It is hard to believe that one year ago, I was in Rochester with Chris recovering from surgery. so much has happened in that time. The girls and I are doing well. Allison and Emily are both in school again-Allison is taking night classes at Cambridge College in Boston and Emily is at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. I am the Curriculum Resource Teacher at Scott County Middle School. Our chocolate Lab, Clancy, died in July. He was 12 yrs old. It was a bit traumatic for both me and Emily and Patches-our other dog. Clancy is missed by us all. I had a very relaxing summer-spent most of it poolside at Spindletop Hall. I've done several needlepoint ornaments and some knitting too. Emily is in an apartment in Georgetown, she comes home to do laundry and "hang out" with me on the weekends. Emily and I will travel to Illinois for Thanksgiving and to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. We will also get to see the new baby in the family-my niece Meghan and her husband Sal had baby Jack this past week. Allison will be coming to Kentucky for Christmas so she has to work the Thanksgiving holiday. We will miss Allison, but she will be with Nicole (roommate) and her family. This will be the first Thanksgiving with my family in about 10 years - I am really looking forward to it. I might even join my sisters with the crazy day after Thanksgiving shopping. I think about Chris a lot and miss him sooo very much. Take Care. Love Mary Jo

June 10, 2007 it is hard to believe it as been three months since Chris passed away. I have finished with school and am looking forward to relaxing by the pool at Spindletop. Chris was hoping that this summer he would be without his flolan pump and would be able to return to sitting in the sun by the pool-I will do enough for the both of us! In a few weeks Emily and I will travel to the Chicago area for my niece's wedding. Allison will fly in from Boston. It has been too many years since we were all together in Illinois. Another niece got married last September-Allison was there but Emily was at school. We will miss not having Chis with us but it will be good to get together will my family again. Emily is planning on moving into and apartment in July-I will miss her but it is good for her to be out on her own. Next week we will go to the Community College in Lexington to get her schedule of classes for the Fall. I think she will be happy to be back in class. She is working a lot at the theater-because of her job we will be able to preview the new Harry Potter movie a day or two before it "comes out." the theater has to check the movies out once they get them-the employees get to sit in on the "preview" and sometimes they get to bring guests. Emily is willing to take me but did ask me last night if it was OK that she not sit by me. Its fine with me -I am excited to see the movie. I am keeping busy with scrapbooking, knitting and needlepoint. Carolyn gave me a gift certificate to but a new belt so I have that project to do. I am going to learn how to crochet this summer. I can do a single crochet chain but that is about it so I am going to try to teach myself. I have a feeling I'll be at the local yarn store many times for help. Take Care. Mary Jo

April 27th-I turn 50 on the 29th-hard to believe. My friend Debbie and I went out to eat the other night to celebrate both of our birthdays-we had a great time. Tomorrow- Emily, Carolyn and I are going out to dinner with the Grays( Bill, Lyland, Carolyn and Reid) to celebrate my birthday. It should be a good time. Chris was going to get me a new ipod for my birthday so I went ahead and got one for myself. It came in yesterday so I have been spending time ripping my cds to put them onto the ipod. It is a video ipod so I downloaded a movie and TV program to try them out-the picture quality is great, but the screen is only about 3 inches square.

School has been busy-we had state testing this week and have more of it the first of next week. Because the regular schedule is changed for testing the kids have been wild! It is hard to believe we only have a month of school left. The last day for students is May 30th. I am looking forward to spending time sitting out at the pool in the sun. The girls and I will be traveling to the Chicago area for my niece's wedding at the end of June. I am attending a conference in Florida for school in mid- July and we begin school in early August-summer will fly by!

It is weird with Chris not around, it is hard to believe he died almost 2 months ago. I have been busy doing all of the "paperwork" for insurance policies and changing accounts to just my name. Just when i think I have it all done, I think of another thing that needs to be change. Being the computer geek that I am, I'm trying to do as much as I can electronically-it is much faster than "snail mail."

