Happy Birthday Dad!

One thing Dad always hoped for was for Chris and I to have a baby. He told us all the time 'there are a lot of kids out there that need homes.' Dad loved being a grandpa. Jerzie was his pride and joy. He just couldn't get enough of her. When he found out that Kim and Tabatha were having another baby, he was so happy for them. When Dad passed away, Chris and I thought we were having a baby, but it turned out to be a chemical pregnancy. After being married for 17 years, Chris and I are going to have a baby. I am 16 weeks along right now. We are sure that Dad is very happy to be a grandpa again.

Happy Birthday Dad

Memorial Run 2011

Paying respects

A moment of silence

Getting ready to ride again!

Sad News!

I'm not sure how many of Dad's friends still come to this blog, but I wanted to post that on February 24th our Grandmother passed away. She was taken to the hospital for very bad stomach pains. After running tests, they put her in a room. The nurse left to get her some pain medicine. When the nurse came back to the room, Grandma was gone.

Click HERE to read her Obituary

If you would like to light a candle in remembrance click HERE

Two Years Ago Today!

It is so hard to believe that two years have gone by already. Where does the time go? We miss you Dad!!!

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Love and Miss You.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today would have been Dad's 62nd Birthday. It is one of the hardest days to get through without you here.

We Love you Dad and Miss you every day.

Memorial Bike Run

We went to the Memorial Bike Run yesterday. 30 bikes and 50 bikers rode to pay tribute to fallen Brothers. We were part of this for the first time last year and were very happy to be there again this year as they paid their respects to our Dad.

One of these years, we hope to ride along with them.

Tough Time!

I am having a rough time missing Dad today! Today is the day that we used to get together for a family dinner. For quite a few years we all went to a restaurant for dinner. After Jerzie was born, we decided that it would be easier to have dinner at our house. We made a big meal and shared family time together. We still get together on New Year's Eve and have dinner and still have a great time together, but it just doesn't seem the same with out Dad here.

I miss you and Love you Dad!

One Year Ago

A year ago today, you finally had no more pain. The cancer couldn't attack your body anymore. You lived with the cruel disease for almost 8 years and enough was enough. You put up a strong fight. Although we are glad you aren't suffering anymore, we can’t say that we don’t miss you every day, because we would be lying. This year has been a roller coaster ride for all of us. Little things seem to make us sad when we least expect it, but the sound of a Harley driving by seems to put a smile on our faces and give us a little bit of peace.

We Love You and Miss You Dad

Father's Day Gift!

When Mom and I went to the Hamburg craft show this spring we stopped at a booth that made cement pieces. I about died when I saw this piece. I had been looking for something special for Dad's grave and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was perfect.

Since Chris is taking Welding Technology in school, I knew he could make a stand for it.

We love the way it looks at the grave, and we are sure that Dad loves it.

Check out what Kim and his softball team did on Father's Day HERE.

Happy Father's Day!

We Love You

Looks Better!

Chris and I decided that Dad's grave site needed to be fixed up a little bit.

We went and looked for something to make it easier for us to plant around the headstone. We bought these scalloped gray bricks and went to work. Chris dug out the grass and got the edging put in. We added fresh top soil, some red impatiens and a layer of mulch.

We think it looks much better and should be easy upkeep.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Picture taken June 2002

This would be your day to shine.

The stars will have to do it for you.

There's not a day that goes by that you are not thought of.

This time of year is just the hardest.

You see, it's your birthday then Father's Day

then the anniversary of your death.

All within a couple of weeks.

You were taken from us by cancer.

You fought a long and hard battle.

Now we cannot share these days with you anymore.

We can still hear you laugh.

We make sure we think of it often.

We don't want to forget how you sound.

Anyway, Dad, We just wanted to say

Happy Birthday to You.

You are missed so very much.

Today is my birthday!

This is a picture of my dad and me on my first birthday. Our family was in Florida visiting my Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.

Every year on my birthday dad would call and sing me happy birthday. If I wasn't home he would leave it on our answering machine. Oh how I wish I would have saved one of those messages. The things we take for granted.

