An angel gets her wings.

When Emma and Leah turned 8 years old, we got them a white, long-haired guinea pig.  They named her Angel.  She lived in their bedroom and was their beloved pet.  They held her while they did homework or read, they bathed her and kept her cage clean.  They fed her vegetables every night and hay every morning, and typed up long, detailed instructions for anyone who might be taking care of her while we were on vacation.  She was affectionately called "Aingey" or "the good girl" or "the rat" (the last name was from Glenn, which was typically followed by "She's not a rat!").

Angel kept Emma and Leah good company for over 6 years, and really during that time we didn't have any problems with her health.  Until one Sunday morning in September...

I was already at church and had asked Glenn to run home to get some food to put in the kitchen.  Sacrament Meeting was about to start and only Brooke had arrived.  I thought to look at my phone at the last minute, thinking that maybe there was a problem with the food.  There was a text saying that Angel had died.  I gasped and bolted out of the chapel to run home to see what had happened.

As I ran out into the parking lot, I saw Glenn, Andrew, Emma and Leah approaching.  I ran to them and gathered them in a big bear hug.  We all were crying.  I was so sad for Emma and Leah, it just broke my heart to see them so upset.  It was hard to get through the meeting.  Lots and lots of tears.  (Side note: the missionary who was speaking kept talking about angels during his talk...we tried to laugh, but it was hard.)

I asked the girls what they wanted to do after Sacrament...did they want to go home or go to class?  They decided to go to class, but I know it was hard for them.

So after church we decided to have a little memorial service.  The kids got together and decorated a shoe box for Angel.  Then they all wrote letters to her and they put them inside.  We also found some pictures of her and made a little collage.  I think it was helpful for the kids.

The kids wanted to bury her out by the back fence, since she tried to escape through it a couple times.  It ended up that the whole family gathered in the backyard to remember Angel, even Jill and her kids had just gotten out of church and came across the street.  It was one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed...and while one the one hand it felt so silly to be so upset over a little guinea pig, my heart just broke for my children who were so so sad.

None of the kids wanted to say anything, so Glenn volunteered to give the eulogy.  I love how he said that the girls took such good care of her for so long, and that Angel must have known that now that they are older they would be so much more busy, and that it was the right time for her to go.  It was so touching to see him start to cry, and in fact, I have never seen him cry so much over anything before.  The only one who was dry-eyed was Callie, who had no idea what was going on.

So we laid our dear Angel to rest, and we've finally been able to move on.  The girls would tell me that for a while afterwards they'd still cry when they'd think about Angel being gone.  They took a long time to clean out the drawers that held her food and other equipment, and her empty cage is still down in the basement.  But we are grateful for the good years we had with her, and I am grateful for the love and joy she gave to the children.

The things we learn...

So it turns out that high school cross country is a lot different from junior high cross country.  Who knew that there would be a coach who coached, that there would be real work outs, that there would be so many fun things like spaghetti dinners and cheers and secret pals and dressing up like the coach to promote team unity, that the girls would really be training for their meets, that they would see so much improvement in their times?

One thing that didn't change?  THE MUD.

Twelve.

In case anyone wasn't paying attention for several months leading up to September 1, Brooke was having a birthday.  She was turning 12, and reminded us at every opportunity.  She had everything planned for quite some time.  I know this comes as a big surprise, but Brooke was VERY excited for her birthday, and to turn 12, graduate from Primary and enter the Young Women's program.  Boy was she ever ready.

Brooke had a little sleep over with her friends.  She was ecstatic to receive a One Direction t-shirt...her latest (and probably longest lasting) obsession.

We found a whole bunch of Dr. Seuss paraphernalia in the Dollar Spot at Target, so we decided to continue the theme for the party.  I made some fun Thing 1 cupcakes that looked awesome right after they were made, but I didn't realize the cotton candy would die on top overnight.

Brooke has settled comfortably into the world of Young Women's and has now started talking about going to dances.  WHEN SHE TURNS 14.  This girls is always ready for the next step...and never looks back.  We love our dramatic, passionate Brooke!

Did that really just happen?

Have I actually understood?

You mean my parents are moving here?  To Cleveland?  You've got to be kidding me.

However, I received several texts of my mom, Teddy, and a huge yellow moving truck from various cities across the country, so it must be true.

But I still can't believe it's really happening. 

I never, EVER, thought it would, but the stars seemed to align, and here they are.

 

They sold their house, packed up their lives into a truck, and said goodbye to people they've known and loved for almost 40 years.  I know that was no small sacrifice.  They left nice weather, a lovely home, a city they know like the back of their hand, the grocery outlet, and extremely cheap produce. 

Teddy is happy to get belly rubs whenever his heart desires.

In the months that they've been here, they have jumped into the daily routine of our lives with both feet.  I don't think they realized what energy it takes to get these 9 grandkids to school or activities or church.  They may have underestimated the number of concerts, games, recitals, and performances there would be to attend.  I have to applaud how well they keep the schedules straight and the energy they have to give.

It had to be very hard to leave the ward they have been attending for so long.  They have served so diligently for so long.  And it's always a little awkward to start fresh, especially out here where things are o much more spread out.  But for me, someone who has been away from home for twenty years, it is such a blessing to witness firsthand as an adult my parents serving in the church.  Here is another area where they have jumped right in, even though I know it was hard.  They are such perfect examples of service and love, and to see it and be a part of it is just amazing to me.

All those years ago, when this California girl decided to marry a boy from Cleveland, Ohio, I would have laughed in your face if you told me that someday I'd have most of my family living within 10 minutes of me, that my kids would see both grandmas walking the neighborhood together, that they would see most of their cousins on at least a weekly basis.  It really is a miracle to me, one I don't take lightly.

So {I hope} it will be for the rest of my life...and I'll want nothing else till I die...