Pictures I will always cherished

The entire Lefeber family including my Mom, three siblings my Dad had with my Mom and their families, my step mother, Ruth and my two siblings with her.

My children, grandchildren and my Dad

Without going into all the details it is safe to say that my family has some estrangement in it.  One of my sisters and I have not been in each other's lives for about eight years or so.  It has been hard on everyone in the family to say the least - my brothers, my Mom, my Dad.  My Dad's illness only intensified all the feelings.  For me it brought to reality that I would never have the family within my siblings and parents that I wanted.  It also brought right up close that I have my children who love me despite all my weaknesses and faults and an amazing husband who I love dearly.  Together we have a wonderful life.  I have committed putting my energy from this point forward into them and our life together before anything else with the exception of God.  Another gift I received through this process is that my youngest sister, Ronna asked that we get a family picture with Dad before he got too sick.  Today was it - even though it caused a lot of issues we got the pics and oh how I cherish them.   While we were waiting for my oldest brother to get there Andi and Nick asked if we could get a pic with just us and Dad.  I was terrified to ask to be honest due the circumstances of our family but did for them.  I am so glad I did.  Dad was so willing even though he was in pain and made sure every single person or family that wanted a picture with Dad got one.  A true treasure.

Isabella turns 1

Bella turns one today.  So hard to believe.  Just a small little birthday celebration today as we are going to have a big party with Kaydence June 4 - look there for more birthday pics.  Until then it is official for Bella today.  One year.  She is cute and sweet although trying at times we feel so blessed to have her in our family.  Happy Birthday Bella Baby!

Girl's Dance and Dad watches

Cierra the ballet & tap dancer

 Rylee the ballet dancer

Matt with Brooke

So Rylee and Cierra had their dance recital tonight.  They have worked hard.  Dad and I have talked on the phone every single day since his diagnosis.  His plan is to take turns visiting each of his children, staying with them for awhile.  He was going to Judd's today and they decided to come down to watch the girl's dance recital.  So bittersweet.  As it turns out the ride was really hard on him.  A lot of pain.  This will probably be the only visit we get here in our house.  We decided not to tell the girls about his illness before he came - just wanted them to have a good time with him.  They got there just in time to eat a quick bite and go.  After the dance we came back to our house.  Dad gave each of the girls a stuffed bunny and a glowing ball that he called a wishing ball.  He gave the ball one at a time to each of the girls  and asked them to share their wish.  He then gave his wish - for all of his children and grandchildren to be happy and live life to the fullest.  I was trying not to cry but I just couldn't help not.  Between all of that and the fact that Grandpa didn't look so well Elizabeth and Cierra had lots of questions as soon as everyone left so we told them what was going on.  It was hard - they cried and cried and eventually cried themselves to sleep.  They wanted everything that Grandpa had ever given them with them right then.  Their bunnies haven't left their sides.  I am grateful for the gospel in my life that I can have an eternal perspective because for my sake and my children's sake we are not ready to let this man out of our lives.

Max

So this is Max. I know not very creative in the name department but it was what he came with and we didn't feel with all the changes he has had it was fair to change his name too.  Max is a Brittany Spaniel who is 2  years old.  We adopted him through American Brittany Rescue.  We have been searching for a while.  Some times we find ourselves quite happy without a dog and sometimes not.  For sure we knew if we got another dog it needed to be one that would fit our family in every way - including no house training.  So after much research and looking, some disappointments we found Max.  He lived in Iowa before us with a good family that now has to move and can not take him with.  We made plans at least a month ago to pick him up in Dubuque, Iowa today.  As it turns out my Dad is coming tonight to the girl's dance recital.  A lot of big things going on today but we know if we don't get Max now he will be gone and my Dad said we should go through with it so we did.  He is a good, good dog - so good with the girls.

Pancreatic Cancer

My Dad called today.  He hasn't been feeling well for a couple of months - really tired and doesn't feel like eating.  He has lost 30 pounds in a month so finally went to the doctor.  They found pancreatic cancer and have given him 6 months to live.   I don't even know what to do at this point.  I can't imagine my life without my Dad.

She said Yes!

So Nick asked Kelsey to marry him today she said yes.  We ended up going to Illinois for the weekend as we knew he had these plans and kind of wanted to be a part of any way we could.  Later that night we went to Kelsey's parents house for a cookout and celebrating. We are super excited.  The girls wanted to go and look at the trains and were just fascinated by them.  It was so weird to have them so excited about something that was so ordinary for us.  Until our last move, Matt and I have always lived next to trains.  The girls of coarse do not remember and loved to climb on and watch them.  #2 fun thing - pretending you are a penguin and eating fruit loops out of your pool ~ a very creative way to use a hot tub in your room - does this officially means all romance is out of our lives?  I hope not ....  our get away weekend hotel room has a hot tub and its used to eat fruit loops!

