time we are there. It is so nice to have her constantly being asessed and for myself to continue to gain information on how to help her get up to speed with the development of a 16 month old! She is feeding herself with a spoon and I wouldn't be surprised if she began the dressing and undressing process soon! As I said, she is such a girl! Way different from the two boys I am used to.
more adventures
Peter came home from a weekend of skiing with his students and was off to see his dad the next morning. We figured it was best that we all did not go, it would just be too much for Peter's dad for us to all be in the house. So, we thought it best for Peter to take Elijah. They had wonderfully bonding time together, hopefully I can get him to blog about it later.
Caleb, Micaiah, and I held the fort down. We started our Valentine's, made cookies, played our new Christmas games and some old ones, read more of Charlotte's web, and really enjoyed our time together. Caleb even took us on a date! We went out for dinner and then to browse the bookstore and play trains. A wonderful date, I thought.
Caleb and I have started to read Charlotte's web, Elijah listens most days too. When we are done with the book we are planning to see it in the theater. Our next book will be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! If anyone knows of other book/movie combos, we are looking for lots of ideas, we are hoping to continue reading the books and then seeing the movies. All of us are really enjoying it!
Last night, after 4 days in IL, daddy and Elijah came home!!!! yeah! Daddy has only been home 5 days in the last month! It is good to have him home!
Art continues to spend his days resting. At this point he is bedridden. We covet your prayers for Art and Rita.
Caleb, Micaiah, and I held the fort down. We started our Valentine's, made cookies, played our new Christmas games and some old ones, read more of Charlotte's web, and really enjoyed our time together. Caleb even took us on a date! We went out for dinner and then to browse the bookstore and play trains. A wonderful date, I thought.
Caleb and I have started to read Charlotte's web, Elijah listens most days too. When we are done with the book we are planning to see it in the theater. Our next book will be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! If anyone knows of other book/movie combos, we are looking for lots of ideas, we are hoping to continue reading the books and then seeing the movies. All of us are really enjoying it!
Last night, after 4 days in IL, daddy and Elijah came home!!!! yeah! Daddy has only been home 5 days in the last month! It is good to have him home!
Art continues to spend his days resting. At this point he is bedridden. We covet your prayers for Art and Rita.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
okay this is it for pictures tonight!
After Caleb's performance in his Christmas musical we took him out to Bob Evans! His new favorite restaurant. They serve smiley face pancakes!
Amy did lots of lovin' on my kiddos! are you sick of pictures yet?
rosetta sent us a tea cozy. Rosetta is my sister's wonderful mother-in-law, who lives in Australia. where they use tea cozies to keep the tea kettle warm. Tanner wanted to model it!
Our only snowfall so far this year, maybe more on Monday.
Amy, Caleb, and Elijah having way too much fun!
Then after styling my boys hair, she got the make up out! Just kidding, it is tub crayons. It took a few days for it to wear off Caleb's face, after we scrubbed like crazy!
Fun after the tub!fun!
Daddy's little girl, in one of her cute hand me down outfits for Christmas!
A proud walker! She officially mastered walking during the two weeks my sister stayed with us! She started out scooting, crawling, and walking a very little bit and by the end she was my walking girl!
Daddy was in charge of making lunch! Cheddar cheese face, turkey hair, bagel eyes, the boy's favorite, salami mouth and nose!more fun at over Christmas
my sister is an amazing cook, tonight she taught me how to make falafel and homemade Margaritas, with fresh squeezed juice. Once we had the table set we realized we had put everything on the kids table, as we were used to setting up for the kids. We laughed and moved to the grown up table. The kids were already in bed!
We took the wagon to deliever of Christmas presents to the neighbors.
Every time Amy took a picture, Micaiah wanted to see it and she always turned her head sideways to look at it!
She loves pictures!
more pics from Christmas
We celebrated St. Nick this year! Amy's friend Cecily and her daughter Tanner were with us! The kids all opened stockings together.
Amy and the kids and I went to see a live nativity (or at least live animals) and then played at the park. The weather was beautiful.
Movie night at our house. We popped popcorn, sat on a blanket and watched the Polar Express. One of our Christmas traditions. 
Amy and I took the kids to the Festival of Lights, the zoo is all lit up, there are trains set up, and we even saw Santa's reindeer. 
