TGIF

That's all I can say - all week long I have been looking forward to this day..FRIDAY! Parish and I are in desperate need of a R&R weekend. This week has been hell, from working extra hours for me and confronting another phase in our grieving process...We have been missing Gooner a lot this week, but we made it through, so that's a good thing.

My mom was a huge help, she gave us a piece of advice that we have repeated quite often..."Instead of dwelling on how he died...why don't you focus on how he lived." That has helped us out a great deal. He did live a great life and we are proud to have known him and to be a part of this great family. His memory will live on forever in our hearts! Thanks mom...

On a lighter note, we have huge plans for this weekend...and I don't think that we have been so excited to just lay around and be bums in a long time.

Saturday morning - I look forward to our Saturday mornings which usually consist of delicious coffee, fishing shows and then a jaunt down to the local cafe for some breakfast. The weather will be beautiful, so we are looking forward to that. We are also going to organize the mound of paperwork that has piled up on our kitchen table (you know you are getting old when that excited you). I think we might even head to Home Depot/Menards to search for a new front door. Ah...the joys and excitement of being a homeowner. :)

I also have to mention that I plan on starting my spring cleaning (a little early), but I feel that we need some sunshine in our house, I always feel good when I can walk into our house and it is so clean...so I am looking forward to that too. But to every up, there is a downside and...I am NOT looking forward to the laundry. :)

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, I hope it's a great one. I am just excited to spend QT with Parish, Jackson and my favorite blanket (once my housework gets done).

Happy Leap Day!

SB

Tulek Wedding Weekend

What a memorable weekend. Seriously, I can't remember a weekend (in a long time) that we had so much fun with all of our friends together. It was perfect.

Thursday night - we all met out at Zorbaz's in GR, we danced the night away, sang a little Cher during Karokee and left for home with a bit of a buzz. Parish and I stayed with Cindy, so that was nice.

Friday - Us girls spent a majority of the day decorating Wendigo for Molly's reception. It was beautiful, but there were a few bumps in the road. Wendigo is a beautiful place, but if I ran that joint I would get rid of whoever books weddings. That girl from my own experience and from what I have heard from others is a complete nightmare to work with. She left for the day a little after we started decorating and screwed up the table arrangements. Good thing Molly and Judy were on top of it and could figure it out, but seriously...that woman needs to go! Friday night was also the rehearsal...as Molly and her dad came walking up the aisle, the whole wedding party (including Father Jerry) started singing, "There she was just a walking down the street singing, Do A Diddy Diddy Dumm Diddy Do" It was so cute. Molly and Terry hosted the rehearsal dinner out at their place - it was so beautifully decorated. They did such a good job and it was the perfect setting for everyone to enjoy. Food was great, Company was better - it was just a great night overall.

Saturday was the big day - Molly looked absolutley beautiful! The day went off without a hitch and it was the party of the year!! I am so excited for the two of them as they start this special journey.

I will download a few pictures that I took from my camera later. If anyone else has any - please send them onto me at sarah_parish@msn.com. I would greatly appreciate it (Rowell...this means you!)

Sick on Valentine's Day

Bless my husbands heart - he means so well. Yesterday was Valentine's Day, the night before Parish got his present - HDTV in our living room on our big screen TV, I was feeling a little under the weather, but nothing a little cold medicine couldn't cure I thought... Boy, was I wrong. I went into the clinic and I found that I had a sinus infection, a fever and bronchitis! Ugh. They sent me home with a RX and away I went. I woke up, on Valentine's Day, thinking that I was going to go to work. I shot that idea down right away when my head felt like it was going to explode!

Parish was so sweet, he sent flowers to me at work (which I didn't get until this morning) and a gift certificate for a pedicure. He also made us a delicious dinner - parmesean crusted chicken, garlic twice baked potatoes and pasta salad - I enjoyed it, and I am sure it tasted pretty good - although I have completely lost my taste or sense of smell! He means well. I am hoping that I feel better this weekend, so we can at least treat ourselves to a romantic dinner...

