Well here we go again, another post by the former dark side of this duo..
July is here and almost half way gone.  Another 4th of July has passed, and the traditions that were started long ago, while we lived in Clearfield, have kept on going.  We held the "Traditional" 4th of July dinner on the 2nd this year.  All of the Fishers in the area attended, along with all of our children, their families, Kathleen's sister, her kids and grandkids, her mother, Dr. Taylor and Meredith, our next door neighbors, the Brown's, Travis and Stacie and their 3 children, Danny's girlfriend Belinda and her 2 boys, all totaled, 52 people attended this years function.  We did much the same as before on the 4th, watched some little ones while others participated in the 5 K race, watched the parade, went home, some of the kids came over and we played games, then off to a barbecue at Marianne's (Kathleen's sister), the off to the fireworks in Clearfield.  They were in one word AAAWWWEEESSSOOOMMMEEEE!!!!!  Probably the nest ever.  Then home for the night, and the comfort of the butter bed......

Well, Mandee was right in her last post, this blog does not get much in the way of new postings.  But having just passed the anniversary of Colleen's passing, I thought a quick note to all was in order.  Last year was a tough year on the Chatterton women.  We lost two special ladies, Colleen and my mother Lucene.  Mom passed away in November, on Scott's birthday no less.  Although the years had taken a toll on her, she was a one of a kind lady.  I must say that we just went through her house and cleaned it out, and held a yard/estate sale last week, and I am sooooooo glad that is over and I do not have to deal with all of that any longer.  I am sure that if she were able to communicate with us, she would not be happy over the events as they took place. I will not say any more, but I know my mother, having taken care of her for the 22 years since Dad died, and she is not smiling right now. 
To our amazing children, who now have been a year without their dear sweet mother, I want you to know how much I love each of you.  You are all very special persons, and you have a wonderful legacy to live by.  To Danny, I must say I am sorry for the way you have been treated, although I will not mention whom.  You know who I am talking about.  I hope that all continues to go well in your life.  You seem to have found a very special lady, and I hope that things work out for you two.  She would be a great addition to the family if that is how it turns out. 
To Scott, lessons of life can sometimes be really hard to deal with.  But the values that your mother taught you through her dealing with her disease, will have great meaning for you at this time of your life.  You are too good of a man to have to go through what has been placed on your back.  Move forward, love your daughter, and good things will happen for you I am sure. You, like me, will find a special lady that will change your whole life for the better.I am proud of you and your dedication to trying your hardest to make things work.  You have no reason not to hold your head high.
To Mandee, what more can I say, you are a very loving and special person, and take after your mother in so many ways.  You can be proud that you are the one who will also carry forward your grandmothers name. What a wonderful opportunity you have been given to raise these boys.  I pray for you to be able to keep them forever, as you are already more of a mother and parent than their bio's could ever be in a lifetime.  Thank you for showing the love that your mother taught you.  You are gifted and blessed to be doing all that you are doing.
To Tarra, you and your family gave up a lot to come help take care of your mother in her time of need.  Not only did you help her, but you helped me in too many ways to name them all.  Bless you and your family for all you did to help us.  Now take pride in what you are now doing and in all you will do.  You are a gifted athlete and I think it is awesome that you have gone to where you are now able to instruct others in the cross-fit arena.  You too have a caring heart and capacity to love and show others love.  Put it to good use.

To all my children, I hope you know that you all mean the world to me, and to your mother.  She is smiling down on all of you and watching over you.  Please never forget her, but also, never forget that your new step-mother loves all of you also, and she is there anytime you need her.  She has told me how much she loves each of you.  We cannot go back in time, only forward can we go, we will never forget, the ones who we loved so,  but understand one thing if you will, please keep going forward never settle for standing still.

If you don't already know, I depend on my Father in Heaven for everything, and I know that he blesses me with what I need to keep moving forward. I know he lives, and I know that he sent his son to atone for our sins, that we may have the chance to not only live with him again, but that we have the chance to remain a family forever because of his sacrifice for us

Missing Mom

I guess it's not a surprise that when Mom died, this website would go untouched for a while. No one really wants to write about how their lives are carrying on without her, how things just keep going on and changing how those sad times are further and further behind us. Mom's death was a shock, as well as a relief in some ways. She just suffered so much fighting that awful disease. Honestly, the shock is still lingering for many of us.

We haven't had new babies born to us since Mom died, even though we are fostering twin boys and a beautiful 4 year old girl in the family right now. I'd like to suspect that Mom had something to do with this little arrangement,because both families involved really wanted these children, but when it comes with so much heartache and pain, I can't give her the credit for it at all. I don't want to associate this pain with her or coming from her - because she only wants us to be happy here.

At first I didn't need or want to call my mom - you know how they say that when someone dies, we forget and call them up and then remember, "Oh yeah..." I didn't do that for a long time because she couldn't talk to me before she died, or even several months before she died. I had already accepted that that was how it was going to be from now on. But, now that I imagine her whole and happy again, all I want to do is talk to her. I want her to tell me what the heck is going on down here! Come on, Mom! Spill it to me, will you please? :) My pleadings never really work. And it's okay.

I really hope that when I see her again, her hug will be warm. If we are spirit beings when we embrace at our next meeting, will there be warmth? I'm betting there will be. But it will probably be different kind of warmth. And that's very, very exciting!

I adore the woman that is being such a great companion for my dad right now. She is wonderful. I think mom had something to do with this too :)