Wednesday's Walk - The Trophy

I wanted to share one of Jeremy's memories today. This is a memory about Jeremy and Jason. Jason is Jeremy's younger brother who passed away in 2008.

I have these two pictures of Jeremy and Jason from when Jason raced go karts in high school.

Jason started racing go karts in 1997 and went to races every weekend.

Jeremy said that he didn't get to go to races very often with Jason but he enjoyed going when he could. Sheila, Jeremy's mom, said that "They would always go over the kart to make sure it was ready to race. After each race, they would go over the kart again and change things to make it go faster or correct any problems the kart was having."

I asked Jeremy why he didn't race and he said it just wasn't his thing but he like helping Jason. He didn't know much about the karts so he just did what Jason told him to do. Also, by the time Jason started racing, Jeremy was getting ready to go away to college.

My mother-in-law said that this picture is from a national go kart event where Jason won 3rd place.

This is a different trophy, but it is one of Jason's that Jeremy has now.

We don't have a lot of pictures of Jeremy and Jason together... and Jeremy doesn't remember a lot about the pictures. I laugh because he seems to remember so little but then every once and awhile he'll tell a story or say something about a memory of Jason. I need to start writing those things down for him and for our girls.

Of course, some of his favorite memories of Jason involve fighting, like boys-goofing-off-to-make-mom-mad kind of fighting. Like the picture in this post.

I'm thankful for Wednesday's Walk because it gives me a place to record these important memories.

Do you have a memory, even just a picture of an important event or special person in your life that needs to be remembered? This is the place to share it! Link up any memory, new or old and we'd love to walk down memory lane with you.

Mommy and Me - Daddy Version

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

So, because this guy is such a great dad and because I don't have any new pictures of me and my girls, I decided on a Daddy and Me post today.

These girls love him. They love all the crazy adventures and fun exploits and scary moments. They know that life is going to get exciting when Dad comes along.

When we first got married, Jeremy missed having a brother or a sister to mess around with. Someone to play rough, wrestle, fight, push... you know what I mean, like this picture of Jeremy and Jason (his younger  brother) putting each other in a head lock. That kind of stuff.

Well, I was NOT that person. I think he tried and hurt my wrist. That was the end of that. He says I'm "fragile".

I say that I didn't grow up wrestling with my sisters for fun. or for any other reason actually.
Whenever he sees family, they can expect him to tackle them at some point in some kind of crazy rough play. When I see my sisters, we give each other a hug and then sit and have coffee together.

back to the story...

We had kids.

THREE GIRLS

This one is the baby. Our Abby.

All sweet girlyness except when Daddy is around.

Daddy instigates and she delivers.

That little foot flies out and kicks him in the leg. He loves it.

In fact, when we were getting our family pictures done, he and Abby started their "fun" play and we all stood and stared. Finally, he looked up and said, "Isn't anybody taking a picture of this??"

So, the camera started snapping away.

Oh the memories that these girls will have!

I do remember my dad making us scream for no reason. Tickling us until we couldn't breathe, getting us all worked up right before bedtime.

I remember my mom yelling, "BENNN!! Stop making those girls scream! It is bed time!"

You know what?

I heard myself say those same words yesterday when Jeremy was tickling the girls like crazy.

"Jeremyyyy!!! STOP making them scream like that! They scream enough on their own!"

One day, I'm sure my girls will yell at their husbands for making their kids scream and laugh... yell all the while enjoying every single minute.

Remembering Jason

On November 1, 2008, I got a horrible phone call from Jeremy in the very early hours of the morning.

I was in Columbus doing a breakout session at a girls event and Jeremy was home with our girls. He had gotten the worst phone call of his life and then called me.

His younger brother had been in a car accident and he was gone...

I was with Jeremy's aunt in Columbus and so the two of us packed up and headed back to Dayton. We then packed up and drove the 9 hours to Iowa for a week of tears and heartbreak with Jeremy's family.

Jason was only 25 years old.

So, today we put on our Goodwin House Moving shirts...

To Remember Jason...

*Jeremy and Jason when they were in high school

And, I stopped at the store to get balloons. I wanted brown balloons like we released on Jason's first birthday after he was gone but the store I went to didn't have any brown balloons.

Instead of brown, the girls picked their favorite colors and I got green for Jeremy and I.

 

We will be going to Iowa soon for Thanksgiving. It will be good to be with family as we remember Jason this month.

