Awesome trip, with moments...

Should have posted this last week, but I’m behind. What else is new?

Went on an awesome trip with some friends – thanks again to MC and JA, it was a blast. It all started back several months ago when I was talking with my sister. Out of the blue, she mentioned that whenever I was ready to go on a trip for myself, she would keep the girls for me. Up to that point, I had not thought about going on a trip for myself, which is strange because I was always pushing for Michell and I to go on trips just the two of us.

At first, I didn’t think I was ready, and didn’t know what I wanted to do. But after a while, I started to think about going to a theme park (in fact, it came to me in a dream). I knew that I didn’t want to go by myself, so I started talking with some of “the gang” from high school and college, and in short order had a trip planned and ready.

We went to Six Flags Over Georgia, and wow – what a trip! We rode all the coasters, plus the sky buckets, the swings, and the log flume. There are some fun pictures at the bottom for your enjoyment.

Most of the trip was uneventful – but I did have two of “those moments.” The first was not unexpected – on the lift hill of Goliath (200’ lift, 70mph), I found myself looking up at the sky and talking with Michell. It didn’t really bother me, in fact it was a bit of a relief, and gave me a chance to continue to make peace with the fact that I am moving on.

The second was very unexpected, and came completely from habit. After our first trip on Superman (face-down coaster), I got off the train and reached back to take Michell’s hand and help her off the train and walk back around with her to ride again. It’s exactly what I used to do – hold her hand – all the time. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was a noticeable moment.

So, even though I am moving on, there are still some habits that are just so ingrained in me that they haven’t fallen away. And the next few months promise more times which will reveal my loss again:

August – Michell’s birthday
September: Our anniversary
October: Zoe’s Birthday
November: Thanksgiving
December: Christmas, the anniversary of Michell’s death

I don’t know what these next months will bring, but then again we never do. All I know is that God still loves and cares for me, and I want to continue to follow Him.

Oh, and roller coasters are cool.

Long time, no post...

Well, this is the second time that I took about a month between posts. This time, however, it’s been because work has been extremely busy. I’m at a crunch point in my research project, and I want to get it squared away so that I still have time to get ready for classes before the semester starts.

Can you believe that Rachel goes back to school in about 2 weeks? Schools here have the first day on July 24th! Then about a month later, classes start for me at TTU. Seems like the summer just got into full swing, but that’s the schedule they run…

In regards to my last post, my wedding ring is still on my keychain. I still feel strange without it at times – probably about twice a day I find myself noticing how strange that finger still feels – but there have even been a couple of days when I drove the van instead of the car and the ring stayed here in the house instead of going with me.

I’ve also done some cleaning in my bedroom (thanks again, mom) that has freed up some space to start putting together some things I want to keep that were Michell’s (or ours together with special memories). It is strange to me that the house has changed so little, but I really haven’t had the time to make changes. I do know that the décor in the house will change – it reflects her so much and me less so – but for now I almost don’t notice that her collections are still everywhere.

I also started a project that has been waiting a while – making copies of the DVD from Michell’s celebration service to send to those who asked for a copy. Just haven’t been able to make myself sit down and do it before now, but now it seems ok. So, if you want a copy of the video from the service, just let me know and I’ll get you one.

Well, I know this isn’t much of a post, but I just wanted to get something up so that I can move on to the next post without feeling like I have to summarize so much. Happy July, everybody.