Camping

Jim and I went camping near Red Feather this weekend. It took us a while to find a spot; where Jim wanted to go (and where there was a large pile of wood he'd helped cut the weekend before) was taken. We drove over several unpaved, rocky trails in his Toyota Camry (not exactly a "mountain" car) which made me pretty nervous. However, after about an hour or two of searching, we found the place we'd actually been 10 years ago, with Nick. I thought it was a great way to remember him...

Goodbye to an Amazing Man...

Final Salute

Nick remembered...

Goodbye.

Something Happy

I'm so blessed to still be friends with some of the people I shared my college experience with. Carrie and Amber are great ladies and I don't spend near as much time with them as I would like. We had dinner Friday night at Amber and Frank's house and I finally got to meet little Frank who was born on Feb. 18th. What a cutie!! We had stromboli's, salad and cheesecake, good conversation and a little Wii bowling.

I stayed at Carrie's house in Henderson Friday night. When I found out early Sat. morning what had happened with Nick, she and I shared the shock together, as she and Amber had also been friends with him. I always wish this kind of shock would stay with us forever, as a constant reminder to never take a single moment for granted. This will be the 4th funeral I've attended in 10 months; the 5th in just over a year and a half. Of those 5, at least 3 were before their "time."

Tell the people you love how you feel. Hug often and try not to hold grudges. Forgive the people who need forgiveness and move on. That's my two cents for the day... Wishing you all good health and happiness.

Update

For those of you who may not know why I'm posting so much about Nick, here's a little background. Nick was my first long term boyfriend. We dated for 3 years of my High School career and into my college years. We were even "engaged" for a time. I had a ring, but no formal arrangements were ever made. We lived together for the summer following my Freshman year at UNC before he decided to move back to Pueblo to attend the Police Academy. I was with him when he graduated.

While I loved him very much, I wasn't very good to him. I'm glad that he had found someone who treated him the way he deserved to be treated, who gave him children he loved, and who was able to make what time he had happy.

This has brought back a flood of memories for my "first" in almost everything... Someone so young, with such a promising future, shouldn't have to leave this life. As with so many untimely deaths, we'll never know why God took him at such a young age... My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Unbelievable...

Life is so short...

Live every day like it may be your last.

Baby Brandon

I met Brandon on his 3-week birthday! Jackie and Fred invited me to walk with them at the Riverwalk last Sat. night. Brandon slept the whole time. He's so incredibly adorable and tiny. Congrats Jackie and Fred on your precious new family!!

Doubly Special Day!

Sunday the 15th was not only Father's Day, but also my parent's 40th Anniversary. I'm so happy for them!! We celebrated by having lunch at Texas Roadhouse and hanging out at their house while the kids played in the pool. Very relaxing and nice!!

Sunset at the Drive In

The Mesa Drive-In opened for the season last weekend. My Mom, Sylvia and I saw Sex and the City, and What Happens in Vegas. They were both decent movies. When we went to turn the car on to leave at 2 in the morning, it didn't start. Dad had to come save us, and of course helped out another couple waiting for roadside assistance!

Breaking in the pool!

It's that time of year again. Dad put up the pool over the weekend and we had a cookout while the girls played in the water. They had a blast even though it was cold!!

Michelle Casey

I swear just yesterday my niece was 3 and dancing around the coffee table while I video recorded a documentary for my 9th grade Social Studies class. And now, not only have I been out of High School for 11 years, but she too has graduated from the same High School. The fact that time seems to disappear more and more quickly the older I get just never ceases to amaze me!

Michelle with Lily and Kassidy

She's in the middle!!

The Security Guard stole all the beach balls... :(

Another in the long line of Centennial High School Graduates from our family! I'm such a proud Auntie!!!