Changes...

Just when you think you have ahold of this thing called life... another curve pops up in the road.

Last Saturday I was in Kansas City with my Brother-in-law (shout out to Jon!). We went to the open casting call of The Biggest Loser. I was hoping to post pics but it was pretty lame. We waited in line for HOURS (we got there at 5am) and then you get 30 seconds to "get their attention" in a group interview. Insane. We did everything we thought to do and no luck. No call back. Ah well. I'll still root on the next batch of losers. LOL.

But the curve wasn't the casting call. The curve came before we left the hotel. At 3:30am I received a call from my older sister (she lives in Washington with the rest of my family) letting me know that my mom had passed away. It was like being punched in the gut. She was 57. She was my best friend. My own personal cheering section. But she was also very, very sick. If you remember from a post in May, I had to fly home suddenly because she was in the hospital and it looked grim. My daughters and i were able to spend two weeks with her and saw her come home from the hospital and it looked promising. She wasn't "good" but she was definately better. I haven't talked to her much in the last few months because she just didn't feel well enough to talk on the phone. But I could tell how sick she was. It was shock to hear the heartbreaking news, but it wasn't unexpected either. Her obituary is posted below. I'm not on my computer so I can't post the pictures that we used but I did have this LO in my photobucket account. My mom was an amazing woman. I am so lucky to have had her in my life.

On the morning of July 18th, Jesus called my mom home. She's in Heaven now (without a shadow of doubt in my mind, I know she is there) and is no longer hurting. She can walk and breath again. No more oxygen masks. No more tripping on that "damn tube" as she walked around her house, tethered to her machine. She is happy and in the presence of God. What more could I ask for?

We have spent the last two days in the car. 1,704 miles and 26 hours of driving. We are at my dad's house now. Preparing for the services this weekend. Jared will fly back to Wichita (and work) on Tuesday out of Seattle. The girls and I are staying for a few weeks.We will visit some friends in Portland and get to spend at least a day on the Oregon Coast (I miss the ocean!). Then we will drive back (one of my aunts will be driving with us) and take the "scenic route" through Yellowstone and stopping at Mt Rushmore. I brought my scrappy stuff so that I can work on some DT assignments (Watch for some big news after the 1st!). Talk to you all soon!