This is the current condition of the street in LaValle, Wisconsin where we attend the parade with Rod's parents every year. Just one more reason not to go this year.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
LaValle Parade
This is the current condition of the street in LaValle, Wisconsin where we attend the parade with Rod's parents every year. Just one more reason not to go this year.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Pure brilliance?
In purchasing Father's Day cards the other day, I thought I would attempt to avoid an emotional breakdown in the card shop. Last year, being the first year without my paternal grandpa, I began to weep in the store as I habitually pulled out two Father's Day cards for my grandpas. This year I would not have a replay of that scenario. I went into the store, purchased the cards for Rod and left. I was quite proud of myself for avoiding the potentail tears. As I was doing more shopping, I realized that although I avoided being overwhelmed with my emotions, I also avoided purchasing a card for my grandpa who is still alive. Pure brilliance? Almost. Thankfully, cards can be purchased just about anywhere.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
She's In
We received the acceptance letter yesterday that Nikelle will be attending Eisenhower Academy next year. She is excited as one of her friends from Kindergarten was accepted there as well. It's a good feeling to know what the plan is for the fall... at least on that subject. It'll be an adjustment having her in school all day. Just one more reminder as to how much she's growing up!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Growing Up
Lately, Nikelle has been growing out of her clothes and shoes. She is getting so tall. Along with her physical growth, she is becoming very independent and knowlegeable. I like to joke with her that I'm going to shrink her so that she stays little forever. She tells me to go ahead and try. I place my hands on the top of her head and attempt to push down and shrink her. With a big smile across her face, she contently and confidently states, "It didn't work, Mommy." Every now and then, I still attempt to shrink her as she continues to beem with pride that she is growing up.
Yesterday morning, I was reminded of just how much our little girl is growing up. She woke up and came downstairs. I, very appropriately, was sitting on the Lazy Boy. Afterall, I didn't feel like doing much of anything. Nikelle began to pick up toys without being asked. I was watching curiously as her eyes caught mine. "I've decided to clean up the family room," she stated. As this was the first time I've ever seen her take on this kind of responsibility, I knew she needed some words of affirmation. "That's very responsible and grown up of you, Nikelle," I said attempting to encourage her.
No longer could I justify remaining in lazy mode, so I got up to unload the dishwasher. Asking her if she wantd to help (at the same time I made certain their were no knives in with the silverware), she assisted in returning all the dishes and silverware to their appropriate places. "Thank you for helping, Nike. Unloading the dishes went very fast with your help."
(I'm attempting to be careful with the words I choose due to the book I am reading by Kevin Leman that I've mentioned previously entitled "How to make children mind without losing yours". He states that children should be encouraged to be helpful because they are part of the family and this is what families do. He is not much for the rewards system or authoritarian parenting. I'm finding that Nikelle responds very well to the encouragement he refers to. I'm not in 100% agreement with everything he has to say, but overall, this book has been very helpful in parenting my girls.)
As I thought about some friends of ours whose kids I've watched empty the dishwasher, clear the table, and do other responsibilities that come with being part of a family, Nikelle interrupted my thoughts with a question. "Can I have a wet rag to wash the table?" she asked. I handed her the rag and went back to my thoughts. These friends have children who are very responsible and therefore, I've always considered their example when it comes to raising my own kids. I wonder what other advice I could gleam from them?
As we headed out the door, the house was a little cleaner than normal. My almost 6-year-old inspired me to get things cleaned before we left the house. It's a satisfying feeling to know your child is taking responsibility and growing up. Afterall, when a child is growing, it's a healthy child. I'm so grateful for the two healthy children God has given us and I need to focus more on helping them grow up as that is what I'm called to do.
Yesterday morning, I was reminded of just how much our little girl is growing up. She woke up and came downstairs. I, very appropriately, was sitting on the Lazy Boy. Afterall, I didn't feel like doing much of anything. Nikelle began to pick up toys without being asked. I was watching curiously as her eyes caught mine. "I've decided to clean up the family room," she stated. As this was the first time I've ever seen her take on this kind of responsibility, I knew she needed some words of affirmation. "That's very responsible and grown up of you, Nikelle," I said attempting to encourage her.
No longer could I justify remaining in lazy mode, so I got up to unload the dishwasher. Asking her if she wantd to help (at the same time I made certain their were no knives in with the silverware), she assisted in returning all the dishes and silverware to their appropriate places. "Thank you for helping, Nike. Unloading the dishes went very fast with your help."