I am leaving work early today to go home and rest. Although I don't have a fever today, I could pass for Ruldolph, I can barely breath and I am sneezing all over the place. So, I am just going to do everyone else a favor and head home!

Hope everyone has a great, safe weekend.

Sarah

Less Than Two Weeks...and Counting!

I remember the two weeks before our wedding - it was the most exciting, nerve wrecking time of my life. We had just bought a house and moved in, dealt with our scum of a landlord, and still managed to throw a beautiful wedding ceremony and one hell of a reception! My friend Molly's wedding is less than two weeks away and I am so excited for her! I am in the wedding, and am of course excited for that as well, but thinking back to the two weeks before our wedding, I am hoping that her transition goes more smoothly. Who said buying a house, starting a new position in a company and getting married all within two weeks was hard? Ha! :)

Parish and I went up to Grand Rapids this weekend, I was originally just going to go by myself for the day on Saturday, but since Parish's dad is gone now, we want to spend lots of time with his mom and sister - so we decided to make a weekend of it. It was fun, we got to see our families and be in the place we both enjoy so much.

Cindy, Parish's mom, is doing remarkably well. I hope and pray every day that the journey that she now has to face alone will be easy for her. She's got a good start and she is such a strong woman - we feel comfortable knowing that she will be just fine. Of course it's tough and we all go through our little moments, but like I said before - we are finding comfort and laughter knowing that Gooner is in a safe place watching over us. I admire Cindy, for her courage, strength and ability to be a good mother at this time in her life. Losing someone is very difficult, but she talks alot about Gooner a lot, crys when she needs to and most importantly laughs every chance that she gets - just like she did when Gooner was around.

Yesterday our ride home from Grand Rapids was the first time since he died that we actually felt normal. Maybe it was the good night sleep we got the night before, maybe it was the good feeling of going to our own home, maybe it was the bright smile that Cindy gave us when we left, whatever it was - we felt good. And that's important.

I hug Parish a little bit tighter every day, say I love you to my family more, cherish memories that normally I would have just shrugged off, and appreciate every little thing in our life. That's what this whole experience has taught me. Live life like Gooner did - to the fullest and you'll have no regrets!

Thank you!

It is with a heavy heart that I write this entry. As most of you know, Parish's dad, Gooner passed away last week on Wednesday, January 23. It was an unexpected death, a life that was took too soon. We had a chance to talk to him on the Tuesday before he passed and we had a chance to express our love to him, so we are grateful for that opportunity. It's been a little over a week and it's still hard to imagine that the world continues to move on, but amazingly our family has made it through this horrible grief and started laughing again. That's exactly what Gooner would have wanted.

We will miss him a ton - he was an amazing husband, brother, brother in-law, son, son in-law, father in-law, father, friend, co-worker and grandpa or "bumpa" as Haylee would say. We find comfort in the memories and all of the kind words we have received.

With that said...we are so grateful for all you have done for us. The cards, letters, phone and email messages, prayers, and visits meant a great deal to us as we struggled with our heartbreaking loss. Along with the emotional support you gave us, the meals, chores, and other gifts of your time and energy helped sustain us day to day.

This week is much better, and though we know that grief takes its own time outside of our control, we are feeling grateful for the years we all had with Gooner and for the time we have with friends like all of you right now.

He was so looking forward to come and "dogsit" for us this weekend, but God has bigger plans for him now. Keep us in your prayers.

On another note - we just found out that we are going to have a nephew arrive in June. Parish's sister Nicki and Chad are expecting a boy! You know what they say, when one life ends - another begins!

Thank you all again. We appreciate all of you!

Weekend of Reviews

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, Parish and I have been very busy between work, seminars (water/wastewater for him), insulin pumps breaking and trying to plan for our busy weekend coming up!

Last weekend was a nice change of pace, I got our whole house cleaned, laundry done, read an entire book and saw a good and not so good movie in the theater.

