Letters to Heaven

Today would have been my nephew's Jason birthday. Its still don't seem like he is no longer here on earth with us. As a family we miss him so much. So this year when the girls said they wanted to wish him a happy birthday we decided they could make cards that we could attach to balloon's and send "letters to heaven". I got very emotional as they let them go into the sky and float away, but the girls just smiled the biggest smiles ever! So we have started a new tradition. We will send our letters to heaven from time to time. Happy Birthday Jason! John and I talk of you often and miss you more than you will ever know. As Kirstynn always says " God needed another angel to watch over us".

What a storm.

This is about 20 minutes after the storm. There was a car under all that...

Some tree's had already been moved, but this is a view from down my street. (This picture don't do it justice on how Payne truly looked, Every street had anywhere between 3-10 tree's down, Power lines where everywhere, including the poles.)

This storm ripped though Ohio on Jun 29,2012. We were all with out power for 7 days. I never in my life could have imagined what people in a natural disaster feel like until now. I was one of the lucky ones. We spent most of the time with my parents due to them having power returned 32 hours after the storm hit. The main part for me posting about this is only due to this reason: We have the best Fire Dept in the State of Ohio. I have never in my life seen so many people become a team and with in hours had an emergency station set up maned. I felt like it was a step back in time. Every neighbor checked over each other. The fire dept had meals, water, ice, and somewhere cool to go at all times. They saved lives. I am proud to be from this town, for these men and woman showed me what it must have been like living in the past....because you sure don't hear of this happening anymore. I also need to say thanks to PSV(For doing what no one else did in any other town) Dollar General (for staying open in our time of need and allowing the fire dept to use the ice chest) The Payne Marathon (for getting open to provide Gas to the town in our time of need,) Good Times Saloon for having "we are all bored as frick..some come drink with us party out back" The Payne Police Dept for keeping us all safe. There was way to many looters, and thieves in our time of need and I believe you keep many of us safe. Thank you to Puckerbrush Pizza, The fact you opened up and got out the smoker brought a sense of normal to town.Thank you to the Payne Fire Dept, EMT's and every wife, and family member they have. You guys gave up a week of your lives to keep everyone safe. Thank you to the line men crew's who drove here from all over the US to get us our power back. Thank you to my neighbors, and family. I see so much love now in our town. Someone passes by, they all wave now. Everyone seems to have a new bond. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart. It makes me tear up just thinking how much everyone did, how everyone bonded together....Thank you everyone for you have made me proud to call Payne, Ohio my home!

Happy 3rd Birthday Gabby

Gabby had a Watermelon Cake this year! She loved the kiwi and watermelon juices.

When Gabby was first born I never thought that this day would come. Even when therapy started I never imagined we would get to opt out of one program into another. Well...The day has come. Gabby turned 3. In the mist of a natural disaster in Payne, We celebrated her birthday out at mom and dad's. Happy 3rd Birthday Gabby