This is the last picture that was taken of my Dad and me. (June 28th, 2008) This was one of his good days. He was staying at Hopes lodge. Chris and I would drive out every weekend to visit with him and he would harass the hell out of me for bringing my camera with. I am glad I did.

I miss you Dad!

Love, Your Baby Girl

Memorial Day Weekend!

Chris and I went to the cemetery today to put flowers on Dad's grave. I got these bright (Harley) orange daisies in at work today and had to buy them for Dad. While we were there we also cleaned the headstone and trimmed the grass in front of it. Dad always made sure that Grandpa's stone was cleaned and the area around it was well taken care of. We are going to make sure we do the same with his. We aren't sure who else was up there, but they left a beautiful pot of flowers and a poem written on a stained glass tile.

Part Two of An Extraordinary Day!

Waiting for the bikers.

We can't describe the feeling that came over us when all of these bikers came walking towards Dad's grave site.

We noticed as soon as Uncle Randy got close enough, he was carrying a small paper bag with him. We knew what was in the bag before he even opened it.

Here is Uncle Randy doing a shot with his brother.

Here are a couple of pictures of the bikes lined up getting ready to leave.

There is nothing like the sound of a Harley. When there are 25 of them together, your insides just shake.

We would like to thank all of the motorcyclists for making Saturday a day to remember.

If you would like to leave a comment for Dad's family,

just click on the comment button below any post.

An Extraordinary Day!

Click on the arrow to play the video.

Every year, a group of motorcyclists get together on a Saturday and visit the graves of fallen 'brothers' and 'sisters'. Dad used to go on these bike runs every year with his brother Randy. This year, they came to visit Dad. It is great that Dad has not been forgotten. We are thankful that we got to be there on such an extraordinary day. We took a lot of pictures and will be sharing them soon.

Gone Fishing!

Kim, Chris and I got our fishing licences this year. Chris and I hadn't been fishing in a very long time, so we decided it would be fun and relaxing to go again. The past two Friday nights we have met Kim, Tabatha, Jerzie and Payton at the boat landing.

Dad used to take us fishing here when we were younger. Kim is teaching Jerzie to fish. Jerzie has her own barbie fishing pole.

I think Daddy likes to use it just as much as Jerzie.

We have been catching a lot of perch and some sunfish.

Last night we each caught a silver bass.

We think Jerzie enjoys spending the time with her daddy.

She still isn't too sure about touching or getting too close to the fish.

FAMILY TRADITION

We all know how much Dad loved fishing, and since he gave me luck on opening day of hunting season, I decided to try out opening day of trout season (I have not been fishing in about 10 years)

Cousin Stoney thought it sounded like a great idea and decided to come along and spend the night so we could throw our lines in at midnight.

We got to our spot and set up camp. Of course it was suppose to rain so we wanted to at least stay dry.
Then to make sure Dad was with us we had to have "a few nips of JD"
Then we hung out by the fire and talked about the old days, ate some chicken, and waited for midnight.
Finally we threw our lines in, and after hours of wondering why we couldn't get any bites...
I finally caught the dreaded sucker fish.... YUK! Then Stoney hooked a monster, but we lost it after it snapped the line.

We finally landed our first trout around 1 pm, only 12 inches or so. We were all packed up, around 4:30, when I went to grab my pole and head home and IT HAPPENED...
The one we had been waiting for... LEWIS THE LUNKER! (as Stoney referred to it).
This is by far the biggest fish I have ever cought. 25 inches long and 5.8 pounds of beautiful rainbow trout!

I know Dad was with us for this trip. We had a great night, very little rain, and tons of fun. Not to mention that we were ready to leave 3 hours before this when 2 of our friends showed up so we hung around a little longer :) Stoney and I decided this will be a new family tradition of camping out on opening day. Thanks Dad for the reminder that you are always with us!!!

Papa Would Be Proud!

One thing that Kim and I did when we were growing up was go fishing with Dad. Kim wanted to start Jerzie out early in hopes that she would love it just as much as we did when we were younger.

Kim and Tabatha bought Jerzie her own fishing pole and Daddy took her fishing over the weekend. This was Jerzie's first time out. Unfortunately they didn't catch anything.

I'm sure they will have plenty of time this spring and summer to get some fishing done.

Dad is smiling down on them, watching them proudly.