2015 Christmas ~ But first...let us take a selfie!!

If you are easily offended, possibly a hard left liberal and do not enjoy laughing…let this be your warning, we advise stopping here.  Lisa’s gloves are coming off this year ya’ll!!!!!!

    

How did we get here?!?!?!  Did you see the back of the Christmas/New Year’s Eve Card?!?!?  Holy Crap!  (As Clark says, “Mom, we don’t say that word.”)  Right, but ladies and gentlemen we have a GRADUATED Juris Doctor en la casa!!  Just goes to show, you are NEVER too old to follow your dreams, start a new adventure, or do an about-face with your career.

So, the whole graduation thing inevitably leads you to asking the question, “John’s finished.  Where are the Ortega crazies going to land?!?!?”  Unfortunately, the bill board from God has not exactly shown up with the checked box of, A. Move Home to Texas, B. Stay Near Family, 3. Go Totally Crazy and Move to San Francisco or New York.  However, we are continuing to keep the faith, and know God has got this.  Hello, God, are you there buddy?!?!?   The problem with two people who make all of their life decisions on what we “think” God wants us to do can be paralyzing when his signs, the wind, and the pit in your stomach are not giving you any guidance WHATSOEVER!?!?!?  In the midst of silence, we are called to remain faithful and complete this current Leap of Faith.  Hopefully, by March we will be able to fill you in the next Ortega adventure.  In the meantime, John is tempted to sell every material possession, achieving the minimalist/Japanese style home he has always dreamt of.  Lisa still wants to adopt 10 babies from around the world.  Who knows…you might just see us moving overseas with a mission’s organization.  No seriously…I wouldn’t put it past us right now!  ;-)

Grandma and Grandpa V. celebrated 40 years of surviving together on the farm in August!!  The kids adore time spent there, especially the occasional 1x1 week with the Grands.  Amazing how much quieter the house is with only 2 littles.  Unfortunately, we lost a dear Vilhauer family member this year.  This is someone with whom many important conversations were held; requests for first dates, pregnancy announcements, important cattle business and so much more.  Mom texted several family members a few weeks ago, “Due to too many telemarketing calls, 229-5544 will no longer be a working number.”  GASP!?!?!?!?  For those of you whom have also lost your childhood phone numbers, you know the deep pain this has caused the family.  Brother Lance has requested that in lieu of flowers, you place a quarter in a pay phone if you can find one.  Lisa has started a GoFundMe account to save 229-5544 by transferring our family member to a cell phone.  Loren, the family historian, has begun the task of documenting the cherished conversations.  Lastly, our childhood friends and family are in deep mourning because it was the last phone number we all had memorized.  Who are we going to collect call now?!?!?  Oh right, we have an attorney in the family now.  Ya’ll might want to memorize Ortega’s cell…JUST IN CASE of course!  :-/

The Ortega Crazies:

John (The Graduate):  Spent a semester at Boston University where the LLM program in Banking and Finance Law is #1 in the WORLD.  Met a bunch of amazing individuals from around the globe whom are leading banks, stock exchanges and so much more.  Rewarded his wife with a night in Fargo to see Bill Maher live!?!?!  She is still having nightmares.  John’s rationale, “We need to understand how the enemy thinks!” Coached back to back Malpractice Bowl Champions using the Baylor shotgun offense and shutting out the med school 26-0.  In the words of Nicki Minaj, “Our only motto in life is DON’T LOSE!!”  Is officially an ESQ.  After the Bar exam in two months…hopes to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life!!

   

Lisa (Self-Proclaimed Wife of the Year):  Has been attempting to do “The Miracle Morning” with about a 10% success rate.  Keeps trying new workouts seeking the pre-multiples pregnancy/early 30s physique, unfortunately with only a 25% success rate.  Yoga, Insanity Max, Body Pump and Spin would surely all do the trick if any kind of consistency was maintained.  Relived her late 20s and early 30s by being a bridesmaid again this summer, where she enjoyed a bachelorette party in Vegas, multiple showers and an amazing time with family and friends!!  Being the family Landscaper…requested an edger/weed eater for Christmas.