Please be patient I am a work in progress

For anyone that hasn't completely given up on me - I am still alive and have been longing to get back to blogging.  I have my pictures up - now just need to journal.  If you can continue to be patient I will be done over the next couple of days or so.  The last time I blogged was in August right before school started.  I was called as an early morning seminary teacher and it took every single spare second that I had (I took a temporary leave of absence when Nick came home).  Life just got overwhelming for me for a while and it seems as though I dropped off the face of the planet.  I hope to say I am back for good.  It sure will be an easier task to undertake now that I am caught up to the present.  Thanks for being patient and not deleting me from your space.

Bella Blueberry

Bella just loves well, food.  So far she hasn't met a fruit she doesn't like.  Her new favorite is blueberries.  Last summer we went to Michigan to pick our own berries.  Apparently Bella thinks she missed out as she was not eating solids at the time.  Now whenever I pull a bag of blueberries out of the freezer she flaps her arms and squeals in excitement.  It is a long wait from freezer to blueberry pancakes but she waits patiently, flapping and squealing.  On this particular day she ate so many berries her hands were stained purple for the rest of the day.

March on the Capital

Just in case you aren't from our neck of the woods here is a link to update you on the craziness in our state.  (click here)  The girls and I went to protest, Matt went to support us and protest some of the things that are happening but would like me to add a sidebar that he does not support all aspects covered by all of the protesters.  We both decided regardless it was a good education for the girls to see freedom in action.  A funny sidenote - the older girls made the sayings on their signs.  Elizabeth's was "Keep Wisconsin someplace we can Love" and Cierra's "Save my Daddy's job"  We met Uncle Judd and Nanny Jen up there and after half way around Cierra got tired and Uncle Judd carried her sign "Save my Daddy's Job"  It was cute to see a 30 something year old man caring about his Daddy that way.

Winter Gathering

Nick, Rylee and Elizabeth

Cierra and Grandma Gretchen

Uncle Judd and Nanny Jen

Our annual winter gathering was held at our house this year. This is a tradition we started  many years ago as it proves almost impossible to all get together at Christmas time, we schedule a time to get together in January or February to make up the time we missed.   We hung out, talked, watched movies, went sledding and brought back into play the team scavenger hunt.  It was a great time had by all.  

Nick comes home from San Jose California Mission

Kale entertaining the girls while we wait

Girls displaying signs and balloons

We see him on the stairs - he is like the last one!

Hugs to go around

The girls have been waiting so long for this

Kale gets in there too

Nick and Isabella Gretchen meet for the first time

Nick comes home from his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He proudly served in the San Jose California Mission - Spanish speaking.  His flight was supposed to get in at like 10:28 pm however, slightly delayed due to of coarse a snow storm.  Bishop Delorey met us there and took all our photos.  Kale (Nick's best friend since Kindergarten) just happened to stop by the house about an hour before we left for the airport, not knowing that we were going to get him so gladly joined our welcoming party. Words can not express how much our whole family missed our son, brother, friend, grandson, uncle, cousin, nephew.  We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited he is home.  The next few days we will be hanging out and catching up as a family.

Christmas 2010

Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's - all the grandchildren (except Nick)

Isabella kind of gets the knack of opening gifts although needed a lot of help

Elizabeth

Wish I had been with it enough to invent the silly band
Cierra

Rylee

Brooke

Grandpa Dave comes and spends a day

So Christmas was interesting this year.  I tried shopping ahead and all it did was give me more time to buy more presents - YIKES!  It was hard not having Nick home but anxiously awaited his phone call and it was nice to here his voice.  Andi, Jimmy, Brooke and Kaydence were here so the whole family had a chance to talk to him.  We sent him 12 presents (one for each day the 12 days before Christmas) in hopes that we could somehow have him feel our love for many, many days right before Christmas.  He got socks, candy, gum, music, a guitar strap, .....  However, due to transfers a few days before our package would have gotten there the mission home held all the packages and delivered them on Christmas Eve.  Oh, well it was worth a try right.  We had a wonderful time with all of our family and were able to spend some good quality time together as a family over Christmas break (even though we miss Nick terribly).