Congratulations to Deb Hayes the Hot Tub Winner!
The fall is here and that means winter is just around the corner. The gray skies, cold weather and the snow, yuck! Of course we can enjoy the pretty leaves as they change color. But once the leaves have fallen the loneliness sets in more than usual. When is school winter vacation? Better than that how many days until spring? I think I should look into the light they make for winter blues.
Randy and I were really touched by a guestbook entry. Particularly how he pointed out how unified our neighbors are. We can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful, helpful and loving our neighbors are, past and present. They have been a God send to our entire family. Leanne said in her last journal that she wrote that there are angels all around us. Well she certainly knew what she was talking about and she was definitely right. Between our neighbors, friends and as always our family and those that continue to remember Leanne they are all angels to us.
Randy and I took my mother out for what would have been my Mom and my Dad’s 53rd anniversary. We knew it was going to be a tough day for her and wanted to do something that would cheer her up. We all had a wonderful time reminiscing about my Dad and Leanne. We laughed and shed a few tears and then in the back ground we could hear “I Hope You Dance” come on the radio. We all stopped and listened and just knew the two of them were with us. Randy brought up the fact that it wasn’t even a country station. It was a station that just doesn’t play that kind of music. So we really knew that was them telling us they are with us which gave us all a lot of comfort.
Yesterday I ran into one of Leanne’s friend’s mother. She had told me a long time ago how her daughter promised Leanne that where ever she goes and when ever she does new things she would take Leanne with her. She took Leanne to the prom and to their High School graduation. What a tear jerker. Well, when I ran into her yesterday she mentioned how her daughter had started college last year and took Leanne with her. She had set up a little “Leanne Shrine” in her dorm room. When I saw her yesterday she mentioned how she took Leanne once again back to college and set up her little shrine. She was in her room when one of her room mates came in their room with a freshman that she had never met before. She looked around the room and said “Oh, you knew Leanne”! She couldn’t believe it. Somebody she didn’t know also knew Leanne. She told her mother how it was a signal to her from Leanne that she wanted her to make a new friend. Once again I was all chocked up. I just love hearing those stories.
Randy, Chris and I went to a fundraiser for Rob Pirelli. It was a wonderful turnout and we were happy to be a part of it. A great job was done by all the committee members that helped out. They raised a lot of money and will be giving out scholarships in Rob’s memory. They to like so many of us that lost children will also be handing out scholarships in their childs name. It’s another way of helping their family keep Rob’s memory alive.
We have a very dear friend that is very close to our heart’s that had to go for some really serious tests recently. Randy and I were both chocked up as she told us about her tests and what they were looking for. We knew how hard it was for her to tell us what was going on. She also told us how that morning when she was going she wanted Leanne with her to watch over her. She shared with us how she searched threw her clothes for her Leanne t-shirt the day she was going in and asked Leanne to come with her and watch over her. We both had to wipe away a few tears from our eye’s hearing that. She call’s Leanne, her little sweetheart. So far all her tests look good and she just had a few more to take. We know Leanne will be with her through all that she goes through watching over her for all of us.
Randy has been busy as usual working around the house. We’re hoping to see the inside coming to a finish hopefully this weekend and the outside well that’s another project. He continues to work hard on getting everything finished, cleaned up and put away. When we finally make the move to the other side it’s going to be one heck of a cleaning job to be done on the original side. Talk about dust! But it will be all worth it in the end and ready for many new memories. Randy is one heck of a husband, father, son, brother, son-in-law and friend. We are all truly blessed to have him.
Chris is still plugging along with his work and continues to go out with his friends. He has done a terrific job in the addition. He’s turning out to be quite the carpenter. He’s learned a lot of things in the past couple of years. He still has a few minor things to finish up inside and outside. It’s so nice to look around and see what a beautiful job he has done. We are so thank-ful to him for everything he has done. He has put some nice finishing touches around in all the rooms. Every time he does something else I want him to do the same thing in another room. Things that we wouldn’t have thought to do he asked us to do. For instance crown molding. We couldn’t believe how beautiful it looks and we just love to marvel at it. We couldn’t be prouder of him for all that he’s done. The addition was definitely done by family with everyone in the family lending a hand in its construction. We can honestly say that the family room is truly a family room. Chris just can’t wait to start entertaining in the family room. I’m sure when he does he’s going to be so proud of all his hard work that went into the addition.