Clark (Age 6.5 – Gentle Giant & Mediator):  Is now wearing size 8 everything.  After analyzing how HUGE (said in Donald Trump accent) he is laying in his bed, we are sure to need a California King mattress for him by the age of 10.  Quote of the Year:  Lisa, “Clark, you are ALWAYS, piddle farting and taking your time.  Please HURRY-UP!”  Clark, “But mom, I like to.”  Lisa, “Why?”  Clark, “Because, it’s the BEST OF LIFE!!”  Out of the mouths of babes.  This one sure enjoys soaking in the moment and teaching the family to SLOW DOWN and enjoy the little things!  Loves basketball, skiing, soccer, art class, eating Grandma’s zucchini bread, and outsourcing the making of his bed to his twin.

         

Kennedy (Age 6.5 + 1 minute – Intelligent Princess):  One of only three girls to attend football camp this fall with 70+ boys!  Not a fan, in fact stated she was NEVER doing that again.  Enjoyed the social aspect of soccer and mommy coaching.  Quote of the Year:  While hiking a 5-mile cliff in San Diego, would not allow Clark and mommy to take a rest on a bench when trying to beat the 2 Gs with the simple words, “COME ON, DON’T YOU WANT TO BE WINNERS!?!?!?”  Best friend is the funny boy in school.  When asked why him, “Mom, because he is SOOOOO funny, and I am funny!”  Should they marry, at least the Christmas Letter tradition will live on!  For Christmas she asked for Lil G to quit being so bossy.

Giancarlo (Age 5.5 – Brilliant Comedian) – Loves everything Star Wars.  Enjoyed the family trip to Texas this summer and still talks about living in Texas or Mexico when he gets bigger.  Can be talked into anything as long as Legos are involved in the negotiation.  According to siblings has become very bossy like daddy ever since turning 5.  Refer to Kennedy’s Christmas request above.  Even shakes his head just like John when people are not on the same page as him.  When making points to his siblings tends to end every sentence with “BOOM!” and associated hand motion for dramatic effect.  Began attending Montessori school this fall…educating us on the first US flag, ensuring we understand what deciduous trees are and inquiring about constellations?!?!  Plans to be an Investment Banker, Fireman, B-ball Player and Lawyer by 2^nd grade.

Side bar…We have made an interesting observation regarding the parentals at the two schools we love and entrust our children with each day.  Sacred Heart = Quite preppy, well dressed on their way to their financial, real estate or big farming job, OR wearing their active gear (with ZERO intention of going to yoga – self included!), always smiling, and rushing their children in in the morning.  Montessori School…well…let’s just say it seems to be a bit more on the hippy end of the spectrum.  Ensuring their child is able to observe every rock, leaf, rabbit and ant on the 15 step sidewalk into school.  Dialoguing with the 1-year olds in a vocabulary well beyond Lisa’s Masters level education.  Generally speaking, eating home-made granola, driving station wagons with canoes on top, and wearing those dreadful Jesus sandals.  Apparently, this makes John and Lisa Preppy Hippies!!!          

 

It would NOT be the Ortega Christmas letter without some parental advice, so without further ado!!

#1 WWF Strategy – Tap in for your spouse.  Give them a break.  Men, PLEASE give your wife a night off from the bath/bed time routine at least 2x per month to go out with the girls!  Trust us when we say…she will come home having partaken in a beverage or two and find you wildly attractive.  You will be rewarded!  Likewise, ladies it is in his God given genetic make-up to go hunting.  Just use his credit card the weekends he is away!

#2 NFL Strategy – Increase your number of reps.  By the time you get to the professional parenting level you should have put in over the required 10,000 hours and be ready for Prime Time on Mondays.  We all make parenting mistakes every day…but the more parenting we practice, the better we become!

#3 NHL Strategy – Sometimes you just have to let the kids fight it out, especially with boys.

#4 Baylor Bears Strategy – OFFENSE – Pre-planning is critical for raising three or more children.  With multiple activities being thrown at them, there is little room or time for meltdowns.  Although, adding three or more events/quarterbacks to the situation will increase the opportunity for meltdowns and/or interceptions.  Always prep the night before to remain on offense!

