The Wheels On The Bus...

We just can't stay out of the car if we try. Tyler's sweet grandma passed away and so off to Idaho we went. Another road trip with snow and ice, sleepless nights and cranky kids. It was great to be there though, I love Tyler's family and have so much fun being around them. His Grandma was loved by so many people. As I was listening to her life story, I started to think about my own life and what people would say about me right now.

Knowing how to introduce kids to death is a hard thing. It is part of life, but you also want to protect them from pain and situations which they are too young to comprehend. When Shanna was little, we were at a funeral and she asked who made the statue which looked like the person who had died. After telling her it wasn't a statue but the person who had passed away, she had nightmares for a long time. We decided this time that neither daughter would go to the viewing. Shanna picked up what was happening pretty fast and showed an interest in seeing her great grandma. She got close enough to see her, but decided to keep her distance. Kaci was distracted at the viewing and had no idea we were at a funeral home. The next day at the church, I kept her in the back room for the family prayer before they closed the casket. Somehow, she got a look up front and said "Mom, someone is laying down up there." I told her that it was Great Grandma and that she looked a little different because her soul had gone to heaven. She said "I need to go see her. I have never seen an angel before. She is so beautiful."She was so sweet and respectful. She gave Tyler's mom such a sweet hug after seeing her great grandma. Shanna was timid and sad yet grown up and composed. Sara was loud and bubbly. There is something about the innocence and joy of a baby that makes even hard situations have a ray of sunshine in them.

We are getting settled back into life now. There are boxes everywhere, but slowly the house is coming together. The girls are getting used to our new schedule and seem to be happy. Shanna had to get glasses yesterday and looks cute in them. (Did Mom of the Year know she needed glasses before the school did? Um, no...)

Well, lots more is going on, but this took over a week to write and post, so I better just leave it at that. It is once again time for bedtime, and unpacking. (After bedtime is about the only time we get stuff done.) It feels like Groundhog's Day. Wait... it really is Groundhog's Day! :)