Pennies from Heaven

Aiden trying on Mama's shoes while we were getting ready to go for a run. This was an instance where I just couldn't move fast enough to get a non-blurry shot. Good enough to remember how cute Aiden was shuffling around in my shoes.

Reid likes to wear his hat low and then spends a lot of time peeking out from under the brim. Here it's actually pushed up:

After, he tugged it down:

That's better. Helps to maintain his Joe Cool-ness:

I've really enjoyed having this tree in our front yard. I can set up a folding, canvas chair (purchased by my dad when I moved into my first apartment in 2000) and enjoy the shade while the boys wander around.

You may need to click on the following photo to spot the boys. Today, they spent quite a bit of time "mowing" the neighbors yard. Eric explained to me that they probably spent so much time over there because he usually tries to keep them out of the neighbors' yards. Whoops!

This picture sums up the boys' interests pretty well:

Then, the boys wanted to climb around in the van for a while. Here they are telling me, "Bye", because they wanted me to close the door. I made them keep the sliding door open so it didn't get hot and I could keep my eye on them.

Aiden loving his car:

The lawn mower also gets top billing. (Reid rarely gets a spin with the lawn mower, but did so today because Aiden was busy with his car.)

Great smiles from Reid, too:

It's the 12th again. One month without my dad and I've been so sad. I've also been too busy chasing our monkeys to focus on my sadness, which I'm very grateful for. I do sort of wish I could just hide in bed for a few days, but I think everyone could go for that.

After my dad died, one of my former teachers shared this with me:


After Dad died, I read something I still believe. I don't remember where I read it, but it was by someone who had lost their father. She said that she found pennies at the strangest times and in the strangest places. At some point, she came to believe that was her dad contacting her to say hi or to smile or to say "Don't worry, I'm still here." Now that Mom and Dad are gone, I never pass a penny on the ground without picking it up and saying, "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. I love you."


I had read something like that before and thought, well, I guess that's a nice thing for him to think. I'm glad it gives him some comfort.

I took my running gear to school with me that Monday. Because I had neglected exercise in favor of spending time with my dad in the hospital and care center as much as possible, it was time to pound the pavement and work off some stress. After carefully navigating the student parking lot as they dashed to lunch, I put my ear-buds in and set off. A few steps later I glanced down and spotted a penny. And mentally ate some crow for being so flip. "Hi, Dad," I thought. I miss you.

I went back to my huffing and puffing and settled into listening to an NPR Fresh Air podcast. The last time I had updated this podcast was in November. Terry Gross was interviewing Regis Philbin, who had released his biography around the time he was retiring from his "Live" gig. Regis told about his college graduation day and being so excited to reveal to his family what he planned to do. He wanted to go into show business, so he arranged for a friend to be waiting at a piano in the music building so he could accompany Regis singing. Regis brought his parents to the practice room and cued the music, "Pennies from Heaven". Seriously?!? I guess there was a reason why this podcast had been waiting for me for six months. Good timing.

I've had several more pennies-from-heaven moments over the past month. When David picked us up from the airport when we went to Eva's dedication, up on Casper mountain, and even in the grocery store. Although, there's a bit of a twist to that last one. That same Monday after my dad passed away, I went to the grocery store after my run. I had neglected grocery shopping for a couple of weeks and was busy looking at my phone so I could look up recipes I had pinned on my Pinterest account. (Ever wonder why people have their smart phones out at the grocery store? If it's me, it's because I'm looking up a recipe.) I was so focused on my phone that I almost ran into one of those food displays in the middle of the aisle. The featured food? Van Camp's Pork and Beans. One of my dad's favorites. It's one thing to spot pennies from heaven, but pork and beans from heaven?!? I'm not sure if anyone else cried over that display, but I started bawling. I quickly pulled it together, not wanting to frighten some poor grocery store employee. Whether prompted by pennies from heaven or pork and beans from heaven, I'm thankful for so many good memories of my dad. I sure do miss him a lot, though.