One of the slideshows from Michael's Memorial

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Michael Thomas Obituary: View Michael Thomas's Obituary by Spokesman-Review

Shocked...heartbroken...confused...praying...hoping, for healing.  Last Tuesday I received news that I did not expect to hear...that my friend Michael had passed away on Monday afternoon.  I just could not believe it, and still CAN'T!  My ordinary day turned into a complete disaster when I finally came to grips that it was true.  But what happened, how, why???  All of these questions ran through my head.  Mostly because I knew that Michael was doing so well in his life, and was healthy.  So what in the heck? My mind raced, I knew it was something tragic and devastating...in which I would later find out it was.  I tend to not post overly personal information on my blog or on facebook.  But with this, I feel like it's a way for me to connect with all the people who knew, and loved my dear friend Michael, not to mention, I know he can see this. 

This whole thing just HITS me in waves.  I will be okay, and then I will hear a song that reminds me of Michael, see a picture, or think of him, and just lose it.  Michael's life was cut way too short.  He was in the middle of a beautiful song that he didn't get to finish...here on earth anyways.  I know he now has the best seat in the house, and is watching down on all of those who he cared for and loved.  But selfishly, I wish he was still here!  He has such a wonderful family, they are super close.  He would always say that his sister and mom were his #1.  They couldn't have asked for a better brother/son, he adored them in every way.  Michael and his sister were like bread and butter, I should say more like twins,  they were each other's constant.  My heart has already been heavy but when I saw his family last Friday, I was sure my heart shattered.  Whether you knew Michael for 2 minutes, 2 years, or 20 years, you were drawn to him.  Everyone that knew him says that about him.  If you met Michael, you instantly wanted to be his friend.  The day I found out what happened I wrote to him(on his fb wall,) and said~
"Gosh I am going to miss you! I had so much fun with you~whether it was sharing a salad with you at mizuna, sneaking in for a quick blow out while on my lunch break ;)...or getting spoiled on my birthdays with a fabulous hairdo. I LOVE that we are both music junkies and always shared our favorites. You have such a beautiful soul/energy. Such a WONDERFUL, caring, compassionate, loving, and generous friend/brother/son/person/STYLIST/artist. You have the best seat in the house now my friend. God Bless you. I ♥ you, and am going to miss everything about you, as will all of the people who's lives you were in."

Another friend of mine Gianna wrote "Michael. your friends and family are amazing. you brought really wonderful and interesting and loving people together and you made every one of us feel important and beautiful. I cannot accept that you are gone. please stay with me somehow and watch over me, and help me take myself less seriously! :) I love you and miss you more than words could ever say." 

The messages would continue, and in everything people have written on the obituary site, facebook, or email...they all had a common theme.  Because he was that special, amazing, and loved. 

Oh my dear friend, I wish I'd been able to say goodbye(for now) to you in a different way, however, I am so glad that you could see all the people who gathered to celebrate you last Friday.  My thoughts, prayers, and love continue to be showered over your family, friends, and anyone else grieving over their loss of you.  This feels so surreal that I'm even writing this, I wish you were here.  Below are some of my favorite times/memories with Michael.

Soccer Buddies

Liv was really lucky to join a U6 girls soccer team this spring.  Their team name "Soccer Buddies."  I was wondering how she'd do considering most of the girls have played on the Soccer Buddies team for over a year, she didn't know any of them, and at the same time, they started their soccer season last Fall.  They all made her feel so welcome.  She is blessed to play on a team with some great girls, and a great coach!  It isn't in Liv's nature(so far,) to be super aggressive but she is learning the concept of soccer.  Within the last couple months she's been playing, she's learned a lot, really come a long way, and already seems more comfortable, and confident with soccer.  She keeps telling Shane and I that she wants to continue and I am thrilled.  I didn't really think she'd be our sports girl, but I could be wrong.  Again, the most  important thing is that she's having FUN!  I am so proud of her for trying something new, something that was a bit out of her comfort zone.  I already miss soccer Saturday's and the parents/kids involved with the team.  The Soccer Buddies are having an end of the season get together in June, it will be nice to see everyone again.  My noodle is growing in so many ways!  Here are some pictures on game days.

Plain & Simple

I LOVE my boys!  Today I was watching Shane teach Nolan how to change the oil and it was one of the sweetest things I've seen them do together.  I can see in Nolan's eyes that his Daddy is his hero, and is truly one of Shane's biggest fans.  What's not to love about Shane ;)  I think that not only Nolan, but all of my children are so lucky to have a Dad who has Christ at the center of his heart.  Nolan has a wonderful role model and will be learning how to become a warrior for Christ, a man of God.  Back to what I was saying...the two of them are so similar by nature, and it melts my heart when I watch them together.  I love that Nolan's favorite things to dress in are a plain white t-shirt, and jeans or shorts, just like Daddy.  If you looked in both of their closets you would see that their wardrobes consist mostly of those things.  He is on Shane's schedule(not one of my favorite things, Shane is up so early,) and if for some reason Shane has left before Nolan wakes, it's a bad start to the morning.  He's got to have his milk, a piece of toast or cliff bar, and a snuggle with Dad before Shane leaves for work.  He absolutely loves his Dad!  Don't get me wrong, JP is a mamas boy too, he's pretty equal.  And as much as he's all boy(whatever that really means?) He has a tender side.  He occasionally plays with a baby doll or two with his big sis, and if he sees that Liv & I are painting our toenails, he wants his painted too(and yep, I do it for him.)  Nolan and Liv made up a song and have been singing it all week.  They put their arms around each other and say "we love our bread, we love our butter, but most of all, we love each other."  At the end the kiss each other.  I know it sounds silly, and it is, but it's sweet in my eyes, and to my ears.

