Bless This: Family

I know I know.  It's been 5 months since my last post.   I promise to do another one this week while I'm on vacation and catch you up on the summer and fall.  But for now, I will tell you all about our Christmas vacation. Much to everyone not wanting me to drive to PA by myself with Olivia, I did it.  Proud that I made it there and back without having a breakdown.  I really wished Patrick could be on this trip with us.  He loved going to PA and loved being with family.  He was greatly missed on this trip, as he is every day. Olivia and I left Fond du Lac on Saturday, December 21st in the morning and drove to Toledo, OH.  We stopped in Lake Forrest, IL for lunch and another break in OH.  We unfortunately had bad rain in IL, IN and until we stopped in OH.  It was hard to see, especially when there are tons of semis on the main highway.  Then it started getting dark out.  By then I wanted to check into a hotel, but there ...

Dear Patrick,       It has been 1,096 days since you left us.  In some ways it seems like a life time ago and other days it seems just like yesterday.  A lot has  happened in 3 years.  Olivia was born and is growing into a beautiful girl. Our friends have gotten married and had kids.  New songs have come out that you would have loved.  I've been to Pearl Jam concerts.  You've missed our Sunday night dinners with family.  You've missed our celebrations and holidays.  We have a new house and a different car.  I gave your car to someone who needed it.  You've missed 3 birthdays.  So many other things.  But most of all, you've been missed as a dad, husband, brother, son, son-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew, cousin and friend.       My life was forever changed at 12:40 a.m. on July 22nd, 2010.  Watching the heart surgeon make his way into the waiting room.  I knew....