Bless This: Family

I have a love hate relationship with my daily commute to work.  I love listening to the morning radio shows and having my coffee.  It's a good way to think about my day and plan for work.  It's good to decompress on the way home so Olivia has my full attention.  I have good phone conversations to pass my time as well.  I also see the same green truck at least a couple times a week with the fake bullet hole stickers on it.  I laugh every time I pass it. See the "bullet holes" on the tailgate? The part I hate the most are the memories.  It's mostly on the way home.  I cry almost every day on the way home.  It may be for a minute or two or even longer.  I'm not sure why and sometimes I don't know why I'm even crying.  It's either a song that comes on the radio, passing by every landmark on the way home that reminds me of all the driving we did together, not having my usual after 5pm call to Patrick about dinner or just memories flooding my head.

Yesterday was a Phi Kappa Pi (Merriman House) tradition.  It was their Ultimate Frisbee tournament.  For quite some time, the boys and girls get teams and compete in a tournament.  For over 15 years, they have picked a family to raise money for.  This year, they picked the Patrick Blessing Memorial Fund.  Thank you to Tyler Shultz for organizing the event. http://www.ripon.edu/library/archives/exhibits/buildings/merriman.htm The shirt they made for the event. Last year, Patrick and his brothers attended what would be his last Ultimate.  He had so much fun and talked about it for days.  He just loved hanging out with his fraternity brothers...and as always...for a good cause. Patrick, Adam and Jim at Ultimate 2010. This year, I made meatballs for the boys.  That has been a Merriman tradition as well.  I got Olivia all bundled up and we headed for Ripon on Saturday  morning.   O all bundled up for the day. We met some alumni there as well. Sibleys, Leatherburys, Mathias

I'm following suit on 2 other blogs I read and talking about what I'm thankful for.  There have been so many bad things going on, that you have to be thankful for what you have. I am thankful for... My mom, dad and sister-in-law for watching Olivia during the week while I work. A warm and loving environment for Olivia to grown up in. Great friends...old and new. A car that's paid off (Patrick's that has plenty of miles on it) that I drive my 500 mile weekly commute. People in my life helping out with Patrick's memorial fund. Family and friends keeping Patrick's memory alive. Olivia. She keeps me on my toes, sleeps through the night, eats well and is happy 99% of the time. All of the presents and donated items for Olivia, so she has everything she needs. That Patrick knew he was going to be a daddy to a little girl and we got to decide on a name before he died. DVR. I don't have time to watch live TV anymore.  Doctors and Nurses at Froedtert and St