Farewell to the shrubbery....

Ummmm I mean to Bush.

This past week seems to have a taste of 'camelot' to it. We've reveled in photos of the inaugruation, pictures of people wiping away tears as President Obama was sworn in, pictures of President and First Lady Obama dancing, kissing and enjoying the many balls they attended.... BUT my favorite photo out of all these?

Its this one.... Goodbye Bush. New blood, new hopes and aspirations have entered into the White House. :)

In memory

In Memory Thomas R. Brennan 11/19/1962- 1/21/02

" 'Death, be not long.

Death, be not hard,'

we prayed.
But days stretched year-like

and when death came, God

it was not easy

as we had prayed.
Quiet, but not easy.
Forgive my complaints;

for precious to You

is the death of Your saints."

-Ruth Bell Graham

7 year itch

Night Sky by Lisa Brennan 2002

Like a brilliant star
You entered my life
And in a rushing moment you left
Leaving me in a void of darkness

I stumble through daily tasks
Trying to remember
Had you really been here?
Or was it only a dream?

Proof of your existence
Greet me in threes
Keeping my feet planted
When all they long to do is run away

Standing alone
Rivulets of memories course down my cheeks
I search for hope
I search for you

Looking to heaven
Millions of stars dot the sky
I look for the one that may be you
One solitary star shines brighter than all the rest
This one I choose
To whisper my sadness to.

This week we mark 7 years. Seven years feels like such a shock. The children are no longer 'small children'. In 7 yrs they've grown and matured. I'm told that they are 'used' to our little family. They have adjusted to his absence in a way. While occaisions arise that cause them to miss having a dad, I have seemed to have fulfilled that missing piece for them. I often joke with them that I am "MAD" the mom/dad. I myself accomplished much this year and am still so very grateful for having had Tom a part of my life. He gave me so much.

I sit today wondering about the next 6 months, the next 7 yrs and well, the rest of my life. In May we are supposed to go to court regarding a wrongful death suit. I can only cross my fingers and pray that we will prevail and some worries will settle. Patrick will graduate from High School and hopefully move on to college. I'll graduate from my master's program (MsEd in education with a concentration in literacy k-12) and life will continue to move forward. I think of 7 years and wonder if the old saying 'feeling the 7 yr itch' could apply here. I itch for a life that feels a little more complete and settled. I then wonder if it ever feels that way for anyone. Can you be living a somewhat settled life and still feel incomplete? I'm almost certain you can.