Guest Book

For those of you who are interested in obtaining my mom's address, please email me. I feel more comfortable donig it that way vs. putting it here on the blog.

There is also a guest book in connection with Rick's obituary. You can access it here.

http://obits.cleveland.com/Cleveland/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=116961678

Thank you ALL for your thoughts and numerous prayers for us!

Our Rick

Our Rick was one of the smartest men I knew. He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
He knew how to get what he wanted, in the way he wanted it, when he wanted it.
But, for me, his greatest quality was his unconditional love for his family.

Rick had just printed off pictures of his daughter, Joanna, and her new baby Grant off of his computer. They were still sitting by the printer when I arrived on Wednesday.

He loved us and we love him.

In particular, he loved my Mom.
Rick loved my Mom in every way she deserved. He respected her, admired her and adored the daylights out of her.
When they bought a lake place he named it after her – Claire View.
When he bought the boat of his dreams he named it after her – Claire Buoyant.
I can’t tell you how many times I heard him say to her “What can I get for you, Dear?” “Let me do that for you, Dear” “I love you, Dear.”
His love for her was mutual.
They loved each other hard…..the way a real couple – real soul mates should.

I’m not sure how we’ll get by without him here, but I know we’ll do it together because I know that’s what would make him the proudest.

We’ll miss you, Rick.

Mom and Rick

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
-- W.H. Auden

November 1, 1942- September 3, 2008

Rick passed away suddenly Wednesday morning.

If you are not familiar with my blog then you do not know all that Rick has done in the last month to prevent this from happening.

I am in Cleveland with my Mom and family to support one another.

Services will be held Saturday afternoon.

Please send your prayers my way as this is almost more than I can handle.

Little ones to Him belong.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

The Lighter Side of Life

What I heard coming down the stairs just now:

Cecelia: "Who's ready to rock!?!"

Delaney: "Me!!"

In the End.

In the end, it didn't really matter what my house looked like.

We had a fabulous weekend.

Friday we picked up my mom from the airport but didn't make it to Alexandria because my cousin called (who had rented the cabin for the week) to say the weather was less than desirable. So instead, they came to us!!

Cecelia and Delaney were thrilled to be able to play with their cousin, Alex, who they rarely ever see because they live in Colorado.

Saturday morning my Grandma drove over from Little Falls to see all of us. We took the family and the two Grandmas (one Great-Grandma :-)) to a local regional park for a picnic. Even though the weather was cool Cecelia insisted on swimming in the lake. We took a nice long walk so we could chat and wear the kids out.

Before my mom flew home yesterday, her and I and the two older girls went to the MN State Fair. We saw baby pigs being born in the Miracle Birth Center, ate plenty of food on a stick and took the girls on the Sky Ride. Before we knew it, our 4 hours were up and it was time to head to the airport.

It's a shame the time goes by so fast.

Back to Monday. Laila didn't sleep well last night so I'm sort of running on fumes today.

I hope you all had a good weekend and enjoyed the cooler weather for a change.