January Morning Ramble

Having just returned from my workout with my friend Kellyann, and checking on email, facebook, and other details (and distractions) I've realized that it's been three weeks since I wrote any update! Here goes!

Sammie had to have 2 teeth removed because she doesn't have enough room for the adult teeth to come in. We opted to let her have Nitris Gas so that when the dentist removed the teeth, everyone in a 20 mile radious would still have their eardrums in tact! The tooth fairy barely remembered this momentous occasion and flew in at 6:30 am to make sure Sammie was taken care of properly. Whew!

Taylor tried out for the Honor Orchestra for the Capo Valley School District and she was accepted, only 2 students from her school were invited to play violin in this group. The practices now begin and the performance will be in March. We're very proud of her.

My father is having some medication issues relating to his new kidney and he'll be going into the hospital overnight on Thursday of this week. Please join me in praying that they'll find the source of his problem and they're able to remedy the situation quickly. The smile has faded from his lips and it would be wonderful to see it put back.

As for me, well, I'm trying to eat better and maintain my workout schedule. This is hard business! I'm still playing softball every week on a team and unless I get lucky on base, there's not a lot of running involved at this weekly game for me. So I either need to pick up the slack at home OR start going to the batting cages to improve my hitting skills so that I can get on base more. Hummm.... decisions... decisions...

Lastly, Sammie is continuing to work on Eric for a dog. She wants one in the worst way and stears the conversation towards a dog at every opportunity. I don't know how long Eric will be able to maintain his composure on the subject, but only time will tell. Maybe if she tells him she'd name the dog "Rothlesburger" or "Steeler" she'd have more luck with him! Go Pittsburgh!

It's Arrived!!

2009 has arrived for us all, whether we were ready or not! I don't think I was quite ready to realize that in 2009 my oldest daughter will go to Middle School and being Ivy League College minded we're going to have to see a college counselor this year to get her on track! I also don't think I was quite ready face the reality that my diet is WAY off track and I need to get back on target now. I guess Oprah is not the only one!

In the last three weeks our family has been busy as usual, but we enjoyed the pace of visiting family and having family visit us. We embraced the Christmas season head on by letting go of little things (like cooking meals - or maybe that was just me) and opted for convenience to stay later visiting others or in service to our church or community. We spent Christmas with both my parents and brother (and James... wish Danny was there too), and having all of Eric's side of the family over for a huge celebration as well. We were so fortunate that everyone attended including all siblings and their children (we missed Ben), and Martina & Lada's family, and Elyssa too. Yes, this was the Elyssa of our past - and I'm happy to report that we've seen her a few times this past month and each time was marked with laughter and goodness. She's doing well in school as a Junior at the local HS.

Following our big Burton Party we traveled along highway 1 North towards Aunt Barbara's House for a week-long visit. We stopped for a night in Monterey to enjoy the aquarium and the beautiful town. The kids really liked this place and hoped that we'd return soon. With Aunt Barbara and her beau Fred we did so much! We went wine tasting in the Russian River Valley, ice skating in Santa Rosa at the rink Charles' Shultz (think Peanuts cartoon) built, went hiking in Windsor, visited the original Powell's candy shoppe, bought crab for New Year's Eve at Bodega Bay (the spot of "The Birds" movie), visited downtown San Fransisco, and played games every night. We were all so exhausted but didn't want the fun to end! One of the best parts of this trip was that it was our first to her home. However it won't be the last. The kids did a great job budgeting their souvenir money - at least Taylor did! Sammie blew it all in Monterey - oh well... we'll keep working on it.

And now on to business as usual... get some food in the house, get the laundry done, take down the Christmas decorations, exercise (Maybe this should be first?), and get a shower... So much to do -

December Marches On

As I sit here this morning and look out at the gloomy sky, I remember quickly that I cannot be sitting here looking out at the gloomy sky! It's December and I have things to do.

It's time to write the annual letter
Time to make my hair look better
Time to wash the weekly clothes
Time to make another list, so here goes...