Wednesday's Walk - The last days of college...

In my hunt for pictures the other night, I came across these pictures that verify this True Story Tuesday post. Amazing isn't it? If you haven't read that post, take a second and go read it. Crazy, huh??

Sorry, but that is not my walk for today. That was a walk all by itself!

No, today is about our last few days of college. This is a picture of Jeremy as he stood looking up at me from the bottom of my dorm steps. He would wait for me at these steps through our year of dating and I love this picture because he just looks adorable!

This is a house I helped move. Yes, I sure did! One time when we were back in Iowa, his family was moving a house and I got to help. I drove a lead truck, which I had no idea how to do and I completely frustrated his grandpa because I didn't know how to back the truck up with a trailor on it, imagine that... I also had to go to the bathroom realllly bad and there was no. where. to. go. at. all. So, Jeremy's dad took me to knock on some stranger's door and ask if I could use their restroom. They did, I did, and all was well.

Here is Jeremy backing the truck/trailer up for me. Awww... isn't that love?

And, this is proof that I helped with the beams. Helping do what I'm not sure, but I am doing something in this picture!

Every 4th of July for the rest of our lives, we will think of Jason. Jason is Jeremy's brother who passed away in a tragic car accident in November of 2008. We will think of him on the 4th because it is the last time that we saw him. He was here at our house watching the fireworks with us in 2008.

So, I was so excited to find these pictures of Jeremy and Jason together.

Chris (Jeremy's sister's husband), Jeremy and Jason.

The boys lauging at something... I can hear Jason's big, loud laugh when I look at this picture.

And, here Jeremy is messing with Jason and Jason looks like he is about to turn around and wrestle Jeremy.

They wrestled alot.

That night, after Jeremy's college graduation, we went caving. This is us: me, Jeremy, Stephanie and Jason. All covered in mud and having a blast.

Thanks for walking with me through some of our college memories!

Looking forward to reading your link ups today!

Baking, Cooking and Cowgirls...

My Progresso Soup arrived yesterday. I think I'm more excited about the bowls and the spoons than I am about the soup itself. Wouldn't you be?

Speaking of bowls... did anyone else visit their local Panera yet? Uhmm... I went there last night to meet a friend for discipleship and I ordered a bowl of chicken noodle soup. My "bowl" was a throw-away paper bowl!! On a big flat, light plate! Where did their super homey bowls and fun baskets go??

I had about 4 bananas that were just going bad on the counter so this morning I made Banana Bread. But, because Pioneer Woman's Cookbook does not have a recipe for Banana Bread it was back to Betty Crocker.

I also made Lentil Soup for Elayna's homeschooling. It was surprisingly delicious. Once again, not in my new cookbooks. The recipe was found in my big teacher's book. It will be one that we make again though!

Abby dug in her closet and found her cowgirl boots. This sweet pair of boots are the cowgirl boots that my brother-in-law, Jason, bought for Elayna when she was 2. All three girls have worn them and they will forever be treasured in our home. Elayna is wearing them while riding horses with Jason at our farmhouse in this post.

This was Abby coming down the steps to show me her "new" boots. She seems quite excited.

She said, "Stop taking pictures of my boots! Funny face time!"

Then she struck this cowboy pose... only missing the cowboy hat. I think she's been peaking at some of Pioneer Woman's cowboy pictures.

"Mommy, I need a big comfy air dress to go with my boots."

Translated - big puffy Christmas dress

And, thankfully, we have been basking in sunshine here in Ohio with temps back up in the 30's.

Now, if we can just get rid of our ear infections. I took Annalise to the doctor and sure enough, an ear infection.

I think that explains some of the fit issues we have been having with her...

Tomorrow's menu: Cowboy Calzones
Friday's menu: Chicken Fried Steak and Mash Potatoes

I've got my grocery list all ready to go.

Don't forget to go comment on this post to enter a giveaway!

