R is for Ronnebeck!

It's been quite a week! We are currently in Texas soaking up every glorious moment of vacation! I can't wait to get back and share the pictures and stories from our time here! Everyone has been really nice and the beef is worth writing home about!

I've probably posted this picture a million times, but the feeling it gives me is  so worth it. Today has been 1 year. I can't believe it's been an entire year since I got to hold her hand, got to look into her eyes, and got to tell her I love her and she said  I love you More.  It's that moment when you're walking down the street and get a whiff of perfume that you swear she wore once, or that moment at Relay when you realize you're a caregiver, but your survivor is not here with you anymore. It's that moment when you miss her so much it hurts, and then curse her in the same breath for being just like her. It's that moment when you realize you miss her, but if she had to be back on this earth in the condition she left you would never wish her back in a million years. I love you Momma, I hope you are enjoying heaven, dancing on the tables and singing Cecelia by Simon and Garfunkel - and I hope you know how lost we are without you.

 As mentioned several times here in this fine blog, I love that my Uncle Gene now lives in Washington. It's great to get to know him, and now his kids whom have lived all to far away for most of my life. Tonight his older girls were in town to visit and they'll be here till the 7th. I'm looking forward to spending more time with them when we get home from our vacation! Tonight we met down at Anthony's on the waterfront and then we went and walked along the pier.  Casey and Cara! Casey and Cara with their Dad!

 Tonight Eric and I drove up to Everett to see our very first Jet City Rollergirls bout.  I have watched a few of the teams here and there, but I had not yet been to a league bout.  We got there in time to get front row seats (as usual) and spent some time talking with Megan. Megan was just picked up by Carnevil at their last draft, and I wanted to be there to see her announced with her team for the first time! She didn't get to play, but it was fun to see her with a team! I can't believe we turned her into a certified rollergirl. When I told her she should come skate with me, she kind of looked at me like I was crazy, now look at her! I'm very proud.  See! There she is! Rolling with her Carnies! Carnevil managed to pull out their first win all season tonight! Way to go Carnies! I have a feeling there will be a whole lot of purple wearing in my future... I do have to support my girl. But it will be awfully hard when they play the Pink Pistols, who are, undoub...

Back on the rink last night for my first time in 8 months, since my injury.  It. Felt. Amazing! I barely noticed the 8 pound brace around my knee, and though there were a million people there - It was great to just be jamming along to the songs. I will be skating as much as I can. Starting out at once a week, and moving up from there.  It's been a long battle, but last night seemed like the means to the end of the injury genre in my life.  Though I got a hard decision ahead of me of weather or not to go back to Derby, for now I'm going to just be happy with skating. Skating makes me happy and I can now do it without pain. Thank you God. Thank you Eric, for being patient in my rehab stages when I was probably less than fun to be around. Thank you to my friends, and family who deal with me bitching about not being able to skate anymore. And thank you Megan, for encouraging me while I was down. And thank you Dawn for going skating with me last night, and enjoying it!

I signed up to get terrorized by Laurie in February. She has done her job and I should graduate next Wednesday. She did demand that I go skate before then so ya know doctors orders are doctors orders!!!!! Thank you Laurie for making my world right again!

At Relay on Saturday I was interviewed by a reporter from The Highline Times who was there to talk to Jaylen and his Mom Jamie and his Grandma Donna. We talked about how awesome Jaylen is who's fundraising is now at $1,636.40! Jaylen is my little buddy, and I'm super excited to get all the PR out on this little guy as we can!  He is a Kindergartner at Marvista Elementary and spends his weekends selling candy bars and other things to help fight cancer. He is one of my many Relay Heroes.  Way to Go Jaylen... We're famous - to people who read the Highline Times that is!

2009 - this is what we were doing for her birthday. She would have been 54 today. Miss you more than anything Momma, I hope you are celebrating in heaven. Happy Birthday! Love, your baby Girl.

1| I haven't done this in so long I figured I'd give it a go. Life has been hectic and I've been reminding myself how blessed I am. I'm looking forward to a time where I can just be. Until then, full power forward! 2| Work has been crazy! I can't say it's entirely tolling on my as I am not working a full week in June. I didn't really plan it that way, but It worked out, and I'm pretty thankful for some time off even though it's nuts around here. 3| We're headed to Texas next week. Just typing that sentence is surreal. 4| My feet STILL hurt from Relay. Though, as a fellow Relayer Reminded me - it's nothing compared to what they go through . Translation: Quit whining. 5| We got this feedback from our event this weekend and it left me smiling all day : " My dad was so happy this weekend and said he felt like the King of the relay. He could not believe how special you made him feel and told me that he felt more alive in the past 2 da...

 Joanne, Donna, Kim and I all "Named" ourselves the Fab 4 for all the crazy work we put in the days leading up to Relay. Somehow that translated into "We need capes" and "a special handshake"! Well, that being said, here are the capes, and our attempts to get an awesome photo of ourselves, These just made me giggle. we have way too much fun!  And then there are these guys who were our light up parade of the night... The picture made me giggle. Thanks to Akira for the photos!

Dr. Gordy Klatt's Luminaria  Relay 2012 was pretty stinking awesome! I could go on and on with details, but at this point it's pretty much a blur. I can't really express how much I love my fellow committee members. I have grown to have a very wonderful relationship with each one of them, and I hope that it only continues to grow. I will do my best to recount more stories with the next batch of pictures I post, but for now, just enjoy the simple images of a wonderful night!  Poor lil Jaylen, so wiped out! These people... Love them all! I just think this is beautiful - from Kirkland Relay, not ours Jaylen and Joanne ... Jaylen was nearly asleep standing. Our awesome survivor cake! Me getting my committee award! I was a superhero for a day. Our Goofy Picture... we're getting better at it. Opening Ceremony So Sleepy! BEFORE everyone moved in! 2013 Co-Chairs! About Mid-walk Jessie, Jim & Dawn - Patsy and Ti...