My Junior Lifegaurds

I love watching my children learn and grow. This summer, both kids made leaps and bounds with their comfort and skills in the swimming pool. At the beginning of the season, Jacob was completely reliant on his life jacket and Jenna insisted that I hold her the entire time (even with her life jacket on).

At the end of the summer, I couldn't believe how much they grew into their fins and gills. Jacob can dive to the bottom of the shallow end to retrieve objects, jump off the side and go under, float by himself, and swim the beginnings of a front crawl. He also learned how to do a kneeling dive by me showing him once.

Jenna became her own little motor boat. She would paddle herself all over the pool. She was more comfortable putting her face in the water, blowing bubbles, front/back floating with assistance, and jumping off the side.

I am proud of my little fishies. Looks like we will be visiting some indoor pools this winter!!

Reflecting on a Life

Scott and I would like to thank everyone for all of the support for our family over the last couple of weeks. We have a strong faith in God and know that John's soul rests in eternal peace with our Savior. But even with that knowing, it is difficult to transition to a life without him being physically with us.

John lived an honest, fulfilling life and left behind his love and compassion in the reflection of his boys and grandchildren. I am grateful for having known him for the last nine years. I am thankful that he treasured his time with our kids; that he took the time to sit on a bank and fish with Jacob; that he would drop everything when we pulled in the driveway, throw the kids in the wagon, and head off across the yard for an evening of little adventures.

He is a father, grandfather, husband, brother, and friend. He is remembered by so many for the impact he made on their lives.

In my attempt to understand God's plan, I keep clinging to a quote that a friend sent: "In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - credited to Abraham Lincoln. And it has been clear to me that John made his years count.