Another April has rolled around and again it's a month of many feelings and events. At our house we have the good feelings of hope, happiness and excitement about new beginnings that rise out of spring, longer and warmer days and Easter but of course those come along with the not as good feelings of remembering April two years ago when we watched Karen slip away from us. It's an interesting contrast as Karen loved the longer, warmer days of spring and the chance to get out into the yard and start planning her gardens and having Easter somewhere in the weeks leading up to April 21 serves as reminder and reassurance of her place and presence now and forever.
On the Sunday before April 21 Kristjan attended a birthday party for a classmate, the same classmate at the same pool that he was at just before we got the call from Aunt Phyl to come to Riverview two years ago. It was a strange feeling to prepare to go to the party and strange for Jen and I as we had dinner while he was there, but at the same time somehow reassuring to be doing something familiar and connected to Karen.
Jennifer needed to provide a baby picture for the school yearbook this year for the grad page and that resulted in us looking through our pictures (which are now all together on one computer for easy viewing). It was a fun walk down memory lane but what really struck me was to look at the pictures of the kids in 2010 when Karen was diagnosed, or in 2013 when she passed away. They were both so young in those pictures and have grown so much to now. They are definitely growing and maturing, but it's that awkward age where they want to grow up and be treated that way but also want to hold on to being little kids and be treated that way. I'll admit to sometimes getting mixed up and not responding the right way. When they went for their check ups last week the doctor looked at their ages, offered me his sympathies and wished me luck (and "prescribed" that I might want to drink! :) )
We've also had lots of events this month, badminton and run club have been in full swing, choir preparations for tour this weekend and year end concert coming up, percussion lessons and lots of work and meetings for me. We did get down to the lake for a day to check the place out now that the snow is gone and see our neighbours and we attended the musical at MBCI which the Peters kids were performing in and the kids have found time to spend with friends.
That's about it from us for now. It's nice to see spring well underway in April this year and we're planning on enjoying it. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and support - we appreciate it!
Love
Doug, Jen and Kris
