Cleaning Up

My mom came over tonight and helped me clean up one of the extra rooms upstairs. We got rid of a bunch of old wood that was up there and started to organize things a little bit so I have some organized storage. It took a couple of hours to do just that one room. We started a little on the other room that's up there, but its going to take another night to get that one completely finished!

Aubrey must like Sandy's potty better than she likes the potty at home. She stayed dry all day today, even told Sandy two times that she had to go to the bathroom, but once we got home, she had a dirty pull-up and then she peed in her diaper. I asked her all evening long, but she wouldn't go for me!

I was losing patience tonight, maybe that was the problem. Ron and Russell got started on shelling the corn last night and they made a dent in the work. We put up new grain bins this summer/fall and Ron started on filling one of them today. Pray that things go smoothly.

-A

Lots of Phone Calls

I've been spending the last two evenings and when I had a free moment at work today making phone calls to change Ryan's name off of things and put mine on. Some things are very easy to take care of and others require lots of information and patience with the person on the other end of the phone.

Aubrey is quickly becoming a big girl. She "went poopy on the potty" her words yesterday at the baby-sitters. She wore big girl underwear part of the day today and a pull up the rest of the day. She went once in her pull up and started going once in the underwear, but stopped herself and got to the potty. We're going to town sometime this weekend to buy big girl panties for her!

-A

Lazy Sunday

I love Sundays! I took over Ryan's job of sleeping on my parents' couch this afternoon. I put Aubrey down for her nap after lunch and I was reading and my eyes got tired. I decided to just put the book down and rest them for a while; this is pretty unusual for me - I don't nap much, but it felt good.

After Aubrey finished her nap, we went to watch Kaitlyn cheer for the football game at Tri-Village, then headed home.

Aubrey was still a little tired and I think hungry because she cried most of the way home, but seemed find once we got here. She had her bath and went to bed, pretty quickly after supper.

I think we're having a "normal" week this week. I pray for Ron and Russell and they will be working on shelling the corn and planting wheat this week. I pray for rest and peace for Aubrey and I.

-A

One Month

Yesterday marked one month since Ryan went home to be with Jesus. Each and every day, we do something or hear something or I say something that reminds me of a fond memory of Ryan. Each day we pull in the driveway and drive past Ryan's car, Aubrey explains that that is Daddy's car and Mommy doesn't drive it. She's right, I don't! I tried once, it didn't go too well :)

I have been receiving letters for Aubrey's scrapbook and will continue to collect them for a while; I haven't decided yet exactly how I want to compile them. Thanks to everyone who has sent something; they are touching.

I haven't said a lot about how we feel God's presence since Ryan has passed, but he is surely with us. I know that many of you are praying for us daily and I truly appreciate that. I miss Ryan every day and I know that life has changed without him, but I believe that I am happy and that God is holding us right in the palm of his hand. He hasn't left us before and I don't believe he will in the future. As I'm typing this, I can hear the windchimes that are hanging on our front porch. I listen to them and smile. They always bring a smile to my face and are a pleasant reminder that Ryan did too.

-A

A Quiet Week

So far, this has been a quiet week. We've kept ourselves busy, but not running around too much. On Tuesday, I had a workshop and so I didn't get home from work until after 6:00, luckily, Sandy fed Aubrey supper so I didn't have to worry about that right away when I got home. Yesterday and today I worked a little long and we played outside on the swing set tonight when we got home. Aubrey also had to help me deliver some books tonight for an International Reading Association project I am working on.

This weekend is the Wulber Doo and we've got some of Ryan's family coming in from Virginia, so it will be fun to visit with them some.

-A

Another New Week

We begin again, each Monday marks another week where I realize that Ryan isn't here anymore and that life is changing without him, but moving forward. That is somewhat bittersweet because I know that he'd want us to be moving forward and while we're not forgetting him, we are learning to do things without him and I don't want that to happen.

This is a busy week for me at work - I'm in school buildings four of the five days and I worked late tonight. I deserved it though because I took off at 10:30 yesterday to take Aubrey to watch Ron race her favorite horse, Kaptain. He (the horse) unfortunately didn't do well in the race, but it was fun to go see Auntie Rachel and Grandpa.

Today Sandy took the kids to the park and Aubrey said she had fun. She now wants to go out and play on her swings, but I need to eat supper still. Guess we have a little time before she needs to head to bed, so we'll probably get to swing :)

-A

A Day of Rest

We didn't do a whole lot today. We went to church this morning and the sermon was titled Average Parents - it was all about putting our trust as parents into God and allowing him to help us raise our children and teaching our children that our ultimate goal is to honor and please God, not their parents. I hope that I am able to instill those principles in Aubrey as I raise her (with the help of family, of course).

After church we went to my parents' and had lunch with Jake and Brandi and their girls. The girls played a while and then Aubrey took a nap. My mom and I went to Kohls. I found a shirt and pair of shoes for Aubrey and bought myself a few pairs of pants. I saved over $200.00 . . . and Ryan would say - you would have saved more than that if you had stayed home! After we returned from the store, Aubrey was up from her nap, so we headed home. On the way, we stopped to visit Grandpa and Grammy. Auntie Rachel happened to be there as well, so we saw her and Uncle Russell too. We also got to pet all of Grandpa's horses, especially Captain, Aubrey's favorite.

We came home for a late supper, Aubrey played a while and went to bed - I'm going to do some reading and head that way myself before too long.

-A