For gifts this year we passed out popcorn boxes for our neighborhood friends, Caleb and Elijah wrote the kids names on the boxes and we put popcorn and chocolate covered pretzals inside. The kids had a blast making them and giving them out! and eating them!Friday, January 12, 2007
update on the family
wow! it has been a long time! my friend shelley keeps up with her blog and she has five kids, under five! not sure what my deal is?
the latest.
we left for IL on the 20th of December to be with Peter's dad as he asked us to come. We enjoyed being at his side to hold his hand and love on him. He had a very difficult day on the 23rd and we decided to split for Christmas.
Peter stayed in IL to be with his family and I took the kiddos to be in WI with my family. It was a difficult thing to do, but God blessed us in our time apart. Peter had an entire week to serve his dad and mom. He loved every moment of it! He spent lots of time at his daddy's side, reading to him, holding his hand, watching sports together, and just loving every moment of it. He had the opportunity to give his mom, brother and sister a much needed break as well. He even got a few opportunities to watch his niece and nephews. He had a great week, but missed us lots.
Christmas eve, Peter and I and the kids attended church together and then I headed for WI, hoping to make it in time for the Christmas Eve service with my step-mom, sister, and brother-in-law. We made it. The service was at the church where my dad's funeral was. This was very difficult at first, but I was so grateful to be there and so thankful to be with my family. Christmas day we had Christmas three times! the kids loved it! We ended the day at my aunt's home for a family Christmas with my dad's family. This was the only time we have seen snow this year (other than a brief falling in Cincinnati). Caleb was exstatic. We didn't bring our snow stuff to my aunt's so Auntie Amy and my aunt Sandy started the hunt for winter gear for Caleb. In their search they found a Packers hat to keep Caleb's head warm. He refused to wear it! Daddy was proud when he heard that story.
Blessings
After we opened gifts Christmas morning my step mom gave us a gift, something that was my dad's she wanted each of us to have. I got my great grandpa Arbruster's rosary, he had given it to my dad, Peter got a fun Mickey tie I had given my dad as a child, Caleb and Elijah got compasses my dad used when he was hunting and Micaiah got a Santa Claus mug my grandmother had given each of her children, her mother had done the same.
My aunt Renee found a beautiful way to honor my dad this Christmas. She gave all her siblings and parents a Christmas ornament with a beautiful poem on it and my father's name on the back. She also gave one to my sister and I, our's had DAD written on the back.
It was difficult not have my dad around but we enjoyed celebrating his life. One day in WI we spent the entire day doing "dad" stuff. Unintentionally, it just happened. We went to the barn where my dad raised bunnies. Caleb fed the bunnies while the rest of us cried. Then we visited with the wonderful family who my dad became very close with while using their barn to house his bunnies. It was a wonderful morning. Then off the the restaurant. This was my dad's second home. He went there almost every day, for coffee, a meal, but mostly to hang out with the crowd and smoke a cigarette. We showed off his newest grandbaby (no one is WI had met Micaiah except Gramma Tina) and had a meal together. Later that evening we ended up at a Supper Club, to celebrate my step-brother's wedding. It was one of my dad's favorite places to go, we enjoyed a great meal and then played the juke box and danced until...
my cousin called to say the boys were both throwing up. You got it. Caleb and Elijah had the stomach flu, Micaiah woke up with it the next morning. YUCK!!!! Caleb was done by morning. Elijah had it for 5 days, and Micaiah for 7 days! YUCK!! glad that's over. 8 days of sick kids, including New Year's Eve, oh well! My sister took Caleb to the store to buy party hats and noisemakers and we made the best of it!
On the first we headed back to IL and spent the week with Peter's family, Art had his bad days and his really bad days. On Saturday it was time to head back home. We said our good byes to Art. That took a couple hours, I think?
Home again, it has taken us all quite a few days to adjust to being home again. Especially Micaiah, Elijah, and mommy! But we are glad to be home, wishing we were in IL still.
Peter is now off to Colorado snowboarding with the youth group. He left this morning and Caleb had a fever this afternoon! I sure hope this isn't a repeat! I don't know if I could do 3 sicks kids alone! I don't know how single parents, including my mom, ever did it!
So, Art is still having bad days and really bad days. We are just playing the waiting game. He says he is ready to go to heaven. I am really really excited for him! I imagine that sounds a bit strange, but I see where he is now, and I know where he is going. I feel very sad to loose him, but I told him to give my dad a hug and a kiss from me and I know they will enjoy a few rounds of golf (if you can play golf in heaven?) Heaven is better than anything we can ever imagine. I am even more in awe of God when I realize that Art will have a new body, he will be healed and he will be whole. That alone is just soooo amazing.
the latest.
we left for IL on the 20th of December to be with Peter's dad as he asked us to come. We enjoyed being at his side to hold his hand and love on him. He had a very difficult day on the 23rd and we decided to split for Christmas.
