January 2009

As I write this entry, I am struck by how the most poignant memories often do not have a picture to go with them. Even without a picture, this memory is crystal clear.. the emotions, as well as the events, are sharp with distinction in my mind.

It was January 1, April, Tasha, and I were up in my closet looking for an outfit when Tash received a call from her mom. Beppe Laura had just been out for Christmas. She had only been back in Washington for a few days... we all just assumed that she was checking in. See, she had been in some pain. Her neck was really bothering her.. she thought she had a pinched nerve.

Tasha took the call and walked out of the closet and sat in the rocking chair in my bedroom to nurse Avery while she chatted. April and I continued prattling on when we heard something catch in Tasha's voice. We looked at one another for half a beat.. confirming that the other was concerned too: it wasn't just our independent imaginations.. and then we rushed out of the closet and knelt by Tasha. She was already.. in those few short moments.. clearly gripped with an intense emotion. I started praying immediately, April ran to get her brother-in-law.

Its funny how mourning occurs.. it can be immediate and overwhelming or slow and in the throat. Over the next few months, we were to feel the gambit of this emotion.

After Tasha's conversation with her Mom and some private prayer time with her husband, we learned what had happened. Beppe Laura's pain had gotten so severe that she finally went to the ER. There she discovered that she had an advanced stage of cancer. The prognosis was to change rapidly over six months.. but that morning bore the bluntness, the heaviness, the shock the most. There is nothing to show for it.. nothing to note that day over any other day, just the memory and this entry.

2009 had just changed. All the promise it held was dampened. Within eight hours of its start we knew it too was going to have its challenges.. its grief.

It was completely understandable that Tasha and Ryan wished to return to their home as soon as they could. They had a lot to examine and discuss. They left shortly after receiving this news.

The funny thing about grief is that small children are oblivious. They are still happy and desiring of fun, loving, attention. Here Gma Rissa stepped in to liven things up with Dad!

G-Papa and Papa Reid play Gin-Rummy... G-Papa's favorite!

Because he always wins! Doesn't he look pleased with himself?!

Ryan wanted to play with his new knight costume.. and Papa Reid was able to help him navigate the confusing attire..
Ryleigh enjoyed Ryan Michael's knightly show!

But Ryan eventually took is show to the streets with Hayden. They battled and played as knights of San Tan Court! Thankfully, neither were hurt by these toys....

...but that didnt keep them from playing doctor. Here Dr. Hayden saves Ryan from his injuries. They took their play very seriously... after killing the bad guys, they would then heal them and tend to their wounds. Such knightly doctors.

The rest of the month was a blur of fun activities with our friends.

We went to the bounce houses.. here is a great picture of Ryan with Kate and Collin.

The next week that same group of kids had full reign of a huge play ground... but they, once again, choose to pile on top of one another under the jungle gym! Crazy friends!!

Ryan also had a blast with our Life Group when we gathered to pray over the new year together. Ryan, Kyle and Landon had a wonderful time in the Boyer backyard!

We also had some wonderful Feniger time.. Here is Cassidy holding her baby cousin while Ryan pauses a few moments to pose for this picture before resuming his fight for her attention.

He finally wins her undivided attention when he tapped into her interest in gymnastics. Here Cassidy does a cartwheel ....

... and Ryan does a cartwheel. He was in heaven playing with his favorite Cassidy. He cried when it was time for her to go.

Another fun January feat was Ryan conquering his fear of the swing. This only occurred when his Dad taught him how it worked first. Now he cant seem to get enough of this fun toy.

While Ryan was learning fun new tricks, Ryleigh was enjoying meeting her community. Here she is talking with Stellar in the Life Quest Nursery. She had a blast learning and discovering all she can do.

My little girl has such a happy disposition!

Ryan and Ryleigh also spent much of the month bonding too!

Umm.. I think I need to put a disclaimer here...

No baby was hurt in the giving of this kiss!

I promise :)

See? What did I tell ya? She is just as happy as she can be in her bro's arms! .. For now...

hmm.. but he does have a mischievous look at his face, doesn't he?

So much fun was bound to take a toll on such a little body. Mesmorized and exhausted, Ryan barely stands; held up by some invisible string, dangled from the TV in the grocery store's kid section.

I think he could have fallen asleep in that position! Come on Ry-ry... wake up! Stay with us!

Thankfully, Ryan is blessed with a Pop-Pop who will calm him, snuggle him, and read to him for as long as he needs. He has a special Grandpa!

But Ryan wasnt the only one who had some fun activities this month! After months of discussing the idea, Kim Nolde finally got her Couple's Game Night Monthly Rotation off the ground.

We gathered at the Nolde's house for Survivor Night! We had a wild time.. it was fun and silly.

... and of course, I had my monthly Bunco Night too... Ryleigh still was acting as my date! Here she is in matching all the ladies for White and Black Bunco at the Kings! What a good looking group of friends ;)

But the reality of Tasha's situation came to bear again by the end of the month. Within just a few short weeks of Beppe Laura's diagnosis her health took an unexpected turn to the worse. Tasha was called up to Washington ASAP by her worried grandparents. Mike, Papa Reid, Gma Rissa, the kids and I all went to Tucson to help with one of their bigger projects while Tasha got ready to leave.

Ryan and Tasha had an interesting opportunity to move occur during January. The house across the street from Tasha's Aunt Nancy and Uncle Cal was for sale. They could buy the property if they could get it up to code for the banks by the end of the month. No pressure. But with all the outside stress, (brand new baby, sick mom in Washington, Ryan's new promotions and added responsibilities at the guard and at work...) they needed help to get the work done in a timely fashion. So we all ended up at Nanc and Cal's for a few days as the guys did sheet-rock work and the gals helped with meals and children and support!

Here is Tasha at her Aunt and Uncle's before she left for Washington. Interestingly, it was always a dream of hers to live in their amazing neighborhood. For the ten years I've known her, this was her dream area of Tucson... everything was compared to it. This possibility was so exciting for her!

Here are the boys playing on Nancy's piano together.

This neighborhood would be the ideal place for Ryan too.. rather than driving over 40 minutes to get to work, with this new place, he would only be five miles from work. He would gain two extra hours with his family everyday. This would be an amazing answer to prayer for him.

Here, Gma-Rissa takes a break in the Baker's backyard with her grand-kids. She got to bond with Ryleigh on the picnic blanket while Roderick tells her a story.

This move would be a blessing for me too.. in that I love the Bakers and would love to see them more often than I do.. Although I wasnt happy to have another hour tacked on to my trips to visit them, the silver lining would be having some Baker-Time!

So I guess it would be all-good. :)