Monday, December 19, 2005

Gymnastics Sleepover, Colts and Tribute to JIM

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Gosh, what a GREAT weekend! Friday night's Gymnastics Sleepover went wonderfully! The girls loved the table cloth thing. I had them write their own name at their place setting and then they played muscial chairs to get around to each name. Alyssa wrote to Katelyn, "You remind me of Cheerios and I really like those." Crack me up! They are so completely random! Darin and our other coach's hubby were the servers. They had on layers and layers of other schools shirts with a Wawasee shirt on the bottom. The girls had to tell them something about Warrior gymnastics for them to whip a shirt off. Sounds erotic, but it really wasn't! There I go being a failure of a mentor again! I wish I had the camera.. Darin took it to work today! You guys would love the pics!

Saturday was so completely awesome. My house was clean because I cleaned it before the gymnasts came so I actually had a Saturday to do hang out at the house WITHOUT FEELING LIKE A CLEANING SLAVE! Since I work 40 hours a week, coach on weeknight and do the minister's wife thing 24/7, Saturday's are left for cleaning. =( I organized all the shelves in my kitchen played around with our house plants because we have more plants than a funeral home right now! and most importantly.. SCRAPPED!! First, here's a LO I did of Darin at the Colts game on Dec 4th. Oh, he's so cute! He seriously was having the time of his life. This was only a week after Jim passed away so this game was so incredibly good for him.

I mentioned last Friday that I went off the scrapbooking deep end because I had a LO completed minus one thing.. the picture! So, here it is: Wow.. this was a healing page to complete. Darin's dad, Jim, was killed in a tree cutting accident 3 weeks ago. He was such a sweet father-in-law. As I mentioned in the journaling, he was so willing to make me anything for our wedding. He was not the kind of guy that liked to be the center of attention, never cracked jokes and was content to be by himself reading. Even though Jim was very introverted he would do ANYTHING for ANYONE. He knew that his witness and service to God was through his talents to fix, make or help out anyone in need. He never had any daughters, but treated Liz (my sister-in-law) and I as equals to his sons.

The morning after Jim passed away, Darin made his way out to his woodworking shop. Jim was amazingly talented at woodworking. I knew I had to give Darin a few minutes to be by himself. After a bit, I made my way out to the shop to condole my husband. I held my composure because I knew Darin needed a shoulder to cry on.. he needed for me to just hold him. After a few minutes I turned around and saw my almost finished jewelry box... the jewelry box that I had forgotten that he was making for me. His pencil, ruler and gloves laying on his workbench as if nothing had happened.

You know, I'm pretty sure that Jim never told me that he loved me. He wasn't the kind of guy that was open about his feelings. I can only remember a few times that I hugged him or even touched him. When I glanced over at his bench and saw this jewelry box that he was making perfectly for me, I felt his love like I'd never felt before. I knew that he loved me.. not just as a daughter-in-law, but as a daugther.

I LOVE to joke around and have fun, but I really needed to do a blog in tribute to Jim. I realize that I may have more days that I really need to blog about him.. and I'm sure I'll need to blog about my mom at some point too.
God is just so good.. 7 months ago on May 28th Darin and I were married. We had a ton in common.. sports, world views, we both wanted a family, and most importantly both had a love for Christ that exceeded our love for each other. I would have never guessed that 6 months later that the loss of a parent would be something else we would share. He knew that pairing us together would be better than if we were separate.. He knew that we could handle this together and with HIS strength. Romans 8:28 "For we know that all things work together for good to those who are called, according to HIS purpose."

Just an FYI.. I will not have access to a computer until Tuesday the 27th. This will be VERY hard considering that recently I have been addicted to bloggin' and 2Peas. Everyone have an AMAZING CHRISTMAS and I will anticipate talking to everyone next Tuesday!!!

11 comments:

Jessica O'Brien said...

I LOVE those pages! I am just sitting down for the first time since my move to catch on up blogs and 2Peas for real and those are so super cool! I love how you used the "C" sticker on the Colts page :) And I am so very happy you scrapped the unfinished jewelry box. I remember you mentioning that when we first emailed and that is so special and important and your layout is gorgeous. xo

RACHEL =) said...

DARCY, once again as I read this I get goosebumps... it's amazing that you never know how long you have on earth, to live each day as if it were your last! I loved reading this... I lost my dad unexpectedly 3 1/2 years ago while I was 6 months pregnant... devastating doesn't even describe it... but I know what you and Darin are going through, it's hard, and it'll take time. My husband Scott lost his mom at a very young age, so we also share this... God had a perfect match for everyone, doesn't he? For us to understand each other through life's toughest obstacles. Just keep trusting in Him and you will get through this. Again, I am so sorry for your loss, sounds like he was amazing!!!!

Love this layout, the colors are great and Darin definitely looks happy!

Wishing you a great Holiday and sending all the best thoughts and prayers your way!!!! =)

Felicia said...

I think those pages are great! And I agree that God does have a special plan for each and everyone of us. Have a great Christmas.

christy marie said...

Darce, I love the page you did for Jim. What an amazing man he was. I remember sitting there at your rehearsal dinner and you and Darin handing out the jewerly boxes. I even remember you both saying that Jim had made them. You didn't tell me the story about your jewerly box, so I'm glad you did a page on it. What a perfect example of the kind of giving person he was!

Love ya!

Mara said...

I said this on 2P's and I'll say it again... the Jbox LO is perfection. It really is. The journaling is awesome.

Enjoy your holiday and time with family.

Kat said...

i'm soo sorry about your father-in-law. totally made me teary eyed, but i'm glad you blog and scrapped it. that totally helps.
i love your pages, i'll go check them out on 2peas!

Emily said...

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to hear what happened with your father-in-law. So sad :(

I am LOVING your pages lately. they rock, girlie!!!

Valerie said...

That was so touching. I'm sorry about your father-in-law. I hope you have a very happy and safe Christmas!! Glad you had fun at the sleepover!!

Nichole Duenke said...

LOOOOVE your blog, darcy!!! you are just about the most adorable gal out there!! great pages too & MERRY CHRISTMAS [even tho u won't get this til tuessday!! heee!]

monica said...

I'm terribly sorry for your loss and just have to say that the page you did of the unfinished jewelry box is a page that should be published in honor of your father-in-law. What a wonderful tribute this page is, love it!! Love your faith, you're an inspiration to me!!

Anonymous said...

your pages are amazing darcy!
i love that you documented about your FIL's jewelry boxes, that's such a wonderful tribute...
i can't imagine losing someone that unexpectedly...
i hope you guys are able to have a wonderful christmas!