Farewell, Mr. Marshall

Dear Doug,

I am so sad for especially Carla and Nanna. My heart breaks for Brooke, Leah, Mark, Ken and Lisa, and all of our family. For those lives you have touched, I am sad for all of us who knew you and all of us who didn't have enough time with you. Enough time... Could there possibly be such a thing?

My heart feels like in losing you, I've lost another father figure, especially from the time that you and Carla started spending the summer time in South Dakota until the time that we left. First I lost my dad, then Papa Beck, and now you. I can see them standing there waiting for you, shotguns in hand... ready to go hunting. I know you were welcomed with open arms.

The ability to nuture any relationship is one thing I admire most about you. Carla said it about you, but in recalling, I heard you tell James about Papa in that "He never knew a stranger, and never had an enemy". So 'tis true about you, my friend. I guess it takes one to know one. (You two are amazing men)

You showed me by example how to be an equal partner to James, giving advise and encouraging imaginary "stick-to-it- ivness" that you must have picked up from Nanna. (What a woman she is!! And your wife... There just are no words for what you both have done.) And when I brought James to meet you, and you hit it off from the get-go, I was sure that I had made a great choice in becoming his wife. You were always so thoughtful to ask of him while he was deployed.

I saw you be a great person to so many, helping in a time of need. (Especially to our newly formed family). It just goes to show how big your heart truly was.

You have left me with so many wonderful memories. Your laughter and warm inviting hugs will be sorely missed. I am proud to have been apart of your family. I will always carry a piece of you in my heart. And when it is my time to come home to the Lord, I will be happy in knowing that I will see you again.

Love,

T

Get it together

I can't seem to do it.

This month really has been a doozy!

I can't open up facebook without it bringing tears to my eyes.

Really.

My heart is heavy for the loss so many are feeling.

For the loss that I feel.

Doug.... There are really no words right now.

When they come

I will share them here.

For now, I know you are with the Lord, and that eases the sorrow.

Give a little bit

Click video and read

She is beautiful.

Both inside and out.

Their love story... it is a high school, fall in love, head over heals, love conquers all... sort of love.

Except, love didn't conquer his battle with cancer.

But, it helped them through it.

And it continues to hold her together the best way she knows how.

Her chickens... well, they are some of the cutest children that you ever did see.

Her friends... have rallied around creating a fundraiser to help lessen the burden of the unknown, but giving her the ability to make the unknown... what THEY want it to be.

Jami, from an open field, and Denise, from Matilda Jane Clothing, have worked together, along with SO many other wonderful, inspiring artists, to create an amazing auction/fundraiser for Val and her chickens.

You can find the auction HERE.

Please don't forget that you can still send donations to Jami via her link.

HOUSE OF KOOP

 

Please take the time to click the link above and read the post.

IF you can help at all, please do so. There is a link for donations, and auction information for FEBRUARY 28th. Contact Jami if you have any questions.

And....

Please pass it along to all of your friends. It takes just a moment to copy and paste the URL. (If you aren't computer savvy, I will be happy to help!) Facebook it. Blog it. Email it. Text it. Get the word out.

This girl is amazing in so many ways.

Continued prayers to her and her chickens!

Ol' Birds

We had a great weekend.

I will post more tomorrow, or at sometime this week.

Just had to share this photo with you.

We are about 1.5 hours away from home.

I am driving.

There are oddities all over HWY 301, and usually I am wishing that I had a camera, or enough time to slow down.

Today, I did.

In fact, I turned around and headed back the way I had just come from.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

There sat two Buzzards in an abandoned house. Can you see them? (click on the photo)

This post doesn't do it justice. I'll clean it up tomorrow.

(Reminded me of Elwood (Woody) Dietrich sayin... "You birds get to class". )

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Some days I'm witty.

Most days I'm not.

Some days I rant.

Most days I rave.

Either way, I love sharing the days events.

It makes being so far away, in distance, from family and friends, a little more bearable.

If you read what I post, and think to yourself.. "I know EXACTLY what she's talking about", let me know.

Follow our adventure in losing weight and running a 5K; click the link to follow.

If you facebook... "like" ourC25K page to follow along.

It's nice to have the moral support that you all are giving us. We appreciate that! It's VERY motivating!

I never want there to be an "END", again, in our fitness life.

I want to be Forest. Forest Gump.

An' keep on a runnin!