Busy Times!

We are ending our third week back to school and it's been pretty crazy. 

Soccer has also hit at full speed and we tend to have soccer at least five days a week... Which is a bit crazy as well!

One thing that's really helped with soccer this year is Ella got contacts. She still takes a lot of balls to the face but she's not breaking more glasses!

She's done really well with the contact so far - she can wear them all day and she can take them out by yourself.  Getting them in herself is still a bit of an issue. 

I can't remember if I mentioned that we are tearing out the ducky bathroom and redoing it because it started leaking...

This was a few weeks ago actually before school started and it's finally starting to come together. 

Justin ripped down pretty much to the nubs and started from scratch. 

This has taken us down to one bathroom or at least one shower, which is a royal pain in the butt for five people, especially with school starting :(

But it's going to be beautiful when it's done! 

Other than getting back into the swing of soccer and school, I've been working a ton, Justin's been working a ton and I've been trying to get out running, biking and walking as much as possible. Especially since we have the trail at Frank's park now that runs about 4 miles round trip. It's been great for getting a runner, bike or walk in every day. I take lots of pictures when I'm out!

I also got out for a 20 mile bike ride this past weekend, the farthest I think I have ridden my bike at least since college!

I love our Rails to Trails! 

This past weekend we also gathered to honor and remember Elijah. I can't believe it's been a year since the accident :(

We lit lanterns and sent balloons up from the cemetery. 

Still all so very hard to believe sometimes. 

I took Ella to a school night concert last night. Probably not a very good idea, but we had fun and we were both extremely exhausted today!

We saw Grouplove and Portugal the Man. 

I've been doing most of my blog updating via my iPhone for the last month or so. Otherwise I don't think I'd be getting any updating done. My computer is so old and so full from music and pictures and it barely runs anymore. 

It's hard to believe that today is the 13th anniversary of 9/11.  Still so vivid in my mind even 13 years later...
Never Forget. 

So, that's it in a nutshell for now! Ta-ta! 

Elijah Ryan Michael Love

Elijah Ryan Michael Love, 9, son of James and Amanda Love, has gone home to be with Jesus on September 8, 2013. He was born in Columbus, OH on December 15, 2003.

He was a 4th grader at Beacon Elementary School in Hilliard. Elijah enjoyed the outdoors. He was a child of God who loved everything that God created. He enjoyed fishing, swimming and riding his bike. Elijah was always curious about the world around him, asking questions and taking in information. His big brown eyes and beautiful smile will be forever missed by all who loved him.

Other family includes, siblings, Aliyah and Jordan, maternal grandfather, Ryan J. Casey, maternal grandmother, Lisa (Mark) Ridings, paternal grandparents, Sharon and Donald Parker, great-grandparents, Frank and Patricia Kennis, John and Patricia Casey, Bonnie Lou Bowles, uncle and aunt, Greg and Tracy Miller, cousins, Brooklyn and Jaden Miller, Casey Mers, many other aunts, uncles and cousins who he loved dearly.

Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 12:00pm, Monday, September 16, 2013 at the Potters House, 3220 Lowell Drive, Columbus, OH 43204, where a funeral service will begin at 12:00pm, following the visitation.

Burial will follow in Hampton Cemetery, West Jefferson, OH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Love Family Fund at any Huntington Bank.

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On Saturday night, September 7th, Justin and I were coming home from my 25th class reunion.  About 2 minutes into our drive home, he told me he had gotten a call from Margie, and there had been a terrible accident involving Mandy, Jimbo and the kids...and that Elijah hadn't made it. Impossible words to comprehend - I was still feeling festive after a wonderful evening with many friends that I hadn't seen in years and years.  And while I was laughing, hugging, toasting, chatting and having fun - Mandy's family had been hit head-on...and Elijah didn't make it.  "No" and "impossible" were the only words I could manage, over and over.

And it still doesn't seem possible. Over a month later - Mandy just got out of the hospital, we've packed and moved them out of their  house, Aliyah is with Lisa, Mandy and Jimbo with friends, Jordan with his mom.

Impossible.

Community support, family and friend support - has all been tremendous.  Beacon Elementary has had fundraisers, a few of Mandy's high school friends have arranged fundraisers and the Angels for Elijah page.  Beacon had a little memorial for Elijah after their walk-a-thon.  All the kids from the school blew bubbles up to the skies.  It was beautiful and heartbreaking.

A brief video of the bubble blowing :)

We made picture boards for the funeral - and then another set so that Manda and Aliyah could both have copies of them with them.

I'm sad...so sad to think about what Mandy, Jimbo, Jordan, Aliyah, Lisa, Mark, Ryan...are all going through especially.  I'm sad to think about Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, first days of school, last days of school, birthdays, bedtime tucking in, and everything else that will make everyone's hearts ache.