pics and such

She's gorgeous. She looks like her mama :-)

Yesterday was Isabel's first Twins game and her dad's first Twins game at the new outdoor field. The weather was perfect and Isabel was too :-) Check out the new "page" tab at the top of the blog for more info on the Parker Family 5k/3k Run/Walk (this fits in this paragraph because Linda suggested the 5k in the first place).

My cousin Deshi asked awhile back what colors I would like in a special project that she was going to do for me...and this was it! So gorgeous! She took all the photo's for the "Samuel" - LOVE. And threw in the "Sammy" behind it - the verse.

love bears all things

love believes all things

love hopes all things

love endures all things

love never fails

Jesus - show me Your love that can do all these things...my love seems more often to fail...

this week - brain dump

Iz

I'm getting to spend some amazing time with my family and my sweetest niece ever. She was hypnotized by the beautiful baby on the computer screen...that same baby she sees in the mirror every time we check it out.

It's easier for me to not think about "what if"s when there are no babies around. Actually, I think the preplanning for having Iz and Sammy grow up together is what makes me think about what if. I didn't think about all the other babies in my life interacting with Sammy. Other babies don't *bother* me, well, as long as they don't have red hair...hmmm, ok, weird tangent over. Within moments of playing with Isabel and squeezing her chunky punky self I wondered how big Sammy would look next to her and how'd they would be interacting...what 2 infants at John and Lisa's wedding would have been like...please notice that my locket fell open at some point when we were taking pictures...right behind Isabel's shoulder you can see Sammy's hat and cheek :-)

The wedding was GORGEOUS. So beautiful. Lisa had my favorite wedding hair to-date (better than mine for sure) and it went with her dress style...so pretty. Their vows were perfectly them as was most of the wedding. So happy to have another SIL. I wish I had remembered my camera, then I could have some pictures to show...Thursday night I got to meet up with an Internet friend, Lulu's mama K, who I have been emailing with since the week of Sammy and her births. (that sentence hurts my feelings but I'm too tired to fix it). I missed out on meeting Stevie's mama K, but hope to catch up with her while I'm in MN this week.

Started reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan today, loving it. It confirms lots of my thoughts lately so I am encouraged and compelled. I got to hang with some of my cousins today that I haven't had a chance to spend much time with in the last 5 years. I really do love my family.

Oh - and don't forget the donate button ------> over there. I've decided to start jogging (Monday - ha ha) and see how far I can jog this year, with the goal of making it the whole 5k next year. I've received 4 donations! So exciting. String of Pearls is a great organization..I'll add a tab soon with all the info in one place...

the ornament...

Here is the ornament that I finally had glazed in late November. Remember that I time I went into a pottery shop sobbing? Yeah. Of course it's Louisiana so they had a ceramic 'gator for me to paint and attach. Dave found the wonderful ornament display candle holder thingy and it's been on the mantel every since.

String of Pearls sent the ornament and blue paint in their kit. I wish I had thought to try and find a couple more of my own to hoard, or give to grandparents, whatever. This is extra precious because it's the only handprint we could get. Foot molds and foot prints, no problem, but my tough baby was not unfurling those fists for nothin'.

I am so thankful for the kit SoP sent. I gave my mom and SIL-Laura the instructions for everything and said "figure it out" because I wanted to focus on squishing and poking those cheeks. It's exciting to have the opportunity to support their organization while remembering and honoring my boy.

July 30th - Parker Family 5k Run/Walk

details *woo hooo!*

Oooooooooooooh my goodness. I received my first donation! *smilesmilesmile* I had no idea how happy that would make me feel. I am so excited to plan for this. Immediately after getting that email I started planning the extra special love I want to put on my t-shirt...

I also realized that in my excitement to announce I left out some important details. So here's my attempt to fill in some blanks, ask away if you have more questions.

All money donated here, 100%, will go directly to String of Pearls. I paying for my own entry fee and flight to Colorado (as well as any other expenses on the trip.) Superfluous detail - this year I will be walking but next year my goal is to run (with a smile for my stepdad who says runners are never smiling). Do runners eat brownies for breakfast? Opps.

The event is on Saturday July 30th in Parker, Colorado. I have no idea where that is but my SIL does so I'm trusting it's not far from Denver.

New Orleans - watch out...this girl is learning some things...getting ready to start doing some things...

our first run/walk

hey ya'll,

So excited. It looks like it will work out for most of the family to participate in the Parker Family 5k/3k run/walk to benefit String of Pearls! I am pumped!

I added a donate button through Paypal, if you would to sponsor our walk and support this excellent organization, click on the button under the CHEEKS! picture. *smile*

String of Pearls is an organization that works to support parents who have received a fatal diagnosis for a baby during pregnancy. Laura was in touch with me through email after my mom reached out to her. They sent a kit for me collect memories of the too short time we had with Sammy...foot molds, the handprint Christmas ornament, a photo book that inspired me to make Sammy's grands and great grands their own brag book...I can't imagine how lame my memory collection would have been if it were not for this organization.

I also used Pearl's birth plan to help guide Sammy's (which I should totally post here, mental note).

Please donate and support this fantastic organization that reaches out to help families at a most difficult time.

**so excited**we're making t-shirts!**they are gonna rock!**

**more info to follow**

no cards for that

*or the one where I ramble on and on about randomly connected events*

woo hoo - almost "summer". Yesterday was our last day with kiddos.

I have Dave's Father's Day gift already and while I was in CVS last night, in the card section, I started looking at cards. Thank goodness I had just had an ice cream cone (Creole Creamery) and was overloaded with caffeine. I was able to laugh and joke with my friend about the lack of Father's Day cards for situations like ours.

I felt my first not-Sammy kicks last night. I got to spend the evening with my friend Lindsay who's due in July and she sat long enough for him to get movin'. I haven't felt a lot of pregnant bellies in my life and last night was the first time I was able to recognize a kick for what it was, and compare it to my own experience. It was shocking to feel a kick with my hand and not in my belly. Poor baby (and Lindsay), apparently the fervency with which I poked my precious baby's cheeks is similar to how I poke around on a pregnant belly. Ha. Took me 8 months to put that together. I was all about poking Sammy, pre and post birth. *sigh*

I am excited to see Iz and the family next week! *smile* My bro John is getting married! I know my immediate family will be there and some extended family lives in the Chicago area so I'm assuming they will be there...can't wait to see everyone and celebrate.

Sammy's cabin is being built and will be used for an overnight camp next week! This has barely been on my radar but the closer I get to seeing it the more excited I get. My dad (and grandpa) volunteer at this little camp in south central Minnesota. It is definitely their labor of love. Sometime last year they decided to build some smaller cabins (sleeps 6 I think) and in the fall my dad started planning a Sammy memorial benefit to raise money for a cabin to be built in his honor. The benefit was in January and the cabins are almost done. I will get a chance to see it after the wedding.

Which reminds me, my SIL Linda (Iz's mom) sent an email about a 3k family walk/run that String of Pearls does every year. I have a few details to work out but I would loooove to do that and you might see some kind of button for donations or tracking donations on the side of this page soon. String of Pearls is a fantastic organization that sends packages to parents of babies that are faced with a fatal diagnosis. Mine was personalized - that's the kind of care they take. I'll talk more about them in another post soon. Check out their website!

I am so grateful to have family that continues to want to honor Sammy. Life has been a little crazy and Sammy has not been the only one vying for constant attention in my mind. Just when I am starting to feel bad about the nothing I doing to keep him in everyone's memory someone gets a great idea on how to honor him. I am blessed.