Cam, what can we say but Cam. He continues to entertain us with that high school charm as well as his funny sense of humor. He’s very entertaining and social at school as well. Hmm wonder how we know this. I don’t know what it is but when these kids hit high school what a change. Sometimes I don’t know if it’s my son in that body and then there are other times we’re just so proud he’s our son. He’s really starting to mature and our little boy is starting to disappear and turn into a nice young man. He’s become a young man and I just want him to be a little child all over again. He’s growing and changing so much before our eyes. He’s having a great time in hockey. He’s playing for a couple of different hockey teams this year. One team he’s playing on is with a lot of varsity players and he’s the youngest one that plays out. They're all juniors and seniors he's playing with. He had made the top tier league and has shown he belongs there. Last night once again he scored another goal as well as getting another assist. He continues to excel in hockey. He enjoys playing on all the teams one with friends from the town and then with total strangers but now friends on his other team. Between school, hockey, refereeing and his friends he has been keeping quite busy. He told us he wants to get a second job. Ah, we don’t think so Cam. He keeps us busy enough never mind him adding another job for us to get him back and forth to.
Brian, well he’s been shut down on the street as far as his aggressive skating is going and playing basketball. The town is redoing the street and Brian is beside himself. He’s been venturing off to other places to rollerblade. He won’t let the town shutting down his street stop him. As far as basketball goes he gave it a shot the other night and went out in the dirt street to play. Although it wasn’t the same he said it did work. He has to keep in shape because basketball season starts real soon for him. We’re looking forward to see our little hoopster back in action on the court. He’s been spending some time walking our dog Kya as well. It’s nice to see him take her out for a walk and once in awhile he takes her out on his roller blades like Leanne used to do and have her pull him down the street. He can’t wait for the construction on the street to be over so he can get back to his routine.
Dear Leanne,
These past two weeks have brought a few wonderful stories to us about you or in remembering you. It really is heart warming just to hear your name mentioned by others. Your beautiful resting place continues to grow with items that have been left in memory of you. We are always happy to see or hear that someone has been by to visit you. I have had a phone call from another mom that had lost her son shortly after losing you. She had taken pictures of your bike run and was going to send them to us. She was waiting her son’s bike run to go by as yours had come by first and was kind enough to take pictures of yours and to let me know that she had them and was going to send them to us. I will happily share them with everyone once I receive them. I could hear in her voice how much she missed her son. I certainly did relate and felt her exact pain. For us we will be forever grateful for the time we had with you as well as the time to say good-bye to you. As for her and others they weren’t so fortunate to be able to say goodbye or know that they were going to be leaving them. My heart aches for these people for not being able to say good-bye. But then I think back and we never did say good-bye but just told you over and over how much we loved you. How can someone ever say good-bye and know it’s the last time? Well good-bye wasn’t said but we think in our hearts and minds until we meet again. So to the families that didn’t say good-bye think it’s until you meet again but we ache for you not to be by their side as we were with you Leanne until your short life ended. Your home dancing amongst the stairs and living a new and better life! Gina once again did the walk for the Jimmy Fund. She is truly devoted to this every year and she said she thinks of you often while she walks. She even saw a butterfly and thought it must be you saying hello. I think it was you saying way to go Gina! I know you’re so proud of what she does for such a good cause. She even stopped to write on the Jimmy Fund poster at the half way point. She wrote “Leanne Schmall always in our hearts” with a heart around it. How sweet of her to do that in your memory. Well once again it’s time to go. You’re always in our hearts and souls.
Love forever and for always,
Dad, Mom, Chris, Cam and Brian xoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxo
BELIEVE!!!! WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it!
Every moment, thank God. Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Remember where ever you are and where ever you’re going God will always be there first.
In our thoughts and prayers: Leanne, Dad/Papa, Mom/Nana, Randy, Aunt Ricky, Aunt Phyllis, Pop, Debbie L., Rob and the Pirelli Family, Sherry M., Kristin G. and her family send a lot of prayers as she’s recovering from the bone marrow process, Charlie C., Maureen J., Al, Lil, Father David, Ellen’s Dad, Sean & Laura's F.'s brother in-law, Bring our troops home safe and soon, Hunter, Savanna & Catalina, Grant, Shyla, Brad M. , My Family and for all those that we have said we would pray for, all our families, friends and Everyone including all the Angels that support us and keeps us all in their prayers. May God bless each and every one of you!
