Madeline Alice Spohr

Please say a prayer for the Spohr Family as today they said goodbye to their sweet sweet baby ~ I've been thinking about them non-stop since last week when I first heard the news ~

This video montage just breaks my heart ~ I am so blessed, doubley blessed, blessed a hundred times over. I can and will remember that each and every day I am granted in this world. I cannot imagine the pain a parent feels when they lose a child and I hope you will remember to count your many many blessings today as you remember little Maddie, taken from this world much much much too soon. I feel confident in saying that if you are reading this - you can find something to be thankful about today.

Cancer Sucks - Part 217

Not much to say that hasn't already been said ... Another battle with cancer - another life lost...much much much to young. This morning is the funeral service for family friend Monica ~ Taken from this world at just 34 years of age, leaving behind a grieving daughter, son, husband, father, mother, brother(s) ... the list goes on and on.
Please say a prayer for Monica and for those that loved her...and hug your loved ones a little tighter today.



Monica Bubendorf, 34 of Savage, MN, formerly of Grand Forks, ND, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at her parent’s home in Thompson, ND.
Monica Marie Sattler was born on April 9, 1974 in Grand Forks, ND, the daughter of Steve and Dianne (Novak) Sattler. Monica grew up and attended school in Grand Forks, ND, graduating from Central High School in the class of 1992. She worked at Sun Coast and then attended Aakers Business College with a degree as a Legal Secretary.
In 1998 she moved to Minneapolis, MN. On July 30, 1999 she was united in marriage to Robb Bubendorf in Grand Forks, ND. They lived in Savage, MN and she worked for Stemple and Associates and later worked for Lowden Law Firm in Bloomington, MN.
Family members who survive Monica include her husband Robb of Savage, MN; children: Ashley Sattler and Dylan Bubendorf both of Savage, MN; her parents: Steve and Dianne Sattler of Thompson, ND; siblings: Chad (Kristy) Sattler of Grand Forks, ND and Jason (Erin) Sattler of Burnsville, MN; grandmother: Ellen Novak of Alexander, ND; nieces and nephews: Laney and Dani Sattler, Sam and Sara Schuster and Kassia Bangert.
Monica is preceded in death by her grandfather George Novak and paternal grandparents: Frank and Ann Sattler
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Caring Bridge or Cancer Research.
Funeral Services: 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2009, in United Lutheran Church, 324 Chestnut St., Grand Forks, ND.
Visitation: 1 hour prior Funeral Service in United Lutheran Church

Ice Fishing Benefit...

So the reason that the hubs wasn't able to join us at Sesame Street Live was because there was an ice fishing benefit going on for his friend Monica who is currently losing her battle with cancer ~ Having never been ice fishing before - I wasn't so sure how it was going to for them...but they appeared to have some great fun! Five guys, three hours on the water - And all they caught was a buzz!! Not one fish...Success? It was if you ask them!

Al and I and the kids braved the elements after braving the whole Sesame Street thing and joined them for a bit...











The boys kept H entertained - as they always do!

Micah and H making snow piles on the lake ~


These guys are sooo great with our kids...the uncles they didn't get from me and the hubs biologically! I cannot WAIT until these *uncles* have their own babies!!

Cookie entertaining the little (very very overtired and cold) little Diva!

Say a Prayer -

It's Christmas Eve and as I sit here surrounded by family and more material stuff than I could even begin to mention, I count my many many blessings. It is with great sadness that I direct you to my friend Emilie who is now enjoying Christmas with her Saviour. Please keep Emilie and her family, especially her two little boys, in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season and in the months to come. They are facing the unbearable - my worst nightmare. Life is just too short, too uncertain, too unfair.

Please hug your loved ones just a little bit tighter today - for Emilie, and for all of the others who can't.

Thoughts and Prayers...

