Hello Everyone--
I have thought all day what to write today. Two things come to mind. First is....one year....holidays, Spindler camping, birthdays, Christmas. We made it through our first year. It is hard to believe that it has been one year already. Mark and I have healed physically. Our family and friends that were at our bedsides in the hospital that first day and night are probably the only ones that really remember what we looked liked. We were a mess. Compared to the condition that we were in just one short year ago, Mark and I have nothing to complain about. And Nathan...he has grown up so much. Physically, I think he he was wearing size 24mo...and today we bought him size boys 4/5 Iron Man shirt. Emotionally he doesn't seem to be bothered too much by the loss of his brother. He gets sad when he sees Mark and I sad. We talk about Ian alot...Nathan does alot of things like Ian...He has his big brother's dance moves (if you can call them that), his laugh (just one big HA when something really catches him as funny) and when he is being silly he talks in a monster voice (sometimes Ian would answer us saying "OK" in a monster voice...hard to describe but some of you might remember that)
The second thing that I want to write about is our continued amazement as to how large our network of friends and family is. We have gotten many cards, emails, voice mails and phone calls. Beautiful flowers from the Schnieders and Harstads, a dragonfly candle holder from Grandma Arlene, a statue of God's hand holding a baby angel from Mike and Joan. They also gave us a keychain with Ian's name on it. One the back it stated the "hidden personality of Ian" It reads: A self-assured and forgiving individual. How true! Ian knew how to live life to it fullest and truly had the heart of an Angel!
Mark, Nathan and I started out the day going to church and lighting 6 candles for Ian. We then had to go to Walmart to get the stuff to make homemade Ice Cream. (Great Grandma Arlene's recipe) Ian liked his with mini chocolate chips (Anything with chocolate!!). My mom drove up for the day. She had a special gift for us. Last year before Christmas, Ian and Nathan spent the weekend with Grandma Ronda and Papa Mac. Ian found Grandma's toy train. A train that was given to her by her dad when she was 4, the first christmas she spent with them. I remember playing with this train as a child myself. Anyways, grandma got it out and played with it and Ian wanted to bring it home in the worst way. Grandma said that someday but just not now...Nathan was too little to play with it. Ian agreed. Someday when Nathan gets big, right grandma? I can just hear him negotiate it now! Well mom had a special table made for the train. One that has the train all set up with surroundings...people, animals, rocks, water...and enclosed in glass. Nathan doesn't like it too much that he can't play with what is under the glass. But it is our new puzzle table. And he seems to be ok with that. And now Mark and I are ending our day, reading all the messages left for us in the guestbook. Thank you.
We would also like to thank some more people.
From the accident scene:
Dan Elliott and Bob Adams of Brandon, SD
Dave Larson of Tea, SD
Lindia Roth of Worthington, MN
Renner Fire Dept
From Avera McKennan
ER staff (we have gotten all our cards)
Dr. Masterson
Staff, nurses and doctors who took care of us
Renae Skjonesberg, Mark's Aunt and social worker at the hospital
Family
Barb, Aaron, Taylor, Madison & Carter
David, Teri, Brennan, Meg & Lauren
...For taking care of Nathan while we were in the hospital
Ann, Greg, Mike, Erica & Matt
Ronda & Mac
Mike & Joan
Mike and Christel
All Friends and family that visited and sent flowers and words of comfort.
...We were so lucky to have all of our families looking out for us during those 8 days in the hospital, helping us make funeral arrangements, getting us safely home, staying with us and carting us around to all of our dr appts, cooking and cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping.
Special Thanks to: Eggers Funeral Home, St. Stephens in Anoka and St. Mary's in Bearsley
Rob & Jenny Vold, Dennis Spindler and Riverwood National Golf Course in Otsego, MN for putting on and hosting a great 1st Annual Ian Spindler Memorial Charity Golf Tourney. Also thanks to all who golfed, volunteered, donated and purchased items in the silent auction. $13,500 was donated to Wishes and More.
People of Westbrook, MN...For the great park bench!
Friends
Too many to list!!! Friends from "back home", high school, college, Wells Fargo, D R Horton, Medtronic, Unisys, BNI, current neighbors, "Old" neighbors
Everyone listed above (I hope I have not left any one out) your prayers have gotten us through this first year. Thank you.
Hug Your Babies Tight
Alicia, Mark & Nathan