Thank you to everyone for the cards -it has been overwhelming to see the all of the donations that have been made in memory of Chris-A fine tribute to a fine man. Thanks. Mary Jo

Emily and I had a great time on my Spring Break. We spent a quiet week with my family. I did a little shopping and a lot of knitting. I finished two books and watched several different movies. Julie , Emily and I did a bit of scrapbooking and I a lot of talking.
We had a long drive back to Kentucky on Sunday-Once I got us on to 65 South, Emily took over driving. It was nice being a passenger-Emily drove the rest of the way home. Today it is back to school. I've spent a bit of time catching up with everyone about their time off. I think I am the only one to encounter snow on Spring Break! I spent a bit of time going through all of the mail -yes, the paperwork was still waiting for my return. well, I am at school an have work waiting for me. I'll post again later. Take care. MJ

Here it is Friday of Spring Break and it is hared to believe our time is almost gone. Emily and I have had a quiet time. Reading and watching TV and sleeping in late. My sisters are taking good care of us. Last night Emily and I helped my sister Julie with some scrapbooking. We had a great time, but have a lot more to do. Yesterday after school. I helped my nephew Joey with a project for Social Studies-he made a mobile. It was great doing simple things. I have just about done all of the knitting I can do on the entrelac bag I am knitting. I have read 1.5 books and listened to one on CD on the way up in the car. The best part of this trip, is being able to visit with my mom, sisters and brothers. Tonight we will have pizza with my brother Patrick and his wife Nancy. That should be a lot of fun. Emily and I are getting ready to leave to spend the day shopping with my sister Meg and we will meet up with my sister Jane. This is the day Emily has been waiting for. . .a trip to Woodfield Mall -it is a huge Mall on three different levels, before the Mall of America, Woodfield was the largest Mall around. We should have a good day-hopefully not too expensive! Too soon we will return to Kentucky and back to the paperwork! Fortunately, I have had a relaxing week and it shouldn't be too bad facing the paperwork wait for me. Have a good day. Take Care. MJ

It is hard to believe we are already in April. Where has the time gone? Things are settling a bit since Chris died, but there is still a lot to do. I have done much of the paper work and am now waiting to hear from some of the companies I contacted. I do so much on the computer that "snail mail" seems to take an eternity. School has been a bit wild-it usually is right before a break. Friday can not come soon enough. Emily and I (and maybe Carolyn) will leave for the Chicago area late afternoon on Easter Sunday. We will drive for several hours and then stop and continue our trip on Monday. I am hoping to avoid Chicago rush hour. on Monday It will be good to have a week where I don't have to do anything. I plan on reading , knitting and needlepointing-nothing that requires much thought. Of course Emily may have other plans. It will just be good to be away for awhile.
Emily and I took the dogs to the groomer's today to get "fluffed and puffed" -it is always an experience taking the dogs on a "road trip" Patches, the mutt, tries to climb into the front seat-he usually ends up perching on Clancy's back in the rear seat, puts his front paws on the arm rest between the front seats and breathes down my neck. It makes for interesting driving.
We have received so many notes and cards-what a wonderful testament to Chris. Take Care. MJ

It has been almost 20 days since Chris died-that is so hard to believe. It is amazing the amount of work involved after a death-most of it paperwork. I come home from work, take a nap and then begin an evening of "estate" paperwork. Fortunately I have friends who are helping me-it is a daunting task for anyone and even more daunting when the person who has to complete all of the paperwork has just lost an important person in their life.

On to brighter things. . . Yesterday, Chris was remembered in the state House of Representatives. Jody Richards, Speaker of the House and a good friend of Chris's, along with Charlie Hoffman the representative for our area, read a resolution that when the House closed for the day they would do so in memory of Chris. We (family and friends) walked down the center aisle of the House and stood in front of all of the legislators while the resolution was read. It was a pretty neat experience-Chris would have loved it!

Emily and I are going to an all day (12 hours!) scrapbooking event on Saturday. I have done it several times before-this is a first for her. I am glad she is getting into a hands-on hobby. She is so creative-I hope she likes scrappin' as much as I do. Thanks again for all of the kind words and prayers - they make things a bit easier. Mary Jo

Things are turning back to normal (whatever that is!) here in Georgetown. I am back at school-it is a short week for me-I'll be off Thursday to take Emily to a doctor and the entire county is out of school on Friday for the state basketball tournament. Allison is flying back to Boston in the morning. It has been great to have here at home, but she has a life to get back to in Boston-I am sure they will be glad to see here back at the school/facility where she works. Emily returns to her job at the theatre tomorrow , it will be good for all of us to get back in to our routines. Carolyn seems to be managing. She came to our house last night for dinner-the girls cooked. This evening we all went to an Asian Buffet here in Georgetown. Lyland and Bill came so we could have a good send off to Allison-she needs to be in Louisville by 7:30 am!!!!
We have received so many wonderful cards and and phone calls. Chris impacted the lives of many, it has been great for the girls (me too) to hear about all of the good things Chris has done for others during his lifetime. It is a strong testament to what a fine individual he truly was. He will really be missed.
I will probably keep this blog going for a little bit more. It is good "therapy" for me. Please keep the good thought and prayers headed to Georgetown-every little bit helps. Take Care. Mary Jo