So today I am sitting down at the computer - tears in my eyes again - thanking the good Lord up above for all of my many many blessings. While it's true that I have been somewhat stressed out this week by trivial things such as it taking me 2.5 hours to drive 21 miles in the morning with our winter wonderland weather, waking up covered in pee at 1 am when the 3 year old slept with me the other night and other things so stupid I can't even remember now, the fact of the matter is those things don't matter at all. Not one bit.
The simple fact that I can get up and actually have a job to go to, whether it takes me 20 minutes or 20 hours to get there...and the fact that I have a little girl that IS able to get up and use the potty (almost always)...I am blessed...I have my health, I have the health of my husband and the health of our children. Nothing else really matters does it?

Today I ask you that you please keep the following friends of ours in your prayers - Both are young young women. Both are mothers.
Both have been diagnosed with cancer. Both have made the heart wrenching decisions to stop their treatments and live out the rest of their days as comfortably as possible with the help of Hospice - May God grant them the peace and grace that they so desperately need and deserve. This holiday season, as you rush about from one place to the next - frustrated like I have been about how long it takes you to get there or what is or isn't on the menu - please remember Emilie and Monica and their families - as well as the families of so many others who aren't as lucky as we are this holiday season!

Life is too just too short.

Life is too short. Life. is. too. damn. short. It's a mantra I live by each and every day of my life and try to instill in others. One just never knows when their number is up and for that reason we have to live each day as if it were our last. Today I ask that you keep Kelly Andrews in your thoughts and prayers - I have mentioned Kelly before - she is a gal from my home town - Grafton, ND - (a non-smoker) who was diagnosed with lung cancer this past November -
Yesterday afternoon Kelly married the love of her life, Collin. And last night, just a few short short hours after being married, Kelly passed away. Please keep Collin and the rest of Kelly's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this most difficult time.
I have been inspired by Kelly's positive attitude throughout this whole ordeal and hope that you will hug your loved ones just a little bit tighter today, and in all the days to come, in honor of this remarkable woman. Peace be with you Kelly.

Thoughts and Prayers and Thoughts

Rob and Jeff


Brooksie and I (and Micah and Brent!)

So today's entry is again one of asking to keep a family in your thoughts and prayers. Our friend Brooksie (Jeff Brooks) - Rob's friend from forever ago - lost his dad unexpectedly yesterday. Bob Brooks was just 61 years old - died of a heart attack during a procedure at Altru - the hospital of death. Why does it seem that we know so many people that go into that hospital healthy and just never make it out of there? I feel so bad for Jeff (and for his three brothers and especially his mom.) It's never easy that is for sure - but when a person isn't even OLD and it happens so suddenly. It just breaks your heart. Bob's passing has been all over the news back home in Grand Forks as he was a member of the city council. He was a well-respected member of the GF community and his presence will be missed. It has really had me thinking over these last 24 hours - if I died suddenly what would people be saying about me?? I know I wouldn't be breaking news - front page news, most likely not even news. I also can't help but wonder if there would be as many nice things said about me - or at this point - ANY nice things said about me!! I do know that I have really changed a lot over the past few years - I am really out of touch with the world, my old world anyway - I've become a hermit!! Between two somewhat difficult pregnancies resulting in two very busy kids (one a little easier to handle than the other) and managing an almost full time "real" job, motherhood and just everything else - I've lost a huge part of myself along the way - I barely have time to get into the shower some nights before Derek is waking up much less get myself any "me time." I have all but lost touch with a lot of people who mean a lot to me. As I say my prayers for Brooksie and his family I reflect on my life and think about my new years' resolutions - I have a lot of them I want to work on. Finding myself is the key - Getting back out in the world with my friends - at least a little - taking some of this weight off...those are good places to start. I know I need to work on my patience level - that's a biggie right now. It's tough when I'm getting 2-3 hours of interupted sleep each night - I am pretty tired and run down right now - but I can, and I will get myself back to who I was and who I want to be. Again, please say an extra prayer for the Brooks family tonight and remember to hug your loved ones - Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they are, before it's too late.