Skip to main content

Cousins, Aunties, and Uncle Jon

"How lucky am I?" I thought to myself.

I haven't thought that in quite some time, but Saturday I said that phrase to myself several times. We had a day that felt normal. Finally.

Saturday morning the kiddos and I drove to Norfolk to spend the day with family. The weather was hot but beautiful. Bright blue skies with fluffy clouds. We met up with TT (Jenna), Asia, Uncle Jon, Auntie Emily, Halley, Ava, and JJ at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Asia couldn't stay long because she had to go to work but she was there long enough for me to get in a few good hugs. We hopped on the tram and started our ride through the garden. Now, I love Lewis Ginter but it has nothing on Norfolk. They have the largest rose garden on the East Coast. As we drove by I just inhaled. That sweet, fragrant smell filled my soul. It was like a hug from Toni, a hug that I gladly accepted. There was a Lanterns of Asia exhibit going on so not only was there beautiful grounds to admire but also incredible displays. Scoty loved the dragon and the dog best. When the tram stopped at the children's garden we hopped off. This place was awesome. There were fountains shooting out of the ground for the kiddos to run through. Although we weren't prepared with bathing suits, it was hot and the kids didn't care. It was not long before they were soaked. Except Scoty, he was not sure what to think of the fountains and decided if Mommy wasn't getting soaked then he wasn't either. It was so healing to watch Brit laugh and play with his cousins.

We decided not to get back on the tram but to explore the gardens by foot. (Kids needed to dry) By this time Scoty had decided that Uncle Jon was his new best friend. They played together and explored. Briton and the girls ran and chased each other. We all made jokes and laughed. We spent way too much on lemonade (living high on the hog). It was amazing.




After about 3 hours at the Gardens we decided we were all starving, Jenna suggested a Greek/Italian restaurant near by and we were off. This place had a game room which entertained the older kids while my phone (ie Peppa Pig on YouTube) entertained Scoty while we were waiting on our food to arrive and the grownups chatted. We all decided Den would have loved today. He loved nature and he loved his family, how could he not. The food was so good. I ate mushroom stuffed ravioli with homemade alfredo sauce. I wanted to take a bath in this stuff, it was that good. After dinner we walked across the parking lot to Penguins Snoballs, where Asia works, and got a treat. Uncle Jon played giant jenga with the kids while we all got the occasional brain freeze and enjoyed our frozen treats.

Then it was off to TT's house. Brit brought his football and Uncle Jon tossed it around with the kids outside then everyone came in and played some VR games. That was hilarious to watch. They were pretending to work at a 7-11 type place and an office. Poor kids, they are in for a rude awakening when they really get jobs.




We had the best day we've had since we lost our Den. I am so grateful for Jenna, Jon, and Emily. For those laughing kids. For the sunshine. And for Dennis. He was there, I have to believe that. It was too perfect of a day for him not to have enjoyed it with us.


Love,
Rachael


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Alone.

It took 10 months for Dennis and I to get pregnant with Briton. While trying for Scoty we found out I had some fertility problems. It took about 2 years for us to get pregnant with him. We were at the stopping point when it finally happened. This was the family we prayed for. The family we worked hard for. The one where sex was sometimes a chore with an end goal. Spontaneity went out the window those last several months of trying. I had actually started medication for us to try for #3 when things started to go downhill. We were supposed to be parents together. Be a team. Be partners. I wasn't supposed to do this by myself. But here I am, teaching Scoty how to pee in the potty (success!) and count to 10 (we are almost there). Alone. Trying to convince Briton that deodorant is an everyday necessity (we aren't quite there yet) and teaching him how to be a good friend (he's a natural). Alone. I say alone but I know I have our village. God, grandparents, siste...
2 comments
Read more

It's a day I'm glad I survived-Part 1

May 20th 2006, I married my best friend. This year my best friend was dead on our anniversary. Dead. My person is gone. The hope for his earthly recovery is gone. My partner will never get to come home. We won't get any more chances. This year, on Saturday the 19th, Uncle Jon came and got the boys for a fun day. Thank God for Uncle Jon. He loves those boys with a big, fierce love and the feeling is mutual. The original plan was for a day for them at the river. The non-stop rain we have been having in VA made that impossible so they went to the Science Museum, out to lunch, to Game Stop, and back to the house to play. The boys are still talking about their day with him. He makes them laugh. It's the kind of laughter that fills all the empty parts of my heart, and there are so many empty parts now. Him coming down that day also gave me a day to take care of myself, which was a huge gift in itself. How lucky are we to have Uncle Jon. My friend Whitney ventured to Mechanicsvill...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sucky, suck, suck

I'm not okay right now. I hate this grief roller coaster. Sometimes I think my heart is starting to mend. Then something triggers it to rip back open. I think of all these topics of things that I want to write about and then I open up my computer to write and just stare at the screen because all that I want to write is that I am tired of faking the smile I put on my face everyday when I go out to meet the world and how all I want to do is lay in my bed and scream until my voice gets hoarse then cry until I fall asleep. But even in sleep, the nightmares come. This is so hard. I'm back to work full time. I am grateful for the structure and I know that I need it but I don't have nearly as much laying in my bed and hiding from the world time as I want. And now that school has started there is always homework, studying, lunches to back, clothes to organize and can you believe these kids of mine expect dinner every night! I'm overwhelmed right now. I know that I am not th...
Post a Comment
Read more