Letter to Anita

Dear Anita,

Obviously the new news over here is that we have a now one-month old.  I can't believe how the time has gone by.  In the blink of an eye and I don't  have anything to show for it except a baby girl who is alive and well and beautiful.  In other words I haven't been doing much besides nursing, putting to sleep, playing with Jane, and sleeping myself when I can fit it in.  I'm just now tiptoeing back into doing some work but my hearts not in it at all.  We are living with mom and dad now, so it makes most sense to work hard so we can pay off some debt in order to move out.  So I'm still working as best I can.  I think my spunk will return after a few months after baby.   Hard to make any life altering decisions right now with hormones raging.

I hope that you are doing ok after grandpa's passing.  I know you two were close.  I am glad that at least he has some relief from his pain like he wanted.  I hope that grandma is ok, I am trying to write her more often.  Wish we lived closer so we could visit.  I'd like to make another trip out there before Evie turns two so we only have to pay for 3 tickets.  Of course we'd love to come see you too!  I always enjoy Frank's meals:).  I also hope that you are enjoying your newish job... (I know you've been at it awhile now).  I also heard that Brent's funeral was beautiful.  It seems the last year, more people close to me have died than ever before in my life.  One of the ladies I used to visit teach died last month, an elderly lady who I always spoke to at church and she always admired Jane.  She kept to herself a lot and I wasn't able to make the funeral because it was held right after Evie was born.  Then my regular delivery guy from Schlabach (the cabinetry company I sell for) died on one of his trips down to Florida of a heart attack.  It's strange that he is gone.  He was too young, with teenage kids.  He was the kindest man and so talkative and friendly.  A close neighbor and friend is giving birth soon to a child that will die.  The doctors know this because of several heart conditions but also ineligibility for surgery because the baby has Trisomy 18, of which most babies die right away if not in utero.  It particularly strikes me hard because Evie was just born so I can't imagine what she is going through.  It's supposed to be a hopeful and happy time.  So with all of this going on, of course I start to think of my own life and how to live better, and more for others.  If I had known these people would die soon, I think maybe I would have spent time a little more tenderly with them without being eager to rush on my way.

We are all well, we take life a day at a time.  Love you, wishing you the best fall season! 

Love, Andrea