A Direct Ticket to Heaven

Or maybe she said an express ticket.  Regardless of the wording a dear family friend…. I mean maybe my aunt…no that’s not it… aunt in law… aunt by marriage.  With big Irish families it’s sometimes hard to know who is who.  Regardless, she is a lovely lady who has know me since I was a babe  playing in the very same back yard that my two babes played in this afternoon.

She has watched me as I have navigated through this journey into motherhood.  As I said she is twice removed so not in on the everyday life and sees us only a handful of times a year.  Of course she always asks how Katy is and tells me how great she looks…(even though personally I think Miss Katy is looking a little pale, and I wonder if something is brewing, but then again when am I not wondering that)  She tells me how Patrick is my mini me.  We chat we talk small talk.
Today though, she took it a step past our usually chit chat and told me that she was amazed by my strength and my ability to smile and enjoy everything in spite of all that I am up against. Her comment took me by surprise.  I do have an interesting and complex situation and I do my best to face it gracefully.   The reason it surprised me is what little I really know about this pseudo aunt I know that she has faced her share of heart ache.  Lost her husband has physical limitations things that  I think I could never handle.  Yet, she always has a smile and kind words for me.   She went as far to tell me that I had a fast pass to heaven. 
Why do I have a fast pass to heaven?! Is it for loving this sweet blue eyed Irish Princess?

Because loving her is easy… it’s the fear of not having her here to love that is unbearable at times.  That is the reason that I find it hard to get out of bed some mornings. or fall asleep some nights, or find myself with tears streaming down my face as I braid her hair.
I don’t know what the reason is or if there is such a thing as a fast pass… but I do know that I am doing a good enough job keeping it together the best I can to give these two miracles the best life I can.

She also told me to thank god for Mike… she gets what a wonderful and awesome man he is.  Not only as their daddy, but as my husband.  She recognizes that he may very well be the glue that is keeping us together.

I think he is the one getting the fast pass to heaven and hopefully I  will be able to slide in on his coat tails.

The love he has for the three of us is immeasurable and the strength he gives me daily is noticeable to those around us.
Look who finally let us get him a hair cut…




Peace Out

I’m Working On

( Blog Topic from Ali Edwards)

I’m working on organizing prints and ordering more prints in an effort to get scrapbooking and current on our family albums. Mike is helping with this process, and he so kindly pointed out to me, just how far behind I am. Which further validates my decision to do Katy & Patrick’s yearly albums digitally.

I’m working on making our house more like a home. We moved four mouths ago, and although the space is functional, it needs some reorganization and decorating. First room on the agenda is the kids bedroom, I want it to be a functional, fun & welcoming space.

I’m working on a new knitting project, after my crochet fiasco ( I just can’t get the hang of it) I casted on a cute knit sundress for Kate. It’s a bit out of my comfort zone, but definitely something I can handle.

I’m working on fundraising for the NSTAR walk for Children’s Hospital Boston! I am so very proud of everyone that has joined our team and is raising money for the hospital that has and continues to save my daughter’s life. I can’t wait to walk with all of you on June 12th.

I’m working on typing all of our favorite recipes. I HATE the mix matched recipes, some printed, some handwritten, some stained, assorted sizes. Looking to have them all neat and orderly, and I may even print them and put them in a BINDER!!! Don’t hold me to it.

I’m working on trying not to think about the fact that Kate has been on the transplant list for 7 MONTHS. I am trying to not watch the calendar pass us by, and all the dates that I in my head and said she would have a new healthy heart by, and this part of our story would be behind us. I know in my heart that the perfect heart for Kate will come when it is most needed, and I’m working on making peace with that.

Patrick’s Second Year Album

I just finished Patrick’s 2 year album, don’t even ask me about his 1st year. It’s next up on the agenda. Might even start it tomorrow. So here are a couple sneak peaks from my baby boys second year.

If you would like to see the entire album click here

Thankful Day 15

Today I am thankful for pictures…more specifically pictures from my past, Mike’s past, our heritage. I am so very lucky to have a large collection of my childhood photos. I was the 1st born, so maybe that has something to do with why I have so many.

In addition to my own pictures I am thankful for pictures of my parents as children and even my grandparents. We have a gorgeous picture of Mike’s dad from the Korean war. We also have an amazing photograph of Nana Murphy on her wedding day with Mike’s grandfather Mr. Michael F. Murphy… Mike’s namesake.

I love knowing that I have these pictures and some have stories to tell on the back. My poppy was great at labeling pictures so it has made the sorting process that much easier. But, for every labeled picture there are 10 that are not, so it is a daunting task. Slowly but, surely I am getting them all scanned and some are even in frames!