#5 MLB Strategy – SNACKS!  A girlfriend recently told me she has never seen a mother of multiples without snacks.  This is a FACT! 

#6 Dancing with the Stars Strategy – DATE NIGHT!  Make it happen people.  It doesn’t have to be a gala or ballroom dancing, but the two of you need to re-connect.  You know this one is CRITICAL to the Ortega family functioning.  Fast food is NOT an acceptable option, UNLESS it is El Rey!  Mmmmm!

#7 Survivor Strategy – It all began in January, the month John embarked on an entire SEMESTER at Boston University.  I don’t mean to state the obvious...but we live in ND, and BU (the NE BU), is located in Boston, Boston, MA.  It is one thing when you go to zone defense as a parental unit…but when you are all of a sudden overrun by three crazies and there is no one to tap in for you!?!?!  It’s a whole new ballgame or maybe we should call it surrendering.  John, “Love, they can sense your fear!!!”  Yup, there we were, embarking on 5 months without daddy in the tundra of ND.  Somehow we survived.  The tribal councils were always a bit tough upon John’s arrival every few weeks.  Luckily, the kids only voted mommy off of the island once!

Thank God for GRANDMA, great neighbors & wonderful friends who all stepped up in so many ways!  In all honesty, if you saw the video clip of John’s first trip back after three long weeks away, you know it was harder on him than us.  That’s it from the Crazies.  For 2016, please make sure to enjoy the little moments, take a leap of faith, laugh a whole heck of a lot, keep letting your light shine, and for gosh sakes go on DATE NIGHT!!!!!!  From our perspective “The night is still young, and we’re just gettin’ started!”  Can’t wait to see what 2016 brings!!  Peace out, we love you, miss you dearly, & pray you & yours have the most amazing 2016, including a Capitalist voted back into the white house! Love, Giancarlo ESQ., Lisa, Clark, Kennedy & Lil G.

Hitting the wall...Mile 23!

Have you ever run a Marathon?   If you have CONGRATULATIONS!  You are awesome, and have completed one of the most difficult physical accomplishments known to man.  John has run a couple, but I have yet to attack that bullet on my bucket list.  As friends of ours continue to prep for the Boston Marathon next week, I could not help but relate our current family situation to running a marathon (metaphorically speaking!).

 

For those of you new to our story, please review our first blog ever before proceeding, titled "Leaps of Faith."   

Anywhooo...Runners often refer to "hitting the wall" like the following.  "The wall" is defined as that period in a marathon when things transition from being pretty hard to being really, really hard.  It is the point where your body and mind are simultaneously tested.  It's the perfect intersection of fatigue and diminished mental faculties.  Or as most runners remember it, it's the exact point where all your pre-race plans go out the window.  How you handle "the wall" can literally make or break your marathon.  (McCrann, Patrick, Active.com; How to Beat the Wall During Your Marathon.)

I am fully confident that John and I have both "HIT THE WALL" this week in this marathon called Law School and particularly the quarter mile titled "Boston Semester!"  We are both mentally and physically EXHAUSTED.  The thought of two more weeks of mornings and bathtime/bedtime without daddy appears almost impossible to complete.  At the same time, some MAJOR senioritis (if that is possible for a law student) has set in for Mr. Ortega.  It's like we can see the light in December, that last hill, but at the same time it is SOOOOO far away. 

 

Our convo via text this week:

 

Me, "Love...I have to admit that I am completely over doing all of this without you here." 

 

His response, "If it makes you feel any better, I am over shi-ty hotel rooms and barking dogs." 

 

My response, "Yes, slightly better."  ;-) 

 

In order to help stretch the law school budget, John has really taken one for the team and has been staying in a less than stellar hotel, and for this past week in a BnB with awesome tiny, snippy, barking dogs!!  Seriously, people...how can you stand those little things?  We are lab people.  Anyway, we digress!

 

I think the best thing you can do when you have come so far on your goal, whether it be your eating habits and those remaining 5lbs, climbing the corporate ladder, athletic goal, or whatever your personal goal is, is to review how far you have come and also recall why you started in the first place!  I keep telling myself that we are on the down hill stretch.  When first arriving in ND from Texas, 2.5 years seemed like FOREVER!!!  Especially, when you throw in one of the coldest winters on record.  Now, we are literally down to just 8.5 months of law school and then of course that final extra 10 miles on top of the normal marathon, also known as "THE BAR EXAM!?!?!?!?" 