Remembering Jason

YOU WOULDN’T CRY

Mandisa

All you saw was pain

All you saw was rain

But you should see me now

Moments filled with tears

Lasted all those years

Disappeared some how

You never said goodbye

On your knees you cry

You’re still asking why

But blue has never been bluer

True has never been truer

Honey never tasted so sweet

There’s a song in the breeze

A million voices in praise

A rose has never smelled redder

The sun has never been brighter

If I could find the right words to say

If you could look at my face

If you could just see this place

You wouldn’t cry for me today

What you think you see

Isn’t really me

I’m already home

You’ve got to lay it down

‘Cause Jesus holds me now

And I am not alone

Your faith is wearing thin

But I am watching Him

And He is holding you too

And blue has never been bluer

True has never been truer

Honey never tasted so sweet

There’s a song in the breeze

A million voices in praise

A rose has never smelled redder

The sun has never been brighter

If I could find the right words to say

If you could look at my face

If you could just see this place

You wouldn’t cry for me today

You wouldn’t cry for me today

Oh what may seem like years

Will just be a moment

Oh the day will come

When I’ll show you where you’re going

I can’t wait to show you

And blue has never been bluer

True has never been truer

Honey never tasted so sweet

There’s a song in the breeze

A million voices in praise

A rose has never smelled redder

The sun has never been brighter

If I could find the right words to say

If you could look at my face

If you could just see this place

You wouldn’t cry for me today

You wouldn’t cry for me today

This song has been a blessing to me in the past weeks. Remembering how much God loves Jason and that God's love and mercy is so much greater than we could ever know or imagine. That heaven will be so much more amazing than we could dream. And, that Jesus is preparing a place for me there someday too...

We are coming up on the one year date of Jason's passing on November 1. You may or may not have been following our story at that time. Last November, Jeremy's younger brother, Jason, was killed in a car accident. You can see videos of Jason here. They are the videos that we showed at his Celebration of Life service.

Jeremy is out in the woods hunting today and I am home with the girls. I feel very teary today. Mainly, wishing we were able to make it to Iowa for this weekend. But, we will just have to settle for Oovoo, phones and texting.

We love you, Uncle Jason!

Wednesday's Walk - Last 4th of July

Every summer, my girls go to Iowa for a long, fun visit with family. We usually schedule these Iowa trips when Jeremy and I have to be gone at a camp or other ministry event where we can't bring the girls. It works well for us because the girls get to spend time with their cousins and other Iowa family.

Last summer, the girls went to Iowa at the end of June. While they are in Iowa, they swim, play and run outside on the family's property. They usually get to go to my sister-in-law's VBS and, last summer, Elayna got to go fishing in Jason's boat with the big kids. She still tells me about a big turtle that Uncle Jason caught while they were on the boat.

My inlaws were planning to bring the girls back to Ohio on the 4th of July. As a surprise to Jeremy, Jason (Jeremy's brother) and his fiance, Amy, came with them to visit us!

It was a great surprise... Jeremy walked out to get the girls and there was Jason standing in our yard. They hugged a big, "only a brother can hug me like this" kind of hug, and then, we all went to see the fireworks at a big park in our neighborhood.

Here is the whole group together - minus Jeremy who is taking the picture.


Jason and Amy are on the blanket with Elayna...

And, here is our little family of five... Abby came home with a huge cut under her nose and Elayna has half of a sticker tattoo on her face. Aren't they cute?


Jeremy and I

Amy, Jason and Sheila - my mother-in-law - I am blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law.

I'm so thankful for these pictures and for this memory because it was the last time we saw Jason. The fact that he came to visit our house is special because we didn't get to see him very often. It was his first time visiting us in Dayton.

We made many great memories that weekend...

There is a Korean/Japanese restaurant around the corner from our house and we usually talk my father-in-law into taking us there when he comes to Ohio. We all went for lunch on Saturday and now, every time I drive by that restaurant, I think of Jason. I remember it so well because the guys ordered cow tongue to cook over the Korean grill on our table. Jason, Jeremy and Rick love eating anything that is different and not normal. I also remember that Abby was not happy during lunch that day and she took my keys and threw them at Jason's face. Oh, the memories...

After lunch, the boys went to some fishing, hunting and who knows what other kinds of stores and the girls went to Gabriel Brothers (crazy wonderful store). Then, we all came home and Jeremy and his family stayed up until the early hours of the morning playing XBox games together.

Jason was killed in a car accident on November 1, 2008. You can read other posts about Jason here. He was 25 and full of life. We love and miss you, Jason.

Jason's birthday is at the end of July. We will be in Iowa for that special day.

But, as the 4th arrives, I know there will be tears as we watch fireworks sitting right where we sat with Jason last year.

For more Wednesday's Walks, visit Lynnette Kraft.