First off - a MUST read! Loving Natalee by Beth Holloway, seriously one of the best books that I have ever read. Everyone knows about Natalee Holloway who disappeared on a senior class trip in Aruba. I heard about it, followed it for a while - until Hurricane Katrina swept over the media and lost touch. I had NO idea how uncooperative the Aruban authorities were in this case, and to this day - her killers remain free. So sad, no justice at all. One thing that I thought was amazing about this story is how Beth, Natalee's mom turned this horrific experience into one that could save many others. To learn more about what I mean, visit: http://www.internationalsafetravelsfoundation.org/MS/MS37/page.php?p=418

It's Beth's organization website that explains what you can do to have safe travels. This book is a must read - I would recommend it to anyone. It's been a while since I have read a book that moved me like that.

Next, let's move to the NOT SO GOOD movie...I am Legend. I am a huge fan of Will Smith, and don't get me wrong - he was amazing in this movie and it did do very well in the box offices, but it's what they didn't show you in the previews that got to me. I even felt the urge to leave in the middle of it, almost like I had anxiety - okay, I was scared. Weird, I know, but I think it's safe to say that we won't be renting or buying this movie.

P.S. I Love You - Wow, this movie had tears rolling down my face before the opening credits. I recommend all of you to go watch this movie. I know I will buy it when it comes out. Everyone needs a good "crying" movie on hand, and besides - it had a great message and happy ending. And...since I am a huge Grey's fan, it didn't hurt that "Denny Duquet" was featured in this movie.

This weekend, Parish and I have big plans. First, I have Molly's Bachelorette Party - 30 girls getting together - you know that's going to be memorable. Parish is in the Brainerd Jaycee's fishing tournament. It's his 3rd year participating and he goes up with friends, stays the weekend and does what he loves best. Fish and drink. Ha! "Grandma and Grandpa" Barten are coming over to our house for the weekend to babysit Jackson. :)

Have a safe weekend, the temperatures look like they are on the rise!

Happy New Year!!

Happy 2008!! We had an uneventful New Year's Eve...as usual. Parish was on call and I, as always, had to work. It comes with the job, and as each new year approaches, I just automatically expect that I have to work, but I am lucky that I work with such a fun group! It would be nice to celebrate with friends sometime though - our friend Lindsay throws a kickin New Year's party (I believe this is her last year) - you can check out past pictures and this year's pictures of her 80's themed party (soon to come) at http://www.go2crew.com/.

We celebrated New Year's on December 29 at our friend's house (Shaun and Tammy). It was a great time with all of our St. Cloud friends that we don't get to see too often. It was quite the interesting evening! Oh and the best part - Parish, Shaun and I were asked to be Godparents of our friend's baby boy Odin - we are so excited about that!

Here's some pictures from the evening...

Lydia, Sarah, Tammy and Jess...

Parish and a few of his St. Cloud buddies...

Sarah and Tammy

Shaun and Sarah
I received this link earlier today and thought it was interesting. It is the top ten resolutions people make for the New Year...if you haven't made one yet, maybe this list will be helpful!

1.) Spend more time with family and friends! Polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. Make plans to meet up with friends for an evening of comaraderie at favorite restaurant or organize a fun game night!

2.) Fit in Fitness - the evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better. Check out specials at your local exercise gyms - a lot of them offer New Year's specials (We are definatley looking into this one!)

3.) Tame the Bludge! Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Year's commitment to shed extra pounds.

4.) Quit Smoking! If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life!

5.) Enjoy life more - Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that "enjoying life more" has become a popular resolution in recent years. It's an important step to a happier and healthier you! Just get out and try something new! Take up a new hobby or try your hand at skiing. Go to a theater performance or head to the local spa.

6.) Get out of debt - Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. It's a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead.

7.) Learn something new! Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year's resolutions to keep.

8.) Help others - a popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help.

9.) Get Organized - On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life.

10.) Create a Plan - Setting a goal without formulating a plan is merely wishful thinking. In order for your resolution to have resolve, (as the word "resolution" implies), it must translate into clear steps that can be put into action. A good plan will tell you A) What to do next and B) What are all of the steps required to complete the goal.

Well...Happy New Year!