 

Sometimes that past reflection is the thing that can push you through.  It really is mind over body at this point.  Or what I like to call your MENTAL TOUGHNESS!!  Which by the way, John Ortega's is OFF THE CHARTS!  Man I LOVE HIM!

Examples are:

• Well, look how many miles I have already completed...I can't stop now. 
• 15 pounds down...only 5 more to go. 
• This is not the first a-hole I have encountered in the oil patch, I am not going to let him stop me now. 
• Last month I could only do 3 proper push-ups, this month I am up to 15!!
• I only said 5 negative things to my spouse today instead of the normal 20!  Etc. 

 

Whatever your personal marathon is, do not give up.  Remember to remind yourself how far you have already come!! 

 

For us:

• John was able to start a bank not on the first or second try, but the third.
• He always wanted a Masters or JD, and he didn't let the fact that he was already in his late 30's deter him.
• Lisa isn't crying about having left Texas every day like the first 6 months here = Success!
• We actually started our own consulting business.  This would not have happened if we had stayed in big Oil and Gas attempting to climb that corporate ladder. 
• The kids are in a school which we absolutely love with AMAZING teachers and other families! 
• We have already completed 3.5 months of John being gone in Boston.  We only have 1/2 of a month LEFT!!! 

Keeping in mind that God has you and us exactly where he wants us.  Lisa cannot imagine going back to an 8-6 where she had a much smaller influence on the kids day to day lives. 

 

As stated above...some of our "pre-race/pre-Boston plans have completely gone out the window"...For example the "budgets" John gave me upon his departure, are COMPLETELY out the window.  I like to think of TJ Maxx as my therapist and relaxationist all in one.  We have never been the, "Well, if you are good, you will get x..." kind of parents.  I am now buying legos and new dresses weekly just trying to keep the peace at home.  That nightly Facetime we had planned...NO.  Some days it works out, but more often than not, the last thing I want to do is let the kids talk to daddy in the middle of me yelling at them to get in the bath, out of the bath, hurry up-put your lotion on, get into bed, etc.  Minimal use of I-pads...definitely easier now that temps are above 25, but they certainly had more TV and I-pad time in Jan-March then they had in their life times...

 

When John returned home from his last LONG trip, we embraced in a big hug and I looked up at him and said, "I just need to hear ____."  He responded, with, "Yes, love, you are beautiful, the most amazing wife and thank you for keeping the children alive."  Not exactly the finesse I was looking for, but whatev. 

 

Please keep in mind that whatever you are battling at the moment, know that God has got this and the finish line may only be 3.2 miles ahead or one simple LEAP OF FAITH! 

 

Thank you for listening...I had to get all of this off my chest.  There is clearly at least one person out there who needed to hear this today.  God would not let my mind rest until this was typed up!

 

Our Mom ~ 40 Years of blessing lives during their most difficult times.

 

Words cannot express how proud of our mother we are.  40+ years of caring for the sick, the injured, mothers’ who had just lost their first, 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th baby, heroes trying to fight off cancer with their 10^th round of chemo, those finally saying goodbye to their gall bladders, those who were mentally struggling – but as mom always pointed out, were the most creative and “when up” the happiest people she knew, and soooo many more.

Today marks a new beginning for mom, retirement from nursing in the “formal” sense.  However, she will continue being a wonderful mother, pushing her big kids along to reach our dreams, and of course entering year 6 of being the most amazing grandmother EVER!! 

We truly only have great memories of the hospital…visiting mom after church on Sundays to have lunch together as a family when she worked weekends.  Calling her at work once we were old enough to stay home during the summers, amazingly she always found 30 seconds to speak to us to resolve the fight over the phone.  Seeing her 2-North patients (mental health) at Burger King in their rainbow of colors or crossing the street with a grocery cart.  They always waved and said hi to mom…we would ask, “Mom, who is that?”  Her response, “Just one of mommy’s friends!”  Never allowing us to judge them.

