Life with Grace

This came home with Grace today and it just gave me the biggest smile.  The comment under the star sums Grace up so well.  Gracie marches to the beat of her own drum and is happy to do her own thing and not what everyone else is doing.  It just made my heart happy that she is confident and did what she was supposed to, but didn't have to do it the same as all the other kids.  One of the many reasons we love our Gracie girl. 

Time Marches On

Today it has been two weeks since my mom passed away and 5 years since Dave's grandma Reed passed away.  It seems like so much longer than two weeks without my mom and so much less than 5 years without Dave's Grandma.  The last time I went two weeks without seeing my mom was in 2005; I saw her almost every single day.  I miss them both so much.  

The first week after losing mom was so busy it was a blur; we were all on auto pilot and somehow made it through all the funeral planning,  funeral, thank you notes, going to the bank, and all the other things that come along with losing someone.  But then, people went home, all the flowers from the service wilted and had to be thrown away, there were fewer cards in the mail, and the world around us was back to normal in an instant.  We were left with this huge hole in our lives that has always been filled with my mom, trying to figure out how to live this new "normal."   And that's when it got REALLY hard.  I had a hard weekend.  I cried, a lot; so much and so hard that it was hard to breathe.  I was backing into our garage and scraped against the side because my mind was somewhere else.  We had our family pictures taken and I would think about how excited I was to show mom then realized I couldn't.  I took Madi shopping and everything I saw was something my mom would love, or it was a quote about moms.  I found some really good deals which she would've appreciated and I wanted to text her and tell her about it but I couldn't.  It's these moments that are the hardest by far. 

Madi is so much like me so it's easy for me to understand how she's trying to cope.  She is the strong, silent type.  She's tough and she does what she has to do.  She doesn't say a lot but I know her mind is constantly going.  When Dave's Grandma was alive, her goal was to stay with us long enough to see Madi make her First Communion.  I never imagined it would be my mom worrying about being able to witness it..I'm so thankful she was there. 

 

Grace has the most pure and kind  heart I have ever seen.  I love that she has the faith to know Grandma is with us all the time.  She reminds me when I cry that it's okay because Grandma is always with us.  It really amazes me that, at 5 years old, her faith is so unwavering and she doesn't question for one second where Grandma is; she knows she is in Heaven.   I am so thankful she had this day with my mom earlier this year, Grandparent's Day in her 4K class last spring.

 

Wyatt still asks, "Grandma sleeping?"  I tell him yes.  He knows when we go to the cemetery that we're going to see Grandma and tells her bye-bye when we leave.  I know he doesn't understand but I also know he will have memories of Grandma.

 

They Keep Me Going

I took three of my favorite little people to the park today.  As much as I'd like to do anything but get back to "life," these three keep me going everyday.  My mom gave everyone various instructions before she passed away.  One thing she told us was to make sure we were feeding and taking care of the kids, no matter how much we didn't feel like eating or taking care of ourselves.  Typical Grandma, worrying about her grandbabies. 

 Whoa Hannah!

Crazy H

 Do you know how hard it is to explain to a 2-year old where their Grandma is?  Yesterday I told him we were going to go see Papa.  He said, "see Grandma too?"  Not sure how to answer him, I said, "Do you miss Grandma?"  He told me yes then said, "my go church see Grandma."  He keeps asking to go to church to see Grandma because that's the last place he saw her.  Such a sweet, sweet boy. 

 Hattie has the wind blown hair look:)

 Curly Sue

 The three amigos

 Hattie girl

 They were parched, time for a water break. 

 Hannah was yelling at the other two, lol. 

 Dirty bum

 There are dirt hills at the park we went to for kids to ride bikes on.  Since there wasn't anyone riding bikes, the kids ran up and (slid) down the hills over and over.  They were filthy but they had fun.

 More dirty bums. 

If you look closely you can see a tiny white butterfly on the right side of the picture.  It kept circling Wyatt and he chased it around.  It upset my mom so much that she didn't get to run and play with these three little ones like she did with Madi and Grace.  I'm pretty sure Grandma was there playing today.

What Cancer Has Done to My Family

Cancer has taken a wife from her husband of 34 years. 
Cancer has taken a mother from her three children. 
Cancer has taken a grandma from her five grandchildren. 
Cancer has caused a mother not to be with her daughter on her wedding day. 
Cancer took my mom on my daughter's 9th birthday. 
Cancer took my best friend. 
Cancer has made me afraid for my phone to ring because I was scared to get "the call." 
Cancer has made me afraid to go places and do things. 
Cancer brought out the worst in me. 
Cancer made me take out my hurt and pain on my husband and kids. 

But.....

Cancer has allowed a mother to hold her baby for the first time. 
Cancer has allowed a grandma to hold my baby for the first time. 
Cancer has shown me true love in my dad's care for my mom. 
Cancer has made me realize what a true gift every minute is. 
Cancer has shown me how much kindness truly exists. 
Cancer has shown me what an impact one person can have on so many lives. 
Cancer has brought out the best in me. 
Cancer has brought me closer to my family. 
Cancer has taught my children, and myself,  not to be afraid of death. 
Cancer made me stronger than I ever thought I could be. 

