Happy 11th Birthday Alana Jo!!!

WOW!!! Laney Jo would be 11 yrs old today!!!! Next month will be the 3rd anniversary of the death of Melissa Jo and Alana Jo! Three years seems so long ago at times...especially when I look at how the boys are growing so big!! But then three years seems like yesterday when I think about that phone call.....and I was in the "Eye of the Storm". My mother in law gave me a book after the girls died....called "In the Eye of the Storm" by Max Lucado. It took me a few months before I felt like really reading anything, but when I did, I was so glad!!! It's an AWESOME book and I still reflect on that from time to time....today being one of those days! Max talks about that one moment in time when chaos hits, and your world turns upside down and you don't know where you are, much less what to do. So, when your world turns upside down, pick up a book by Max...any book, you'll be glad you did!! (and no, I don't get commission for writing this...lol!)
Today has been a day of reflection for me. Also an emotional day. I've been pretty stressed lately! And yes, I'm fully aware I need to give it all to God...I'm working on that...really!! Anytime there is a birthday or the anniversary of the girls, I get very emotional, and easily stressed.....also, it's no secret that we are not happy with things at Egan's school right now. Add a few little "normal" stressers (sp) into the mix, and whamo...So, Milo and I went to a friend's house for the afternoon, so he could play, and I could get some 'chick time' in! The funny thing is, I was reading my Faith Magazine this morning (for all you Reformed people, it's the Catholic version of the Church Herald...lol) there was a man in there talking about how lately he's been unhappy at work and thinking that God wants him to do something more with his life. The priest that responded made some very good points...."discernment may take a while, pray for grace and be thankful about your daily work and through prayer, open yourself to God's direction. If you are TRULY called to different work, God will help direct your path....discernment may take time.....patience is the key". WOW....whamo.....ok, it wasn't like whamo for me....I read it with my morning coffee, then after lunch was driving to my friend's house....then came the whamo....I'm going to digress for a moment, but will make a full point by the time I'm done digressing (I promise!!)...ok, so I've been wishy washy for a bit now with Egan's school. Very unhappy and just not sure if we should put him in a different Catholic school or a Charter school or WHAT???? I go back and forth...ask Dan and ask my mom...it's been bad....yesterday I was thinking .....that's it, we're pulling him out and he's going to St. Anthony's!! ok, so then the whamo...(I'll try to stop using that word....) it hits me.....HELLO!!!! Discernment....things didnt' go bad in that school over nite.....the problems are not going to get fixed over nite.....I had the guts and cared enough to go to the board (with another mom), I need to give SSPP a chance to fix this....I dont want to change schools for Egan, He likes it there and has lotsa friends too! The article also said...."God has put you hear for a reason".....I wonder what that reason is...but that's because I'm a control freak at times (Gee, I wonder, is that where Egan gets it??) and feel the need to know EVERYTHING, but whatever the reason... we're here. I"m going to try the patience route and give the school a chance, knowing full well that it may and will take some time....but I'm willing to give it a shot!! that being said, I talked with Dan tonite about my whamo moment....and though he was also thinking about pulling Egan out, he thought I made some very valid points....(smile!!) and since I put it that way, we do need to give it a chance! Yahoo for me!! lol! ANd I've got to tell ya, DO I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER about things now!!!! My stress has been lifted and I feel free!!! ANd I ALWAYS think, "why didn't I do that sooner?????" HELLO!!!??? I'm a slow learner sometimes!!
But back to Laney Jo....beautiful, funny, queen of cursive Laney....did we have a birthday party for her today!!!! Kareem (Laney's dad) and his family and all of our family met at the cemetery today and released balloons up to heaven and the boys each picked out a balloon to keep at the cemetary, then we went to Joe V's tonite for dinner.....it's tradition....I would have to guess there was about 30 family and friends there tonite!!! Kareem had a cake too! It was quite the celebration of her short little time here on earth!!! Man, do I miss that little girl!!!! She was quite the little girly girl and though I'm biased, I know, if you would've known her, you would've thought the same!! I'm so thankful for her 8 years we had with her....from the moment she was born, I knew she was an angel!! Alana Jo, I love you like the rainbow loves the sky!!!