Wrap the gifts to look real merry
Paint my toes so they don't look scary
Address and stuff the Christmas cards
Decorate the house, the front and back yards...

Help the kids to do homework
Have dinner ready, maybe roast pork?
Plan an 11 year old birthday party
Shop for gifts, while looking sporty

Bake some cookies and Remember the needy
Stop and thank the Lord, do a good deedy
Help the Girl Scouts with fundraising
Remember that Christmas is about Jesus, so be praising!

Attend the annual "Holiday" gathering for the hubby's work
And wear the girdle so you don't look like a dork
Remember you've worked out all year for this dress
Try not to spill on yourself and look like a mess!

Tuck the girls into bed, Peel the hubby off the sofa
Remember we've got stuff to finish daily to meet the Christmas quota
Have a glass of wine and look real cheerful
Because if we don't get this done, someones getting an earful!

Merry Christmas!
Kelly

A Change Will Do Us Good

We survived these past 2 weeks, in great part to prayer & in great part to friends and family that have rallied around us. In the midst of Jean passing away, we tried to keep the girls going with their normal activities (Girl Scouts, School, Soccer, play dates, etc.) but it was quite the challenge. Taylor did not win her bid for election to President of her school, although her speech was fantastic! Little spats along the way with rivers of tears and emotion were easy to identify as being caused by other things. We have persevered.

In addition to being joined at the hip with the Burton family, Sammie and I finished our soccer season together and we've already had our team party. It was fun to coach my "Super Stars" and come to the realization that Sammie isn't ready to play a different sport in the spring. She earnestly wants to continue playing soccer and so I've signed up to be her coach again in the spring. Taylor's Team finished soccer just this past weekend, earning a top finishing spot (#1) in the league going into the playoffs, and finishing 2nd as a team in the season-ending tournament. Emotional as it was to finish in 2nd place, the team really pushed hard through 3 playoff games including a double-overtime ending! We were all exhausted, and the 90 degree weather didn't help to cool the emotion of the finish. As a parent I would have loved to see Taylor play a more forward position for more than the 1 quarter she played this weekend, however she's a stellar center-D (center defensive guard) and works amazingly with the goalie. It's easy to see why the coach chose to keep her there. Emotions ran high on the side lines, but we've all breathed a sigh of relief to put this season behind us. Taylor is already talking of spring soccer and is excited to try out for the Plus team at the conclusion of spring. Way to rebound T!

As if soccer wasn't enough, our girls ALSO participated in the annual talent show at their school. Taylor and her friend Ellie did a beautiful piano/violin duet to "Silent Night," and Sammie and her best buddie Abby sang a duet to "Crocodile Rock." They really got the audience into their performance, and neither act showed any real signs of nerves. What pro's! Eric's Dad and Uncle were on hand for the talent show, and really enjoyed the comic relief provided by some of the acts performed.


So now we can head into Thanksgiving without sports on the brain, or a talent show to prepare for. There are not any family emergencies at the moment, and we're looking forward to sleeping in on the weekends and preparing our home and hearts for the family gatherings that are fast approaching. We're ready for this change, and the change will do us good.

ps - Thank you for all the warm thoughts, cards, emails, flowers, and plants. Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers. Thank you to those who attended Jean's Memorial Service Life Celebration. We've had so many compliments given to our family on the way Jean's life was celebrated. But truly our friend and pastor, Skip deserves the recognition for setting the tone and for Jean giving us much to celebrate. God Bless You all.

Jean Burton's Memorial Service

Eternal Hills Cemetery & Mortuary
1999 El Camino Real
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 754-6600

Viewing - Tuesday, November 11th

4 - 8pm

Memorial Service - Wednesday, November 12th
1 pm

Map to location: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=1999%20S%20El%20Camino%20Real&city=Oceanside&state=CA&zipcode=92054%2d5754&country=US&geodiff=1

The family respectfully resquests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the MS Society in Jean Burton's name.

Contact Karen Barton at (760) 448-8412 for assistance from the MS Society.

Jean has been set free...

