Toronto Bridge, over the Wapsi.
Prism from Tabitha.
I took this picture on the way to Dad's today.
I wanted to share a part of Tab's letter with you all. Tab has been so wonderful to me and my family through the loss of our mother, our friend. We are forever grateful for the present and letter she gave us at Mom's visitation. She knows how to give us comfort and she did just that at Mom's visitation night. Thanks again tab! We love you!
Tid bits from Tab's Letter to Mom:
----How can I bring comfort to your children, my cousins, my good friends? I was trying to figure out what I could do, how I could help, when you gave me the answer. While I was working this week I was standing in front of a window talking to my boss. She said, "You have something below your neck."
"What?" I asked, putting my hand high on my chest and feeling nothing.
"It's a rainbow."
"A Rainbow."
I left my hand on my chest and smiled. A prism beam in the window had placed a rainbow above my heart. I felt warm and happy and at ease, just like when I was with you. There you were, just like you promised Jana. There was my sign.
Thanks Judy. See, like I said, I can always count on you.
So, I'm giving your children prisms as a gift from both of us. I hope they see that by letting the light shine in, they can have rainbows anytime they want. Just as when they open their hearts to happiness again, they will find you there. A mother's love knows no bounds. Time can never elude it, no matter how long it's been since they've seen your face. And heaven is no distance for something so powerful to travel. Though you have been taken away from their arms, you will remain in their hearts forever. You will remain in our hearts Judy.---
I picked Breathe!!
As you all know, I had laryngitis right after Mom passed. I couldn't talk and when I talked you couldn't understand what I was saying. My friend's Joni and Tristan called and said they had something to give me and my family before Visitation night. The night before Visitation my sister Amy and I stayed at Dad's House. So I didn't get to see Joni or Tristan the night before Visitation. The next morning I texted Joni to tell her I was sorry for not seeing her the night before. She said I had to go to her house to get a bag off of her door. She explained to me what she had. They bought 8 stones. Each stone had a word on it...
2 Spirit-Joy-Breathe-Create-Grace-Freedom-Faith
She told me to hand them out before visitation to my dad, sister and brothers. She said we had to pick one out for Mom too. Dad picked Spirit for both himself and Mom. Then the rest of my family and I picked out a stone. She said to put a stone in mom's hands and when we were down or sad about Mom or anything in our lives to pick up our stone and know Mom will always have a rock in her hand to help us. I really don't know what I would do without my great friends that I have.
Also, my email girls gave me a necklace (I will not take it off) it has a heart and cross. The heart says "Forever Loved." My necklace is BEAUTIFUL. And they also gave me a heart box. On the box it says "The Circle of Our Family Will Never be Broken." I feel so lucky and blessed to have the friends that I do. Thank you girls for being the wonderful friends you are!!!
Dad and his grandkids after the pumpkin carving. My family carved pumpkins last Sunday. We are going to put a Pumpkin on Mom's Grave for Halloween! We all had a good time talking about how Mom loved Halloween and would have loved being there with us too.
Trying to get all the kids to look!
Raya would not put her hand inside the pumpkin.
Justin cleaned and carved Breckin's Pumpkin. Breckin LOVED it!!
Raya girl getting so big!
Breckin playing with Grandpa's Halloween decorations!
Raya having fun with Grandpa Butch!
Say Cheese!
Raya playing with one of the many pumpkins Grandma Judy bought!
Breckin and Raya used the whole box of band aids. My kids are growing up so fast. Pretty soon they'll be graduated from High School. It just seems like yesterday they both were babies!
Croce Family always have a good time!!!
Miss Raya having fun!
Maraya Lynn helping pick up leaves.
Trying to get a picture by the ghost!!
Peek-A-Boo
I picked Breathe!!
When mom was dying I told her she had to send a sign to let us know she is ok. I said send a rainbow or butterfly. After 10 minutes went by of that conversation I brought it back up to Mom. I asked,"Mom what sign are you going to send us?" She said, "A Rainbow." So now since Mom has passed my family and I have been waiting for the rainbow Mom said she would send. Tonight (October 3rd) my aunt Patrice called all excited and said, "Jana, Hurry go outside there's a beautiful rainbow." So here I run outside with no shoes running up the road looking towards Lost Nation to find Mom's Rainbow. I didn't see it. The sky was all cloudy with no sun in sight. I called Patrice and told her that it was her birthday present from Mom. Patrice's birthday is October 4th. I was wanting to see this beautiful Rainbow Patrice was talking about. So the kids and I jumped in my car and drove the countryside of Maquoketa. Towards Lost Nation the sun was peaking through the clouds and it was just beautiful. I called Amy and told her I couldn't see a rainbow and she said it was meant for just Patrice to see. Then not a few minutes later I looked on the other side of the road and saw this HUGE rainbow. It was big and beautiful. (The pictures didn't catch it too well) I hurried and pulled my vehicle over and took some pictures. I would have taken more but my batteries in my camera went dead. I pulled over a few times and took different pictures from different views. The rainbow was so big and bright. I only got part of it because it was so big! Breckin was with me and I took him out of the vehicle and held him and told him to look at the beautiful rainbow grandma sent. He said, "Grandma is in the Rainbow?" He is so cute and just doesn't understand Grandma being gone! I hope you all enjoy the rainbow just as much as I am. Mom is OK!
Outside of Maquoketa on Hwy 64.
On the Airport Road.
