I Love Fall

I love fall. It's my favorite season. I love pumpkin everything, warm fall colors (especially red), leaves, sweatshirts, long sleeves, boots, jeans.  In Kansas of course, October has 50-90 degree weather, so it's hard to enjoy every part of fall yet, but I am looking forward to more fall fun.

Oh Cameron how you melt my heart especially with your smile. Got to get out the cute footsie pj's 

 and got a cute new sweatshirt to keep us warm on our morning outings. 

 Trying to get good outside time while we can. 

 Getting messy with chalk

 Daddy tickling Cameron

 Cameron's been getting the baby bathtub out of his closet and playing in it before/after his nap. 

He sure is growing up fast; hard to believe how big he is getting.

 Fun with paint

 Getting paint on his shoulder and head. He's soooo cute.

 Fun at the zoo - seeing the penguins

 Fun with friends - Noah & Zek - so blessed by them

 Fun with Hannah in grandma's pantry

Making messes, getting into things

 Climbing onto everything  - making mommy very nervous

 And a fun hayrack ride at JoAnn's neighborhood party on the farm

 Really fun. It was completely dark when we got back and pretty chilly. Cameron took turn sitting on the lap of daddy, mommy, grandma, Allison, Shannon & Erin. We are so blessed by family. 

Like No Time Has Passed - ALS Walk 2012

The Walk to Defeat ALS 2012 was September 15. 

So we prepared by doing a little fundraising but had a decent start after working hard on the garage sale in April. But we were all so incredibly blessed by family and friends who participated at the walk and also helped support the walk with donations and prayer. Thank you soooo much.

Trying to get Cameron to play the games. 

But one thing that I did not do was prepare emotionally for the walk. And just like last year when it had only been 6 months since Dad had passed, all the emotions of losing dad, his battle with ALS all came back.

Our wonderful team - Strangers on Tractors

Mom, Shannon, Erin, David, Allison, Hannah, Daniel, Cameron, Daniel's parents & sister: Dave, LaRena, & Lisa, David's parents: Mike & Karen, and great friends from Butler: Tyler & Corinne and Amber & her son Mando.

All the emotions came to the front of my mind: missing him every day and especially the special times like holidays, birthdays, harvest, little baby milestones. Thinking about all that my mom misses, Jim misses, my sisters miss, Cameron misses with dad gone.

                Corinne playing with Hannah.                           Cameron cuddling with Erin.

How wonderful of a man dad was and how he is still in us. And I do think of how much easier things would be if he were still here. 

And I felt like I could not be in a good mood. I did not want to be there or be with other people. I just wanted to hold Cameron and Daniel and be surrounded my immediate family and just talk and cry about how much we miss Dad.

But we walked even though we hurt inside. We walked to show love to my dad, to give support to others who are suffering through this disease, and to fund research to end ALS. We walk because God is good. And I trust in Him and His purpose.

I am so blessed that I had my dad in my life as long as I did. To have such a wonderful earthly father to love me, guide me, teach me.

All the "Strangers on Tractors" with the sign to celebrate dad.

And so glad that my dad continues to live on in all of us. I miss him so much but must continue to give thanks to God for who my dad was, a great and wonderful godly man.

And cherish my family - my fabulous and giving twin sister and her amazing husband and little girl.

Cherish my incredibly strong and selfless mom and wise and patient oldest sister Shannon

Cherish my intuitive, caring, and amazing sister Erin as well as my incredible husband Daniel who serves and loves me so well and my crazy, energetic and just incredible son Cameron. 

I am so blessed.