Peter stayed in IL to be with his family and I took the kiddos to be in WI with my family. It was a difficult thing to do, but God blessed us in our time apart. Peter had an entire week to serve his dad and mom. He loved every moment of it! He spent lots of time at his daddy's side, reading to him, holding his hand, watching sports together, and just loving every moment of it. He had the opportunity to give his mom, brother and sister a much needed break as well. He even got a few opportunities to watch his niece and nephews. He had a great week, but missed us lots.
Christmas eve, Peter and I and the kids attended church together and then I headed for WI, hoping to make it in time for the Christmas Eve service with my step-mom, sister, and brother-in-law. We made it. The service was at the church where my dad's funeral was. This was very difficult at first, but I was so grateful to be there and so thankful to be with my family. Christmas day we had Christmas three times! the kids loved it! We ended the day at my aunt's home for a family Christmas with my dad's family. This was the only time we have seen snow this year (other than a brief falling in Cincinnati). Caleb was exstatic. We didn't bring our snow stuff to my aunt's so Auntie Amy and my aunt Sandy started the hunt for winter gear for Caleb. In their search they found a Packers hat to keep Caleb's head warm. He refused to wear it! Daddy was proud when he heard that story.
Blessings
After we opened gifts Christmas morning my step mom gave us a gift, something that was my dad's she wanted each of us to have. I got my great grandpa Arbruster's rosary, he had given it to my dad, Peter got a fun Mickey tie I had given my dad as a child, Caleb and Elijah got compasses my dad used when he was hunting and Micaiah got a Santa Claus mug my grandmother had given each of her children, her mother had done the same.
My aunt Renee found a beautiful way to honor my dad this Christmas. She gave all her siblings and parents a Christmas ornament with a beautiful poem on it and my father's name on the back. She also gave one to my sister and I, our's had DAD written on the back.
It was difficult not have my dad around but we enjoyed celebrating his life. One day in WI we spent the entire day doing "dad" stuff. Unintentionally, it just happened. We went to the barn where my dad raised bunnies. Caleb fed the bunnies while the rest of us cried. Then we visited with the wonderful family who my dad became very close with while using their barn to house his bunnies. It was a wonderful morning. Then off the the restaurant. This was my dad's second home. He went there almost every day, for coffee, a meal, but mostly to hang out with the crowd and smoke a cigarette. We showed off his newest grandbaby (no one is WI had met Micaiah except Gramma Tina) and had a meal together. Later that evening we ended up at a Supper Club, to celebrate my step-brother's wedding. It was one of my dad's favorite places to go, we enjoyed a great meal and then played the juke box and danced until...
my cousin called to say the boys were both throwing up. You got it. Caleb and Elijah had the stomach flu, Micaiah woke up with it the next morning. YUCK!!!! Caleb was done by morning. Elijah had it for 5 days, and Micaiah for 7 days! YUCK!! glad that's over. 8 days of sick kids, including New Year's Eve, oh well! My sister took Caleb to the store to buy party hats and noisemakers and we made the best of it!
On the first we headed back to IL and spent the week with Peter's family, Art had his bad days and his really bad days. On Saturday it was time to head back home. We said our good byes to Art. That took a couple hours, I think?
Home again, it has taken us all quite a few days to adjust to being home again. Especially Micaiah, Elijah, and mommy! But we are glad to be home, wishing we were in IL still.
Peter is now off to Colorado snowboarding with the youth group. He left this morning and Caleb had a fever this afternoon! I sure hope this isn't a repeat! I don't know if I could do 3 sicks kids alone! I don't know how single parents, including my mom, ever did it!
So, Art is still having bad days and really bad days. We are just playing the waiting game. He says he is ready to go to heaven. I am really really excited for him! I imagine that sounds a bit strange, but I see where he is now, and I know where he is going. I feel very sad to loose him, but I told him to give my dad a hug and a kiss from me and I know they will enjoy a few rounds of golf (if you can play golf in heaven?) Heaven is better than anything we can ever imagine. I am even more in awe of God when I realize that Art will have a new body, he will be healed and he will be whole. That alone is just soooo amazing.
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