We have had an emotional few days. Over four hundred friends and family came to the funeral home on Sunday for the visitation and to the funeral on Monday. What a testament to Chris. Family came in from Illinois, Iowa, Virginia, and Tennessee and some of brothers of Delta Chi and other friends travelled from Iowa, Ohio and Indiana to help celebrate Chris's life. I know Chris would have been pleased with the Knights Templar standing guard at the funeral home, with the Masonic ceremony at graveside as well as the Delta Chi graveside ceremony. Chris and I had talked in the past about music we liked, so I know that the music played by Charlotte, and sung by Debbie and the congregation would have pleased him as well. Steve, Vicky and Scott said such wonderful things about Chris and his life that Chris would have been honored but would humbly say that he did not do anything special, he just did what he liked to do and that he did not do any of it alone. Chris was a wonderful man and a friend to many. I know I am a better person from living life with Chris. He was a great husband and father and my best friend. I will miss him. Mary Jo

Life has been a blur for me since Thursday. As I sit here and write this , my girls are in the other room laughing with each other while putting a memorial board together about their Daddy. I am happy that in this sad time they are able to find laughter while digging through all of the old photo albums. Many family members have arrived with more coming tomorrow. Emily commented to me that it is so good visiting with her relatives, but that she wished it wasn't for such a sad time. She has also said that it is too bad that her daddy doesn't get see the out pouring of love and friendship and to hear all of the wonderful things people have said about him. I assured her that Chris knew he was well loved and that he would want us to celebrate his life, not mourn his death. We have laughed and we have cried and in the coming days we will do more of the same, but it is comforting to us to read and hear all of the wonderful things that have been said about Chris. Please keep the thoughts and prayers coming our way, I know the coming days will be difficult. Take Care. Mary Jo

Visitation, March 11, 3-7 Johnson's Funeral Home Georgetown, Ky http://www.johnsonsfuneralhome.com/
Funeral, March 12, 11 am First Christian Church, Georgetown, Ky

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I must tell you that Chris died last night. (3/9)He has been feeling so good lately that all of us are surprised-this hit us out of the blue. I am unsure of the arrangements, Allison is flying home today and other Family will be coming in over the weekend. I'll try to post what I can here on the blog. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Take Care. Mary Jo

It is cold here in Georgetown. Schools have been closed for three days because of the weather-more snow is on the way so we will probably be out a few more days. I don't mind it now but will not be happy in June! Chris is doing very well since his retina surgery-he was glad when the bubble dissipated and he could raise his head again. The winter weather keeps us at home reading, watching movies and being together. Chris goes to his local cardiologist this week-we are anxious to see what he has to say. The last time Chris saw this doctor was in May-Chris has had a lot of changes since then and feels sooo much better. We are scheduled to return to Mayo the first week in April. They want to check on Chris progress since surgery. Chris will have tests one day and a heart catheterization the next. The drs. want to see how his lung pressures are since the surgery and the decrease in his flolan. We are hopeful the flolan dosage will be lowered even more or discontinued completely. Emily is taking a history class on Tuesday evenings, I have been making cards and scrapbooking, Chris has been working with his fraternity and lodges, Allison is trying to say warm in Boston-it is even colder there. Allison and her friend Nicole are scheduled to come visit us in two weeks. They are driving from Boston and will be here about a week. Needless to say we are all excited. Take care. MJ

All I can say is Wow! Chris is doing sooo well. He continues to gain strength each day. He is off of two more medications since returning home. Chris is able to be off of the oxygen for several hours at a time without experiencing any breathing difficulties. He can climb a flight of steps and walk/stand for greater periods of time. When asked how he feels, Chris will say, "The best I ever have!"
We had a great Christmas. Between Christmas and New Year's, Chris and I flew to Chicago and saw the musical Wicked. We also traveled out of the city and got to visit with my family at a niece's engagement party (this trip was my Christmas present from Chris). Everyone commented on how good Chris looked.
Right now Chris is recovering from the eye surgery he had yesterday for a detached retina. He did fine with the surgery-it is the recovering that is difficult. . . he has to keep his head down for two weeks (chin to chest) because of the gas bubble they use with detached retinas. He is using his new iPod to listen to audio books, and a handheld TV to watch local TV channels. I know the next 2 weeks will be trying for Chris-especially since he is feeling so much better overall and ready to begin "doing" things. Oh well, he has been through much worse than this and has done well.
Thank you again for all of the good thought and prayers. I don't think we would be where we are today with out them. Have a good new year. Mary Jo