Remembering...

I haven't posted an update since my last entry about my step-dad, Richard. He went home to be with Jesus on December 21st and we had his funeral Christmas Eve.

This is Poppy with Rachel a couple years ago. This is one of my favorite pictures of them. Rachel was certainly "Poppy's Girl". He would always have some kind of treat in his shirt pocket for her every time we saw him. It was "their thing".

It's so hard to believe he's not with us anymore. In a sense, I'm happy for him that he's in heaven with Jesus. That's what he's longed for for years. But, on the flip side, I'm so sad that he's not still here, still being corny and joking, still there to be a partner to my mom. I think the hardest thing is knowing my mom will be lonely. She and Rich were about joined at the hip. They were always together. They were great friends above all and loved just having conversations about everything in the world. My heart aches for her that she's lost her best friend. I can't even begin to imagine how that must feel.

2007 has certainly been a trying year. We lost a dear friend of ours in May, my husband's stepdad passed away in July, and then Rich left us just over a week ago. I would have never imagined all that would take place during this past year....

We found out we were pregnant at the beginning of 2007 and having a precious new life enter our world in October was the biggest blessing and definitely a sunny side to all the dark days of the past year.

We are totally in love with our baby boy! He's our angel.

I'm hoping 2008 will be a year of joy. I feel like, literally, we have walked through the valley of the shadow of death in 2007. I'm praying for a few green pastures in 2008...