Hard to Remember. . .

This is a difficult post to make.  These pictures are of Kurt, when he was about four weeks old.  His little friend in this one is about six months old, but she was only two pounds and ten ounces when she was born.  Kurt was eight, four.  But at this point in time, roughly the last week of October 2006, they were the same size.

This picture adds Joshua Florian to the bunch.  He was about five or six months old, and next to these two, he's such a roly-poly little boy.  He stayed chubby and angelic for two precious years, two months and two days from the day of his birth, and then he died, from undiagnosed Addison's disease, in a matter of about four days.  

I'm posting this because his mother, my friend Litzy Florian, has asked me and everyone who knew him, not to let him be forgotten.  We were only a small part of his life, but I was privileged to be there when he was born, and saw him about four or five times with his family and his grandparents throughout his life, because we moved further from their sweet family, but kept in touch.  

Joshie was such an adorable boy!  Everyone who knew him loved him and couldn't help but be swallowed up in his gigantic spirit.  My heart just bled when I found out that he had died so suddenly, especially since my own son is just about the same age.  It sure put into perspective all the trouble I think Kurt causes me and all the frustration I direct his way.

I'd much rather have the frustration, messes, and screaming that mean he's still here for me to love and cuddle, than calm, clean, and quiet without him.  I hope that Joshua's family will always treasure the time that he was able to spend loving them and look forward to being with him again soon.  I hope that I can learn from their example and treasure mine just a little bit more.  

I love you Litzy!!

Magnetix, anyone?

Brynne Adell got a good-sized package of Magnetix for her birthday in June, and was elated.  

Ally has had a few isolated pieces for a few months, but kept them mostly to herself, not allowing anyone to play with them.  So for Brynne to get a set for her b-day was a major coup.

She's been connecting them and building shapes to spin around on the stand that comes with the set.  It is really cool, I think, and magnets are always so entrancing.  She'll get them out and sit on the floor for hours, just playing, enthralled with attaching the bits together.

Arranging the steel marbles in patterns.

And re-arranging them.  She presses them into the carpet and makes little dents in the fibers.

  She concentrates on it and insists on taking pictures.

And then she's done. . .

And they still sit for hours on the floor. . . until Kurt comes and tries to scoop them up.    

At least, stepping on a Magnetix isn't as horrible as stepping on a Lego.  Still.  Neither is fun.

You know that feeling. . .

       When you walk into a room, say your garage, meaning to clean it, but you can't get started because there's just so much to do?  The overwhelming-ness of the task paralyzes you and you just walk back out again.  Apply the same concept to posting stories on your blog.  You seriously can't write one hundredth of the stuff that goes on in your life.  But you've still gotta try.  

        I've got over three thousand pictures on my computer waiting to tell their stories--and that's just since we've had a digital camera.  I know you probably have the same problem.  I guess we just take 'em one at a time and keep trying. . .  Slow and steady, posts the page.