Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Another Milestone

This weekend will be another milestone without my dad. Our annual Labor Day celebration at my mom and dad's pond. Some aunts and cousins and their kids all come to my mom's house and we eat and grill out and fish and just have one last "summer celebration". My dad would always love this get together. He was so proud of his pond, and was so happy to share it with people and love people enjoying it. I know he'll be looking down on us, but it's still not the same.

I

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Hips are good!

Macey had her tests done today, and everything is good. They tried doing the ultrasound, but couldn't see enough. They said the older babies get, the harder it is to see on ultrasound. So they brought her in for x-rays instead. She did so amazing, acted like such a big girl. She didn't cry once! She would kick her legs once in awhile in irritation, but other than that she was perfect. I couldn't believe it. And we are so happy to know that everything is fine!!!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Hip Ultrasound

Tomorrow we are going in to get an ultrasound of Macey's hips. At her 9 month old well baby check last week, the doctor noticed one of her skin folds on her one leg is much bigger than the other. He said it can be an indication that her hip is not forming properly. She did have a click right after she was born in her hip, but went away by her first pediatrician appointment. I hope that everything is okay. I have been watching her leg and how she holds it since her appointment, and it seems okay to me. It doesn't seem out of place or anything. Let's hope everything is okay, and we get the results rather quickly.

Friday, August 20, 2010

So Blessed

I am so blessed with so many good friends and family. I always knew it, but yesterday on my birthday I was truly blown away by all of the texts and messages saying happy birthday. I also recieved so many special gifts! I always knew that the best gifts come from the heart, but was reminded of it yesterday. Like my husband bringing me home a six pack of Guiness beer, a birthday cake, and grilling me steak. Or McKenna saying "happy birthday mommy" as she wiped the sleep from her eyes in the morning. Or spending the day shopping with my mom. My friends from work bought me a gift certificate for the yoga classes I love. I am so thankful for all of the friends and family who make life worth living! My 30's are going to be great!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Another Milestone

Another milestone is here without my dad. My first birthday without him. My 30th birthday. I have to admit, I miss my dad calling me and singing happy birthday to me. I have tears in my eyes as I remember his voice singing every year.

I know my dad is smiling down on me today. Even though he is not here to personally wish me happy birthday, I have to believe he is in heaven looking down and is going to give me an awesome day.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Lasting Impressions

It was this time last year that my dad got the news that Wired Outdoors was going to come and hunt on his property with my dad. He was beyond excited. It was the best hunt of his life. He was so proud. My mom sat praying for geese, knowing it may be his last hunt.

My mom recieved an e-mail from Larry at Smart Sticks, who was part of the hunt. He sent a message to all of his hunting buddies, saying:

Hi All,

Getting Ready. It's once again that time of year filled with great
anticipation. The time just before Fall, and hunting, and reunions with
hunting partners. Exactly at this time last year 8 hunters were getting
ready to hunt with Ron Maass. This year as we get ready to hunt, our
friend Ron is in Heaven.
The attached Word encourages us to Be Ready as we will indeed see
Ron again.
Fall is my favorite season!

Looking Forward,

Larry


The words he had attached were these:

Be Ready Luke 12:32-40 (NRSV)

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

It makes me happy to know that he made such an impression on these folks, that after only hunting with him one time, they constantly remember him. I wrote back to Larry and thanked him for remembering my dad, and letting him know how much the hunt meant to my dad. He responded back with some photos, and this story:

It was indeed an honor to have shared this earth for a few hours with your Dad. Kindred spirits.

Will keep you guys updated as the PA team will be here 9-12 Sept this year to capture a little more WI goose footage. Their goal is to produce a complete episode of goose hunting including a highlight of our hunt with Ron.
Time will tell.

During our hunt: Since the blind was full, Your Dad and Eric Olsen stood in the cattails at the N end of the pond. A small group of geese went past and the blind and not shooting real well, we got all but one goose that escaped to the North. Ron promptly dumped that goose and instantly there were audible cheers of "All Right" (both for his good shot and that he helped take the whole flock). Later, Ron told me privately, "You know Larry, that cheer out there, that was the best part of the whole hunt for me". That still makes me happy.






