Remembering a birthday

While I have 10 minutes without any kids, I wanted to write a quick update to say hello. Yesterday was Chris' birthday and we made it through with flying colors. Well, actually, the day started out on a somber note when I received an email letting me know that our little friend, Carter, who has been fighting brain cancer for over a year was taken off his ventilator and sent home to spend time with his family. Not the news I wanted to read. Please continue to pray for the Kettners and for Carter during this incredibly painful time in their lives.

The kids and I, along with Chris' parents and my dad, went to noon mass at St. Marys where a special intention was said for Chris. We then went to lunch at Pinecrest Country Club (where we held the luncheon after Chris' funeral) and to the cemetery with presents for Daddy. It was beautiful weather and that really seemed to help. Later that evening, we sang "happy birthday" and ate cookie cake with our good friends and neighbors, the Mangans. The day would not be complete without sending balloons to heaven. Our other good friends, the Taylors, started this tradition for us and brought the kids a huge bouquet of helium balloons to help celebrate Chris' life and all the fun memories we have of him. The kids each wrote a message on their balloons and then we released them into the sky. It was a nice way to end the day and remember how special Daddy will always be to us.

Now I am in prep mode for this weekend. Matthew will be receiving his First Communion on Saturday at 10AM. At our church, the parents present each child individually in front of the altar to receive communion. Grandpa Weier will stand up with Matthew and me. I am then having a few of our family and friends over for lunch at our house. Matt and I went to dress rehearsal tonight at church. It was good thing we practiced because Matt kept forgetting to say "Amen" after Fr. Duvall said "the body of Christ." I think he had at least five do-overs! He was getting frustrated and Father and I kept laughing. Please pray he is not too nervous on Saturday and remembers to say "Amen!"

Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for checking in on us. Take care, Betsy