Just a few minutes ago I finished speaking with both Ron and Eric about Jean. Around 11:30 this morning Jean went to be with the Lord and took her final breath in the body that's confined her for so many years.

A few days ago Jean awoke to a pain in her chest that turned out to be a massive blood clot nearing her lungs. She passed out and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. At the hospital they stabilized her body function and needed to take extreme measures to keep her alive. These extreme measures are not want Jean wanted. Over the next few days in the ICU she showed signs of life with eye fluttering, muscle twitching, chewing, etc. However, even though the tests administered to Jean showed blood flowing to the brain, there was severe damage when she was not able to get oxygen during her unstable time on Saturday. Also, the medicine used to bring her back, severely handicapped her brain function. As a result, the life signs we saw were merely muscle responses to her body relaxing, not a sign of brain function. The doctors concurred that Jean was not really there any longer, and as a family (husband, children, sister) it was decided that Jean would not want to live in this state on a respirator. They humanely agreed that removing Jean from the ventilator would be what Jean would want. The breathing tube was removed early Tuesday evening, and she continued to breathe on her own until late this morning.

Although it's going to be difficult to share this news with our children today, we can take comfort in these passages...

John 5:24 "I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life." ... Jean was a Christian and she knew where she was going!

1 Corinthians 15:42 "Our earthly bodies which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will never die." ...Jean is now dancing in heaven!

John 11:25 "Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again." ...Jean believed!

Lastly, I know that not all of our friends understand what it's like to be a believer and to know the Lord. We all have doubts. Some may look at a person like Jean and see the MS, the illness, the weakness. Eric and I have often wondered why Jean was given this burden in life. But then we've also seen that through her, our families have more compassion for others. We've raised money for the MS cause to find a cure - would we have done that without her being sick? Our children know that a wheelchair is not a death sentence. They've ridden on her lap, played with her "special toys" - like the chairs that raised her up and down, and the scooters and wheelchairs that drove her around. This is like a bumper car to a child - and fun, not scary. So we can see life and change in us, because of her...

One last verse to end my note today...

2 Corinthians 12:9 "Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me." ... Thank you Jean...I love you

Kelly

Jean in the hospital

Normally, I'd just post about our crazy weekend. Halloween costumes (Taylor was a candy corn & Sammie a bee). And how Eric ran in the NY Marathon today (11/2) and finished all 26.2 miles in a personal best of 4 hrs and 13 minutes. However, all of this greatness is overshadowed knowing that Eric's Mom, Jean, is currently in the hospital in Oceanside fighting to wake up.

As you may or may not know, Jean has Multiple Sclerosis and she's battled with it for 35+ years. She's gone from a belly-dancing, aerobic class taking, nurse and teacher, to a woman who is hand fed by her loved ones and taken care of 24/7 by Ron (her husband) and her hired care takers. She can no longer even use the controls on her wheelchair and she must be pushed. It's been a long road to say the least. It's been difficult to watch someone so alive on the inside succumb to such a horrible disease. She's a model of grace and love, with a ready smile for everyone she meets. And we know that if she doesn't come through, she'll be going to meet Jesus, because that is where her hope lies.

In the next 24 hours we'll get the results of her scans to know if there is still brain activity, and if the blood clots they found in her chest have been reduced. She's stable right now, but still intubated. She may wake up on her own, however the doctors did not want to raise any hopes telling me that she may not wake up at all.

So, after spending the night with family and being close to the hospital, we're now home and waiting for Eric's flight to arrive from NY. He'll spend tomorrow with his family in Oceanside. It was difficult for Eric to stay in NY to run knowing what was going on here. He got the news only hours after arriving in NY too. However EVERYONE here told him to stay and run - this is what Jean would be telling him to do! On a side note, both of Eric's uncles and one aunt had scheduled more than 6 months ago to be here for a visit. They've all arrived and isn't God amazing to know that Ron and his children would need the support of their extended family this week.

Thank you for following our family. God Bless You All!
Kelly

Burton Halloween Pictures (copy & paste this link): http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9EYuWbdu3Yps