It makes me happy too. I know my dad's heaven consists of a big pond, endless fields, and an unlimited amount of geese.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Cheese

This morning I was slicing a few pieces of cheese for McKenna, and it made me think of my dad. It made me remember the time he came to my apartment to watch a Packer game. I had some cheese and sausage out. My dad was harrasing me about how thick my cheese was sliced, and what an awful job I did. That Christmas my dad bought me a cheese cutter as a gift. I still have it and use it.

This is another example of how the simplest things remind me of my dad. On a daily basis I think of him at least ten times. I know its because he shaped me to be the person I am today. But I also think its because I have so many fond memories of him for 29 years, that everything in life is going to remind me of my dad. And because all I have left are memories...I think it's a good thing. Even if it is something as simple as cheese.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Missing you dad

I miss you so much dad....
so much that sometimes I feel like I can't breathe.
Everything in this world reminds me of you in some way or another...
every smell, every taste, any song, everything that I see provokes some memory of you.
It seems like so long ago since I saw you....
but really it has only been 6 months.
I think the longer it is...
the harder it gets.
I can't imagine never seeing you again in this lifetime...
the thought is still unfathomable to me.
I miss you so much dad...

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The Shelf

This past weekend my grandparents had to move into an assisted living facility. They really should have moved there long ago, but they are quite stubborn and set in their ways. They've wanted to remain in the only place that they knew as home.

My mom helped move them. My aunt was telling my mom how my grandma did not want to take a shelf that has all of her angels displayed, instead she went to the attic and dug out an older smaller shelf. My aunt couldn't understand why she would want this smaller shelf, especially since all of the angels wouldn't fit on there.

When my mom was helping my aunt unpack, she came across the small shelf my grandma was so insistent on bringing. Here it was the first shelf my dad ever made and gave to her. My grandma thought this shelf was perfect and beautiful, even with all of it's imperfections of being small and uneven. This was the shelf she wanted and holds so much sentimental value to her.

My mom and aunt placed the shelf over my grandparent's bed, with some of the angels displayed, and of course my dad's picture. I can't imagine how they must feel outliving a son. I am sure they miss him as much as I do. I just think it is very touching that my grandma remembered that shelf and wanted it along on their new journey to their new place.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Nicole's Favorite Things

www.taaz.com

This is a fun website where you can give yourself a makeover, using real products and colors that exist. You can change your eye color, eyeshadow, lip color, plump your lips...you can just about do anything. You can also make yourself over according to different celebritie's styles. This website is lots of fun!!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Nicole's Favorite Things

Flip Video - UltraHD Camcorder

I am not a gadgety or electronics kind of girl, but this camcorder is one of my favorite things. It is small enough to carry in my purse or diaper bag whenever I go somewhere. It is also easy to shoot, you just turn it on, and with a push of a button you can record with only one hand. It is also great because you don't need to worry about having blank video tapes on hand. You just plug it into your computer via the USB port, and upload your videos. You can save them, upload them to your favorite site (I use youtube), or you can burn them to dvd's. The software that it comes with makes it very easy. You can also combine all your small one minute movies, into a longer video. It is also great because it makes sharing your videos on blogs and Facebook so easy. It is also very reasonably priced at $199.00.

Product Features
Weighs only 6 ounces
Simple user interface - Features one-touch recording and digital zoom
Large 2" antiglare color LCD screen
Holds up to 2 hours of HD-quality video
On 8GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required
Convenient flip-out USB arm
Plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare software
Rechargeable battery - Recharges through built-in USB arm while you're plugged into your computer. Supports the use of 2 AA batteries for additional power options
Captures HD 720p H.264 video
Compatible with Windows Media Player, QuickTime and iTunes
Watch videos instantly on TV
Instant playback -Pause, fast forward, rewind, zoom and delete functions