There are things Nolan will talk about doing with his Dad when he gets older or like he says when I'm "BIGGA."  Like grind coffee for the coffee maker and drink it with Dad in the mornings, mow the lawn, use the drill, and drive Dad's truck, and drive us around~haha...all the things big dudes get to do =)  If we're going somewhere special, Nolan will ask Shane to spray some cologne on his little neck.  He is so eager to grow up and be a big boy, yet as with all of my kiddos, I sometimes wish I could just keep them little and tuck them away into my pocket.  Anyhow, I got some cute pictures of them mowing the law together(a couple different times.)  I tried to be stealthy so I wouldn't spoil the moment.  I really am so lucky to have a husband who loves his kids so fiercely, the way I do, and they are so blessed to have a Dad who gives them 100%!

A few weeks late, but that's ok.

Some Easter pictures. Better late than never I suppose. 

This picture makes me laugh.  Olivia was a little leery about the Easter bunny at first so she kept her distance.

 NJP with his cousin Aiden

 Ride out to the Easter egg hunt.

 I forgot the kids baskets =(  thank goodness that I have reusable bags in my car.

 Nolan shared Aiden's froggy basket.

 Two cute little "dudes!"

 Papa Hennessy looking at baby chicks with his grandbabes.

 What a precious sign of SPRING!

Attachments

Clearly I am attached to hair...which I know is kind of weird.  I don't quite get it, but I am.  Obviously I am attached to Olivia's as well(maybe because I think short hair makes her look older?)  And now that I think of it, I'm attached to Nolan's silky blonde bowl cut too, I love his hair!!!  Back to Liv, she has been begging me to let her cut it for a couple months now.  She had 4 or 5 inches cut the last hair appt., but selfishly, I told my hairdresser not to go above the shoulder's.  I know, that's terrible, I should let her decide at this point.  Well yesterday, I bit my tongue and let her cut it passed her shoulders!  I think I was having a mini panic attack just watching all her locks fall to the floor.  I had to stand up a couple of times and walk away.  My hairstylist happens to be Liv's and she knows about my hair "attachments."  So she kept teasing me.  Anyhow, it turned out super cute and makes more sense since she's got naturally wavy hair and so this style seems easier.  No more braids, and long pony tails =(  just little stubble pigtails(which are very cute!)  Nonetheless, Liv had a fun big girl day at the salon.  After she got hers cut she had to wait for me to get a micro trim ;)  and so Heather(my hairstylist,)  let her play with her hair "stuff"  and even brought out the hair manikin.  Liv was over the moon straightening, combing, pinning it up, and styling it.  Was cute to watch her pretend to be a stylist.  Here are a few pictures of the new do.  I caught her while she was pretending to be her 1st grade teacher Mrs. Holcomb(that's why she's got her little white board out =)  She's my imaginary play girl, always wanting to pretend~and I've always loved that about her.

For Sale!

 

I took these from my car this morning.

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11*This verse is what comes to mind when I think about whether or not, a move is in our future.  If only I could know the answer right now...I was born without patience ;) 

We decided to put our house up for sale about a week and a half ago!  I have been dragging my feet on this for a very long time, while Shane has wanted to attempt selling the house for quite some time.  I bawled my eyes out when the for sale sign went up! I sometimes feel like all the stars are aligned for us to move. 
*Shane's parents so graciously offered for us to move in with them if we sell(very kind!)
*We have a great house/yard, in super good condition, and have taken really good care of it!
*Great neighborhood
*Good location, so easy to get to most places, 5 min away from Target and other handy stores, & coffee shops.
*Cul-de-sac, park in our neighborhood that's a block away
*AND, my husband helped build this house, so it's bulletproof(just kidding, but he is REALLY good at what he does!)

On the flip side of those things, I know that the market is still SO unpredictable, and the economy still weak/messy!  Now, we just have to WAIT and see what the Lord has in store for us.  There is NOTHING that I don't like about our house.  I actually love this house, and am very attached to it!  So many memories have been built here.  Especially for the kids.  However, we are going to outgrow it, and fast!  We really do need an extra bedroom and a few other things.  Not to mention, Shane has an opportunity to build again, so if we could do it, it's ideal and perfect for us!  At the same time, if we're meant to stay here, we'll be okay with that too.  I will have to have a garage sale and get rid of lots and lots of "things" to make more room.  It will definitely be a tight squeeze over the years.  I am used to that though, I grew up in a family of 7 and there was a point when we lived in a house with 1 bathroom for all of us(and no dishwasher, bless my mothers heart!)  So I am familiar with having to make things work with what I have been given.  In time(hopefully short time,) we shall see what our housing situation looks like =)  We could use prayer on this one!