Lonely

I am missing having a best friend nearby.  I have 2 very amazing best friends who are very dear to me, the problem is they are over 2000 miles away.  Yes I know there are phones, email and other avenues of communication.  However sometimes it would be nice to sit down with a friend face to face, someone who knows all the ins and outs of your everyday life.  So if you say "remember Joe from work?", they would say "Oh heavens yes, what has he done now?", and then you can go into the story without a lot of back story.  You can also reciprocate and ask "What about Fred at your work, is he still on his wearing all orange kick?", and the conversation would go on and on, and switch topics a hundred different times.  That is one of the hardest parts about moving away from home. 

A lot of my favorite people from work have left recently so I have lost that bit of friendship too.  People always say we will still be friends, but very few really do.  I am hoping to make a very good friend out here who I can be there for and have them around for me.  I am not looking for a one sided friendship, I would be happy to be a good friend to someone too.

Those of you reading this back home, don't read too much into this post, promise I am not depressed, just yearning :-)

Messages

Yesterday I have to admit I didn't want to go to church.  I got up and went anyway, because sometimes you just have to.  Well when the pastor was speaking, it felt like he wrote the sermon for me personally.  Even Chris noticed that it was very relevant to my life, and something I needed to hear.  The only question now, is how to put into action those words of wisdom.  It looks like I may have some changes coming up in my life.  I will keep everyone posted as things develop.

First Day of 1st & 5th grade

It is amazing that I have a 5th grader and a 1st grader.  Time really does not stop no matter how we feel about it.  Cara said her day was awesome, and her teacher told her she liked her outfit.  Big praise to Cara.  Allan said his day went really fast, and didn't feel like it should be over yet.  Good signs for sure.  We all had homework tonight, but somehow I ended up with the most :-)  I am happy school is back in session, but missing last year a little.  It was so amazing with the teachers we had and the experiences.  Of course this year is going to be great too, I am sure, I just really loved last year.  I took the day off today so that I could drop off the kids and pick them up.  I love it!  Of course I am melancholy now knowing that tomorrow it is back to reality, and getting them up at 5 so we can be to work by 7.  Then working late so we have hardly any time together before bed.  There are good and bad points to the schedule that I work, but I am still that stay at home mom wannabe.  That will probably never fully go away.  Hopefully the teachers we have this year will let me volunteer like last year's teachers did, because it takes some of the ache away from my heart.

My camera has breathed its final breath.  Unfortunately I am without one for now.  We took the 1st day of school pictures with Chris' phone, which is a nice back up in a pinch but not a good permanent solution.  I am a huge photography buff, so being without a camera is awful!  Hopefully we can get a new one before the holidays, because I am sure there will be pictures that need to be taken of Allan & Cara.  Stuff to show the people back home and just to preserve the memories that are so quickly gone.

I hope everyone had a good first day that started today, and if you are lucky enough to still be on summer vacation, Enjoy It!

A little special love in this post goes out to my friend JAM, who is having a hard time right now.  Peace and love for you my friend.

Lazy lazy me

Oops, I didn't follow through on posting last week.  Not my plan at all to tell an untruth to you.  I am amazed at how busy life can be, even with the kids out of school.  Seems I am always tired and trying to catch up with myself.  Bear with me, I really am back.  I will be a little busy over the next few days helping my boys get ready for their trip back to Michigan next week.  I think of you always and promise to write soon!!

Anyone still out there?

After my 3 month hiatus (love that word, mostly because it is funny to me), I am back.  I will be blogging again about what comes to mind.  Even during the time I wasn't writing on here, my mind was composing so many posts to share.  I will be visiting those ideas, and any others that pop in to my head that are worth sharing.  Pictures of the kids will be popping up from time to time too.  I will do my first major post tomorrow, just wanted to let everyone know that I am back :-)

Life in Pictures

Today I am going to do another picture post.  I am still not quite ready to get back to blogging regularly, it may take me a little while to be there.  So to keep my followers at least a little interested I am going to add pictures of my babies and our life.

Allan and Cara

Birthday Present Madness

Blowing out candles

Cake from the "sky cam"

Getting ready to watch Allan play

Excited for basketball

Goofing around in Mickey Ears

 I hope you enjoy the smattering of pictures.  The picture of the cake is for you Grandpa Vic & Aunt Amy!

Andi

In Mourning

This week I am sad, and heartbroken.  My beloved grandfather died on Monday.  I have spent the week back and forth between crying and sharing beautiful memories about him with my husband.  Chris listened as I talked and held me as I cried.  I am a lucky girl in many ways, and thank God for his blessing.

Dear Grandpa Bozzo,
   You are one of the most amazing men I have ever been blessed to know.  As a child you were larger than life to me and your home was a place I always wanted to go.  You would answer the door, grab my hand and twirl me around as if we were on a ballroom dance floor.  I knew there would be treats that you got specifically for me, molasses cookies from Quality Dairy because you knew that I loved them.  You put up with us always wanting to make chocolate malts, and ate your fair share as a good sport.  On overnight stays, I knew there would be popcorn as a late night treat.  As a surprise, I remember the time you bought multi-colored popcorn because you knew it would be a fun treat for your grandkids.  Every time we spent the night, you let us make pancakes with Grandma and ate them each time.
     When I wanted to play the flute, you got me a flute and picked me up every other Tuesday to take me to your home for a lesson with a neighbor who you knew could teach me.  You put up with the beginning lessons when I probably wasn't very good, and the noise that came along with that.  I enjoyed that I was the only guest to those dinners.  It was my special time to enjoy my grandparents company and love all by myself.  When I had a hard time in life I knew that your house was a safe haven that would protect me from any and all storms.  During my sophomore year in high school I got to stay with you over my whole spring break.  We would have good talks every morning as you drove me to school, and when you picked me up.  Sometimes we would drop Grandma off at the hospital on our way.
     In 1997 we lost Grandma 13 days before I married the love of my life.  You were so strong you still came to my wedding.  I know it was so hard and hurt you, but you loved me so much you put that aside and came to be there on my very important day.  You told me you loved me and wished you could dance with me, but it was too soon.  I will always treasure all of the dancing we did when I was young, and the fact that you came to my wedding that day, as sad as you must have been.  You accepted Chris with all of your heart, and he enjoyed the talks you would have.  He enjoyed getting to know you and thinks so much of you.
     In 2000 I had my first child, a beautiful son Allan.  You loved him right away.  I have pictures of you holding him and the love in your eyes is obvious to anyone looking.
    In 2003 Cara joined our family and has the distinction of having Ann-Marie as her middle name after our beloved Grandma, and your beloved wife.  You had another great-grandchild to love, and you really did.
    In 2006 my small family moved away to Arizona.  Distance did nothing but make me love you more.  I always thought of you, asked Dad about you, and made sure to see you the few times I was able to make it home.  In November of 2008, we had a wonderful dinner at Olive Garden and I treasure that last picture that I had taken of us together.  You look so happy and the smile on my face couldn't have been bigger.
    For the rest of my life I will be thankful every day that I was blessed enough to have you as long as I did.  Of course I wanted you longer and was looking forward to seeing you in July.  I am sad that won't happen, but I know you are happy to be reunited with Grandma in heaven.
    One thing many people don't know is that you and Grandma gave me the nickname Andi.  Ever since I was little you both have called me that.  Before it was something my friends thought was cute, it belonged to you.  Thank you for loving me and showing me in so many ways for my whole life.  I pray that I am able to show others my love for them as you always did for me.

I will miss you and love you forever Grandpa Bozzo
Andi