Our Life and Times!: December 2004

This one makes me cry every time!!!!

Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her home.
But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy today?" she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day."
"And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so."
"He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me how to fly a kite."
"We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone."
"Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart
I know because he told me, he's forever in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her sight.
Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far "
"You see he was a policeman and died just thirty six months this year
when the airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear."
"But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.
And to her mothers amazement, she witnessed with surprise
A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
an hour to appreciate them,
a day to love them,
but then an entire life to forget them.

2004

I just wanted to write down some things that happened in 2004 and how, in hopes, that 2005 will bring a new dawning into our Family's lives. The year started out like most, a party for New Years Eve, calls to Family and Friends at Midnight and a toast to the New Year. Stan's Mom had gone into the Hospital just after Christmas, so we all made a call and a said a prayer for her. We woke up New Years day to over 6 inches of snow! The cold and snow just blew in over night and left us with a blanket of snow to play in. It was hard, but we went up to see Betty as often as we could get up to the Hospital. The roads were so icy and the temp. Never got above 19 degrees for about a week. When the weather broke, we were able to go see Betty again in Portland, where she was going to have open heart surgery. That was January 9th. I remember that day very well. We all went to see Grandma Betty and when we were coming home, stan's stomach started hurting so bad that he was getting sick. We go from one hospital to another that night. Stan had another blockage and would have to stay in the hospital for the weekend. Betty in one end of town and Stan in the other. He ended up passing the blockage, but the doctors didn't want him to leave, but he forced them to do so and we left to go see Grandma Betty before her surgery the next day. I'm very glad we went that night to see her. She had surgery the next day and Betty never woke up. Her heart was too week to take to the pacemaker they tried to insert and her heart just stopped. She had many family members at the Hospital to say goodbye and to this day, we miss her very much. Stan went to Dallas Texas two weeks after the death of his mother and met her Idol of the crafting World. Carol Duval. As he was telling the story to her about his Mom, he had her in tears and one of her aids. He did get a picture taken with her and the long awaited autograph for his Mom.

All went well until the last day of the show in Texas, when Stan called me and said his stomach was hurting him again. He went to the hospital in Dallas and stayed for 3 days before he was good enough to fly. When he got home, Hailie and I met him at the airport, brought him home and took him back to the Hospital the next day, where he stayed for a couple more days. They put him on a no fiber diet and sent him on his way again. Just when we thought things were getting back to normal, one month later, Stan was back in the emergency room with his third blockage of the new year. They did more tests and restricted his diet even more. So far, with pain pills and rest, when he starts feeling like he is getting another blockage, we have been able to control it here at home and keep things under control.

On the labor day Weekend, Stans sister and her Partner came to town to celebrate Debi's Birthday. She was adopted when she was a baby and had never had a birthday party with any of her real brothers or sisters. They stayed for a few days and we all had a ball with a friend of there that they had brought. Her name was faye and she was kind of an adopted Mom to Stans sister. She was a firecracker! She was in bad health and in a home in Texas. A few weeks after her trip, Faye passed away in her sleep. We were told we all made her feel so welcome and she just loved this trip. We were all glad we could make her last days a little brighter.

It was about this time that I found I was going to have a knee replacement. I was getting ready for this when my Grandmother suffered another stroke. Thank God it was mild, but it did put a rather big scare into us. I did make fun of her joking that I was getting the attention and she couldn't take it and had to go to the Hospital in spite! Grams was in the Hospital for a few days and then sent home. She is doing very well now and just loves it when we come over for a visit. I call her most every night and when I forget, man, she can throw out the guilt!

Leslie Graduated with her class and her Grandparents and Aunt came all the way from Texas to see her walk with her class. She looked so happy, and so did we. One down and 2 more to go. Leslie went to some college classes so she could finish school early, and she did it! She was done with school in November of the past year. She is now working and trying to decide what to do for the rest of her life.

I had my surgery in July and it was a success! It was a lot of hard work getting the strength back and 3 months of therapy, but I am almost back! There is now very little pain in the knee, and with the help of injections in my spine, I hope to put off the second knee for a couple of years. It was a lot of hard work, but I am really seeing the payoff. Ashleigh drove me to the hospital 2 times a week for therapy and doctors visits. I ripped one sucher and this did set me back a couple of weeks, but it healed and things got better. Thanks also go out to Hailie for all her help and giving up the summer plans to help me out!

Ashleigh started her Junior Year in High school and almost made the honor roll this semester. Way to go Ash! She had a flurry of events going on this Christmas and was exited about being in the concert choir this year.

Hailie started a new grade also, 6th and went to a new school. Her activities never stop. Softball, volleyball, music, plays............... My gosh, seems we are always having to do something with her! That's just fine. She is very good at sports and we all just love watching her. Softball stars again in January, so ........... Here we go again!

Leslie went to Jamaica for her Graduation present to herself. She was gone close to three weeks. She had a great time and hopes to return someday! She also moved out on her own for the first time. She is working hard and seeing what options she has for someone with her talents. She is a go getter, so when she puts her mind to it, she will do it! Go get'em, Les.

Stan is doing very well at his job at Hot off the Press. Seems as if everyday they give him something new to do and he just excels that much more. He loves the people he works with and he just adores his new found talent of scrapbooking. He is always surfing the net looking for new ideas and products he can use on a page! His health is great now and he seems to have the stomach thing pretty well under control. He is the biggest help in my recovery, though. I much as I hated the pushing he gave me to walk, or even move, it was this I think that made me get up and realize I must get my life back. There is still days that I don't want to do much, but I know I have to push it. Thanks Stan, for your Bitcheness, and love in helping me on the road to recovery. Without you, who knows what I would be doing now. You have sacrificed the most over the last year and without it, I would never have received the attention I needed to get my life straitened out and back to wanting to work again. This has been the hardest year we have gone through in the eight years we have been together. You saw it through like a captain of a ship, sailing through each obstacle without blinking. I hope to repay you, someday. I hope the new year brings us the things we deserve. I know, I will be doing my best in making that wish come true.

In closing, I know there are things I didn't write about. We each remember things that happen in a different way and this is how I remember them. A whole year is hard to write about in such a short letter. I hope that each one of you remember back to 2004 and think of all the good that came out. Remember that the bad that happens will always prepare you for something bigger later on and I also hope that 2005 is better for everyone. Here's hopping that the troops over seas come home safe and that the world may be at peace once again. Happy New Year to all my friends and family and here's a toast to all YOUR dreams!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

From our Family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May all your hopes and dreams come true in the new year and hope everyone's health, family and wealth prosper in 2005. If I may say, 2004 was a very hard year for a lot of people. Here's a toast in hopes that the New Year brings us all together with happy times and and fond memories.

Lisa and little Samantha Lee getting ready to head home!

Geoff, Lisa and Samantha Lee Carpenter. I think the baby is going to be a little ham. Just llok at the face she's making!

This is my Brother geoff and the new baby, Samantha Lee, getting ready to go home after there 3 day stay at the Hospital. Gee....... does Geoff look happy or what??!!!!

I would like to take this time to introduce Samantha Lee Carpenter, my Brother and Sister in laws first child. She weighed 8 lbs 11 ozs and was 22 inches long! Lisa did a great job with little Sammy. As you can tell from the smile, I'm just a little bit proud!