(I'm attempting to be careful with the words I choose due to the book I am reading by Kevin Leman that I've mentioned previously entitled "How to make children mind without losing yours". He states that children should be encouraged to be helpful because they are part of the family and this is what families do. He is not much for the rewards system or authoritarian parenting. I'm finding that Nikelle responds very well to the encouragement he refers to. I'm not in 100% agreement with everything he has to say, but overall, this book has been very helpful in parenting my girls.)
As I thought about some friends of ours whose kids I've watched empty the dishwasher, clear the table, and do other responsibilities that come with being part of a family, Nikelle interrupted my thoughts with a question. "Can I have a wet rag to wash the table?" she asked. I handed her the rag and went back to my thoughts. These friends have children who are very responsible and therefore, I've always considered their example when it comes to raising my own kids. I wonder what other advice I could gleam from them?
As we headed out the door, the house was a little cleaner than normal. My almost 6-year-old inspired me to get things cleaned before we left the house. It's a satisfying feeling to know your child is taking responsibility and growing up. Afterall, when a child is growing, it's a healthy child. I'm so grateful for the two healthy children God has given us and I need to focus more on helping them grow up as that is what I'm called to do.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Remembering Dad Carlson
This is what I had to say about my father-in-law:
Just about 12 years ago, I married into this family. I was welcomed warmly and given the freedom to refer to my in-laws with whatever title I felt comfortable. Using “Rod and Joy” to refer to them just seemed inappropriate because of the way I was raised. “Mr. and Mrs. Carlson” seemed too informal. Still, the words “Mom and Dad,” were difficult to say because those titles were reserved for my own parents. Over the years, however, I grew quite comfortable with referring to my husband’s parents as “Mom and Dad”.
When I think of Dad Carlson, I think of eating pizza together at the kitchen table. We would often go over there on Wednesday nights or every so often on the weekends and order pizza together.
Wisconsin will always remind me of Dad as well. Every year, we enjoyed the tradition of visiting New Glarus and LaValle along with the Dells. It always seemed to be the highlight of the year for Dad and Roddy. Although attending a small town parade and doing quite a bit of driving took some years for me to appreciate this tradition, it is now one of the dearest memories I hold. My heart is warmed with memories when I think of him holding Nikelle in his lap and making her feel safe as the sirens cleared the parade or picturing their hands interlocking as we walked to the restaurant. I remember how he sat with Jaycie as she napped so the rest of us could mini-golf and how insistent he was as we’d head to the Dells that we couldn’t forget to have the Old Time Photo taken.
The card game of spades will always be associated with Dad as well. We would make sure to reserve the adjoining rooms in the hotel so that we could put the girls to bed in one room and play cards in the other. We would snack and play until a winner was declared despite our better knowledge to stop the game and get some sleep. (I shared Dad’s early to bed; early to rise philosophy of life.)
I think the dearest memory for me will be from that of the title he gained almost 6 years ago as “Grandpa”. Nothing could brighten his day like Nike and Jaycie did.
The memory from this last time he came home from the hospital is etched into my mind. We brought him home to keep him comfortable expecting him to leave us very shortly. Never did I dream I’d ever walk into that front door again and hear his smiling voice welcome us with “Hi, Nike. Hi, Jaycie” the way I did the following day. As I watched him hold out his hand for theirs, we were given a miracle to cherish forever.
As we look through pictures and are reminded of his failing health, we are also reminded of how nothing could get in the way of his time with the girls – not even Leukemia. Hugs and kisses were always abundant and there was always a welcome place in his lap, as he’d say to the girls, “Come and sit with Grandpa.” Despite his terrible back pain, he would still find strength to go to the front door and hug the girls goodbye. All the way to the end, he mustered time and energy for these little girls. He only wished that he could live to see this next grandchild as well.
It’s our privilege to keep his memory alive. Be it while we cheer for the Cubs or the Illini; while we eat Pizza King or make a visit to the Dells; or when we color and read to the girls. All the while we will remind our kids of how very much Grandpa enjoyed doing things with them and how he was filled with love and pride for his grandchildren.
Dad was always the one capturing the memories with his camera in hand. Now we cling to these memories of a man who loved life and family. He lived an example of appreciation for life. We didn’t often hear him complain. Even in the end, he told me he was content being right there at home in the bed surrounded by family. “I’m fine just like this,” he told me in those final days of blessing we were given with him.
He never gave up. From buying a piano just months ago so he could learn to play it; to working on the house until this disease forced him to stop; even bringing himself to drink juice from a straw just hours before he left this world – he fought.
