Happier Times

My last Romanskiville post was not filled with pictures of my girls or stories about their antics.... it was somber and sad, but I felt a little better after I wrote it.  That post was written on February 8, the same day our beautiful little niece (and cousin), Olivia, turned one.  I didn't forget it was her birthday that day - sent her my wishes that morning but the big shindig wasn't until that weekend so it wasn't really "real" to us yet.

From very early on, my sister started calling Olivia "Lady Bug" and not too long after that, Brooke followed suit and then we either heard someone else say it or we just slipped into calling her Livy Bug.  She is going to be 40 years old and I am still going to be calling her "Livy Bug", the same way I, to this day, am "Heather B" (that's a story for another post).  Her party was all pink and lady bugs - it was ADORABLE and she looked soooo sweet in her Birthday Girl outfit. 

She was the perfect guest of honor delighting her guests with her charm and personality.  Opening gifts with excitement and enthusiasm - clapping and laughing and flashing that smile that just melts your heart. We gave Garrett a rocking chair for his first birthday, so it was only fitting that Livy get one too!  I found the perfect one - pinks, purples with a butterfly that matches her room theme. 

 She was a professional cake messer upper and had no problem getting her hands dirty and digging into that cake.  You made your Auntie proud little one!!!!

Happy FIRST Birthday Livy Bug !!!!!!  We love watching you grow !!!!!

At a loss .....

It has been a long 24 hours and my mind has wandered frequently today.  I learned last night that an old friend from high school took his own life and is gone far too young.  I wonder how bad things must have gotten for him to feel this was his only way out.  I wonder how he ended up feeling so isolated and alone. 

We grew up in a small town - sort of like Cheers - where every one knows your name and your parents and lots of stuff - maybe even stuff you wish they didn't.  Word of this tragedy has spread fast and left many sad and bewildered.

I am sad that he is gone but even more so my heart aches for the family he has left behind.  I am certain they are devastated, confused, and maybe even angry.  They are left to pick up the pieces and go on without him.  They have dealt with so much sadness over the years.  It seems unfair that they got dealt this hand.

Bob and I lost touch for a long time, reconnected via email in the last few years and then were friends on FB.  I keep looking at his profile on Facebook, his profile picture is the perfect image.  It is the Bob that I remember from HS and I swear he looked exactly like that all those years ago.  He was gentle, kind, funny and sarcastic, but in a charming way.  You were happy in his presence and spent most of that time laughing.  It is unfathomable to me that his last hours were filled with violence and confrontation ... it just is not the person I knew and isn't the man I will remember.

I choose to believe in a God that does not intercede in tragedies, but weeps for them.  A God that offers strength and courage to go on when nothing makes sense.  I pray that God will allow the people that are overcome with grief to mourn and, in time, to heal. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance ........ a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace" Ecclesiastes 3:1-8


For me, this doesn't seem like it was the "right" time, but I don't make the rules or shape the future.  I hope beyond all hope that this is his 'time for peace'

1971 ~ 2011

This CANNOT be Good

The other night I walked back into the kitchen to discover these shenanigans ... Kristen had carried her stool over to the gate, carefully placed it down and then ....... well the pictures speak for themselves.

She climbs onto her stool

Surveys her next move

I was not fast enough to catch a photo of her lifting her left leg and trying to swing it over the gate but that was the next move.  She is going to be the one that tries to climb out of her crib, jumps of the playscape from the tippity top, and jumps into the deep end with out any additional floatation devices.  Thank goodness we have good insurance and that is why we already have her enrolled in swimming lessons.

Go Red ....

Heart Disease is the Number 1 killer in women age 20 and over.  Heart Disease kills more women then the next four causes of death combined. Today is "Go Red for Women Day" to raise awareness and last year on this day I devoted a blog entry to the event. 

I made some pledges that day last year ......

• to personally exercise more (OK who am I kidding - this should really read START exercising!)
• to teach my children the importance of exercise
• to encourage healthy eating for our family

 Are you wondering how we've done on these pledges here in Romanskiville?  I'm happy to report (and sort of proud) that we have made definite strides forward.  We didn't get off to a blazing start in February it took a while to get going.  Last summer we swam, we walked, we biked every day on our Cape Cod vacation and we sweated off a few pounds on those days that were in the high 90's and WICKED humid.  Recently, we setup our Wii and I'm loving the Wii Fit Plus. Kristen and I do Yoga together in the wee morning hours.  I've tried to explain to her that we do NOT need to get up at 5:30 am, we would have plenty of time to get our workouts in even if we started at 6:45 am ..... we are still working that one out.

 

I cook more then ever and I'm not talking about frozen pizza, boxed macaroni and cheese or other dinner in a box concoctions .... these had been our friends in the past.  In the summer, we grilled almost every night and it was rarely a hot dog or hamburger.  This winter our new favorite is Jessica Seinfeld's oven roasted chicken.  Yup, I can actually roast a chicken and no one gets sick !!!!   The best part is that since I've been paying more attention to what we are eating, when and how much I'm 20 lbs lighter ... I still have some to go,  well a good "chunk" to go (no pun intended) ... but there has been significant progress.  

 

To learn more about the movement or get some great information on prevention, etc. Check out the Go Red for Women website.