Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Happy Holidays To All

I would like to take the oppurtunity to wish our family and friends a happy and healthy holiday. I would also like to thank you all for being such a big part of our journey. There are still some days I can't believe that Pat is gone. There are some moments when I literally can't breathe because I miss him so much. The night time seems to be the hardest. Every night when I walk the dogs, (Pat's nightly ritual) I stare up at the sky and hope that he can see us. That is when I talk to Pat the most, letting him know how much he is truly missed. Our children are doing well, taking such good care of me and of each other. Pat is part of our daily conversations, lots of laughter and of course tears. I will be signing off, making this my last blog. The timing seems to be good, a new year, many things to be thankful for, many things to look forward to. As I say so long for now, please know we never could have made it without all of your love and support. Thank you for giving me an outlet, thank you for your genuine love and prayers for Pat, myself and our kids. As you enter 2008, do so with the knowledge that your life can turn on a dime, there are no guarantees, live your life with passion, love with all you've got, and never,never hesitate to let someone know how much they mean to you! Please keep Dave's sister Marianne in your prayers as she begins her battle with the "C" beast. Remember I'm just a phone call or an email away, you can't get rid of me that easy! A big hug from our family to yours. God bless you.
xoxo,
Jules

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Life Does Go On

Today, Pat and I's "baby" turned 22! I have no idea how that happened because I can still remember being 22, in fact I was having a baby at 22. Time certainly does fly, it most certainly does not stand still. As we try to do "normal" things, I look around me and realize life does go on. People are Christmas shopping, getting ready for finals, planning holiday gatherings....not just any people...us. I am at times amazed at the power of the human spirit to carry on. When I used to hear of this happening to "other" people, I figured their lives must be over, asking myself how could they go on? The answer is, you just do it. Our strength is rooted in our love and respect for Pat, our ever attentive family, and the kindness of friends. One such awesome friend is our neighbor Regina. She is part owner of the Daniel Michael Salon in San Juan Capistrano. She and her partner are hosting "Haircuts for Hope", on Monday December 10th from 10:00am-5:00pm. Every single penny is being donated directly to the City of Hope. The cost is a $50.00 donation for a haircut and $35.00 for a Kerastase treatment with a blowdry. It's a great chance to get spruced up for the holidays and donate to a great cause. If anyone is interested please call for an appointment 949-489-3201. A huge thank you to Regina and the Daniel Michael Salon. So Brady's birthday was nice, relaxing and of course bittersweet. But we did enjoy the company, some great food and a few laughs. I think at this point, I'd have to say that's pretty darn good. Love you guys, good night.
xoxo,
Jules

Sunday, December 2, 2007

A Beautiful Day

Last night about 10:00pm I took our dogs for a walk and couldn't help but notice how clear the sky was and how brightly the stars were shining. That's when I knew today would be a beautiful day, clear, crisp, the kind of day Pat would love to spend down at the beach. At ten o'clock this morning we all hopped aboard "The White Light" in Newport and headed out to scattter Pat's ashes. God gave us an absolutely beautiful day on which to celebrate Pat's life and loves. The ceremony was so peaceful and in true Pat style. Captain Bob led the service and kept it short, another thing Pat would appreciate. I spoke briefly about how much I miss Pat's voice and his touch and that I didn't realize how much I truly and deeply loved this man. If you take nothing else from our experience, please take this...take nothing for granted, don't hesitate to tell someone you love them, live in the moment and find joy in the moment. After the service we all gathered at the Claim Jumper (Pat's favorite) and talked about old times and the times to come. We made plans for our future and we did so with a renewed appreciation for life. We have truly been given a gift, thank you Pat for making us realize how precious and short our time here is. We will live with you in our hearts every moment of every day. A special thank you to Kim for handling things I couldn't even begin to handle, those Smith Boys are something aren't they? We are the luckiest girls in the world. To everyone who shared this special day, the kids and I are forever grateful. Keep us in your prayers as we will all of you. So....live it up people, hug your kids, call your parents and grandparents, do something nice for someone just because...PAY IT FORWARD!!!!!! We love you all.
XOXO,
Jules