Wallpaper and Fender Benders

Thank you, sweet Bloggers! Today was better. I thank the good Lord for that; Shayne and I sat on the couch until the early hours last night just crying and holding each other for hours. I am so thankful I am not a single parent. I know how blessed I am to have this wonderful family. I've decided two things: bloggers are too kind and ripping down wallpaper is a good stress reliever!

Leave it to Christi's sweet supports to remind ME that Christi's bear was named "Vanilla" not "Cinnamon" (Cinnamon was her friend, Sarah's bear - oops!) and for another sweetheart to locate the picture I couldn't find. (see comments) That, along with a few emails I received from angels on earth telling me how Christi touched their lives really helped me cheer up after school today. School was pretty rough. And then there was the little "fender bender" that ended up having Christi written all over it.

I took Shayla to her horse riding lessons after school and grandpa went along. (See picture.) He bought her new riding boots last week since she outgrew and even put a hole in her old pair (Actually, they were Christi's little riding boots from Walmart and are now in the garbage.) Then I ran into town and went to the library. When I came out there was a lady there saying, "I hit your truck. I've called the police. I'm so sorry." I could only laugh and ask her if she was ok, thinking I know what's important in life and this isn't a big deal. She said, "You're kidding. You mean I sat here and worried some big farmer was going to come out to his truck, yell at me and pull out a gun. You are so nice." I responded that I was glad she was ok, but it was my father-in-law's rental truck and I'd better call and tell him. Of course I'm thinking in my head, "Oh no, there is a HUGE dent in the side of Lowell's rental truck. I wonder if he got insurance." (Whew, he did!) The police officer was very sweet and soon Lowell, Shayne and Shayla arrived. For whatever reason I responded to Shayla with, "Miss Shayla Thomas" and the lady - who lives in another town, said "Are you Christi Thomas's family??!!" I may be terribly sad, but I was very tickled that she knew Christi too. It's a small world (that had a special little girl).

Well, stressed spelled backwards is "DESSERTS!" but I figured I'd better do something healthy after dinner tonight so Shayla and I skipped dessert and took to the bathroom where we started washing and pulling down the old "country peach" flowery wallpaper that has been in our home since we moved in back in 1993. For two years I've been talking about turning our bathroom into a "NYC Theme" bathroom and we are now in the midst of it! (I'll share a picture when it's finished because everyone will want to see a bathroom, right?! hee he he heeeee!) Seriously, NYC was the city that gave us many more years with Christi and put us in touch with tremendous friends who enriched and blessed our lives in countless ways. I think it'll be a nice "subtle" tribute to Christi and to the great memories we treasure of our eight months of living in NYC and the many who helped us along the way.