We will honor his life by appreciating what we have of ours. We’ll remember the example of a life without complaints. A legacy of a life filled with love for his family is what he’s left us to hold so dear. And we won’t give up.
We are told to encourage each other with words found in the Bible in the book of 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 4, verses 16 and 17. They say “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
I am forever grateful for the years I was given the honor of calling Roderick L. Carlson: “Dad”. So, we say “So long for now…” and I long so much more for heaven where the Dad who raised me and the Dad who welcomed me so warmly 12 years ago are both there with Jesus even as we speak.
Just about 12 years ago, I married into this family. I was welcomed warmly and given the freedom to refer to my in-laws with whatever title I felt comfortable. Using “Rod and Joy” to refer to them just seemed inappropriate because of the way I was raised. “Mr. and Mrs. Carlson” seemed too informal. Still, the words “Mom and Dad,” were difficult to say because those titles were reserved for my own parents. Over the years, however, I grew quite comfortable with referring to my husband’s parents as “Mom and Dad”.
When I think of Dad Carlson, I think of eating pizza together at the kitchen table. We would often go over there on Wednesday nights or every so often on the weekends and order pizza together.
Wisconsin will always remind me of Dad as well. Every year, we enjoyed the tradition of visiting New Glarus and LaValle along with the Dells. It always seemed to be the highlight of the year for Dad and Roddy. Although attending a small town parade and doing quite a bit of driving took some years for me to appreciate this tradition, it is now one of the dearest memories I hold. My heart is warmed with memories when I think of him holding Nikelle in his lap and making her feel safe as the sirens cleared the parade or picturing their hands interlocking as we walked to the restaurant. I remember how he sat with Jaycie as she napped so the rest of us could mini-golf and how insistent he was as we’d head to the Dells that we couldn’t forget to have the Old Time Photo taken.
The card game of spades will always be associated with Dad as well. We would make sure to reserve the adjoining rooms in the hotel so that we could put the girls to bed in one room and play cards in the other. We would snack and play until a winner was declared despite our better knowledge to stop the game and get some sleep. (I shared Dad’s early to bed; early to rise philosophy of life.)
I think the dearest memory for me will be from that of the title he gained almost 6 years ago as “Grandpa”. Nothing could brighten his day like Nike and Jaycie did.
The memory from this last time he came home from the hospital is etched into my mind. We brought him home to keep him comfortable expecting him to leave us very shortly. Never did I dream I’d ever walk into that front door again and hear his smiling voice welcome us with “Hi, Nike. Hi, Jaycie” the way I did the following day. As I watched him hold out his hand for theirs, we were given a miracle to cherish forever.
As we look through pictures and are reminded of his failing health, we are also reminded of how nothing could get in the way of his time with the girls – not even Leukemia. Hugs and kisses were always abundant and there was always a welcome place in his lap, as he’d say to the girls, “Come and sit with Grandpa.” Despite his terrible back pain, he would still find strength to go to the front door and hug the girls goodbye. All the way to the end, he mustered time and energy for these little girls. He only wished that he could live to see this next grandchild as well.
It’s our privilege to keep his memory alive. Be it while we cheer for the Cubs or the Illini; while we eat Pizza King or make a visit to the Dells; or when we color and read to the girls. All the while we will remind our kids of how very much Grandpa enjoyed doing things with them and how he was filled with love and pride for his grandchildren.
Dad was always the one capturing the memories with his camera in hand. Now we cling to these memories of a man who loved life and family. He lived an example of appreciation for life. We didn’t often hear him complain. Even in the end, he told me he was content being right there at home in the bed surrounded by family. “I’m fine just like this,” he told me in those final days of blessing we were given with him.
He never gave up. From buying a piano just months ago so he could learn to play it; to working on the house until this disease forced him to stop; even bringing himself to drink juice from a straw just hours before he left this world – he fought.
We will honor his life by appreciating what we have of ours. We’ll remember the example of a life without complaints. A legacy of a life filled with love for his family is what he’s left us to hold so dear. And we won’t give up.
We are told to encourage each other with words found in the Bible in the book of 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 4, verses 16 and 17. They say “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
I am forever grateful for the years I was given the honor of calling Roderick L. Carlson: “Dad”. So, we say “So long for now…” and I long so much more for heaven where the Dad who raised me and the Dad who welcomed me so warmly 12 years ago are both there with Jesus even as we speak.
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