My Best Friend, My Angel, My Mom

Cindy Hoverson, age 52, Pulaski, received her angel wings on September 8, 2015, with her family at her side, after a courageous three year battle with lung cancer. The daughter of Ralph and Bernice (Metz) Heiser was born January 13, 1963, in Dickinson, ND. She was a 1981 graduate of Watford City High School in Watford City, ND. On June 13, 1981, Cindy married her sweetheart, Glen, at St. Peter Canisius Catholic Church in Grassy Butte, ND. They made their home in Grassy Butte and welcomed two children during their time there, Lexie and Doug. In 1990 the family moved to Evanston, WY, where they welcomed another daughter, Kaci, in 1992. Cindy couldn’t stand the thought of not being near her grandchildren, so they moved to Pulaski in August of 2006, just before the birth of her first granddaughter.


Cindy loved her family so very much and was blessed to stay at home and raise her children and later, care for her grandchildren. She loved every holiday, especially Christmas, and made each one special. Her family often teased her that she single-handedly kept the post office running with all the holiday cards she mailed. She loved birds and enjoyed watching, feeding, and listening to them, especially cardinals. Cindy had a green thumb and took great pleasure in planting beautiful flowers. She was a talented cake decorator and made all her family’s birthday cakes. Cindy also loved football and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan since childhood. Cindy was a very faith-filled woman and devoted many hours in the parishes to which she belonged, teaching religious education, sewing altar cloths and banners, volunteering at the food pantry, and decorating the church for holidays. She had a wonderful sense of humor, which she displayed until the very end. Above all, she was always kind and raised her children to be good people, just as she was.


Cindy is survived by her loving husband, Glen, and her three children: Lexie (David) Reed, Pulaski, WI, Doug (Sarah) Hoverson, Pulaski, and Kaci (fiancé Brian), Suring, WI; five grandchildren: Madisyn, Grace, and Wyatt Reed, and Hannah and Hattie Hoverson, all of whom she loved to the moon and back. She is further survived by her mother-in-law, Norma Hoverson, Billings, MT; brothers: Kenny (Jane) Heiser, Dickinson, ND, Ron (Pat) Heiser, Grassy Butte, ND, Craig Heiser, Kalkaska, MI; and one sister, Brenda Wanner, Eufala, AL; sisters-in-law: Laurel (Charlie) Noland, Worden, MT, Halle (Dunc) McDonald, Jordan, MT, and Sally Hoverson, Billings, MT as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.


She was preceded in death by an infant son, her parents, Ralph and Bernice Heiser, father-in-law, Melvin Hoverson, brother-in-law, Paul Hoverson, sister-in-law, Jane Hoverson, and a special nephew, Aaron Wanner.


Friends may call at Marnocha Funeral Home, 186 E, Pulaski St., Pulaski, on Friday, September 11th, from 4:00 to 7:00 for visitation, concluding with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. The visitation continues at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 12th at Assumption B.V.M. Church, 119 E. Pulaski St., Pulaski. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church, Fr. Patrick Gawrylewski, O.F.M. presiding. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery.


The family would like to thank the Aurora at Home Health Nurses for their amazing care as well as the staff at Aurora Hospital Vince Lombardi Cancer Center. Special thanks to Val, who held a very special place in Cindy’s heart.

Labor Day Parade-Kaci's First Performance

On Labor Day we headed to Suring, where my sister is the new band/music teacher, to watch her band in the parade.  We are so proud of her.  We were able to record it for my mom and she cried tears of joy; she was so proud.  The kids had a great time at the parade and got SO.MUCH.CANDY. 

 Gracie and Hannah

 Wy man

 Wyatt got himself into a little trouble when he tried to steal one of the twins' chairs. 

 Hattie bug

 Here they come!

 Kaci's band

 Candy collecting pros

 This boy has my heart

 Hattie didn't appreciate the loud train whistle

 This gentleman was walking along handing out candy from his pail.  Wyatt didn't wait for him to hand it to him, he dove right in and picked his own. 

 The kids loved the Packer Minion

 We went to the small carnival after the parade and grabbed some lunch and let the kids got to go on a couple rides. 

 

Happy Birthday Madisyn

Our sweet Madisyn turned 9 on September 8th.  We had celebrated the Sunday before with a party and bounce house for the kids.  They all had a fun time even though it was extremely hot and humid.  Madi asked me if it would be okay not to have a "theme" for her party this year.  I felt a little sad about it at first because my baby is growing up so fast.  After her party we went to my mom and dad's house so she could open her gifts from them.  I am so thankful my mom got to see her open her gifts.  My mom passed away on the afternoon of Madi's birthday.  It's so hard for her to understand.  She and my mom shared such a special bond.  We know one day Madi will be honored to share her birthday with Grandma's birthday in Heaven but it will be hard for a while.  Here are some pictures from her party:)

 Definitely not one of Grandma's cakes, but Madi was happy.  It broke my mom's heart that she couldn't make her cake this year.  She has made every one of Madi's birthday cakes. 

 Hattie enjoying the party

 Cousin Jack thinking about giving Auntie Lexie a smile

 Bounce house fun

 Madi was very happy with her Garmin Vivofit from mommy & daddy!

 More presents

 Make a wish

 The bounce house crew

 I had to go in and take care of some wasps who had made their way in

 Bath and Body Works goodies from Grandpa & Grandma

My dad had been calling Madisyn, "Madi Sue Heck" for quite sometime now, after Sue from the tv show The Middle.    They made a deal that if he didn't quit calling her that by her b-day, he had to pay her $50.  Well, she got her $50 but I think she may have gotten it no matter what.  I think Papa can call her Madi Sue Heck for as long as he wants:)