For those of you who would come up to us as we got older stating, “Yeah, I am sure your mom told you that she helped to take care of me last week, last month or last year.”  Please know, that she NEVER EVER broke that patient/nurse confidentiality, but we thank you for always telling us she was the best nurse you had ever encountered!
 

Mom, we cannot wait to see you up past 7:30pm!!  It was so important to you that your departments were up and running and ready for your early morning patients.  It was CRITICAL that the TV was on when they came in to put them at ease.

Mom, there is so much more we could say, but we would be here for weeks.  We love you, are soooo unbelievably proud of you managing multiple departments, loving your employees, and ensuring they knew you had their back.  Managing the farm and DAD!!!  Good Lord that is a full-time job in itself, building a home, getting your four year degree, all the while ensuring we had our homework done, made it to all of our activities and so much more. 

YOU ARE AMAZING!!  May these be the BEST years of your life!  Let the canning, baking, staying up late, lunching with friends, continued snuggles with the grandbabies and "occasionally" working with dad on the farm begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Just a friendly reminder below from the Lord!!)  Ha!

Jodi Lynn ~ wait, Wait, WAIT...

Revelation 21:4  "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

Softball, we LOVED softball and were pretty good at it.  The summers filled with heat, dirt and sand, the smell of leather gloves and balls hitting the bats.  We had all played together pretty much since Kindergarten.  It was our last summer tournament before the class of '96' went off to college and we all knew that things "change" once you go to college.  We were a team made up of female athletes from the classes of 1996, 1997 and 1998.  Yes, AWESOME athletes!!  For our small B school...Girls b-ball state tournament 2 years in a row, super star track runners, Spirit of Six recipients (most honored cheerleading award in the state), Boys b-ball 2nd in the state, football (I think it was our first year ever to regionals)...and we have not even mentioned our amazing band and choir!!  We worked hard and played hard too!   

Saturday, July 20th, 1996

 

It was early-mid morning and we all met at the Dago, the Warner watering hole, to head to Huron.  I can hear mom's words like yesterday, "Honey girl, please only drive if you have to."  You see, the parentals had recently purchased a mini-van.  Those crazy pointed front Sillouette ones.  I HATE those vans...whenever I see one now, the pit in my stomach lasts for 2-3 hours.  Anyway, being the "wants everyone to be able to ride together" kind of girl that I am, instead of a bunch of us needing to take two cars...I said, "I'll just drive, that way we can all ride together!"  All the while my mom's voice was in the back of my head.

For some reason that weekend, we just ended up playing better opponents I guess.  We lost both games on Saturday, therefore we didn't even make the losers bracket.  Softball summer of '96' was over.  We had all planned on camping out that night anticipating at least one win, so several of us decided to stay and you know...Do what 18 and 17 year old kids do by the fire.  Yup, have a few drinks. 

 

When you go through a difficult situation, you never know which parts you are going to remember.  But I will NEVER forget when we were walking away from that last game...Jodi was just tearing up, needing a hug and said, "I just wanted to win that game."  I had my arm around her and I think Jess stepped in too.  At that moment, it had already been determined that Jodi (the youngster of the group) was also going to stay with us for the evening.  Looking over at her mom, Jodi gave us a great grin and so did her mom.  Jessica's mom Joan said what everyone was thinking.  "Take good care of her!"  I think she then even said something to Charity or Miss like, "You two are in charge!"  I wish and pray every day I had been more responsible.......

We had a blast that afternoon shopping.  Jodi was able to snag a kid pair of Girbaud jeans.  Our little cheerleading flyer was sooo tiny!  We all convinced her to get them because they were so reasonable and they looked amazing on her!  That evening was just a great time with girlfriends, enjoying pizza at Godfather's in the mall and hanging out.  For some reason, thank you Jesus, I just didn't want any alcohol that night.  As most of you know, this was very unusual for Vilhauer, but the rest had a great time!

Sunday, July 21st, 1996

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

The day we all were changed...Somewhere around 4:30am, a bunch of us woke up to a terrible storm.  I recall thunder and believe there was some lightening.  We had two choices...1. Head home because no one was going to sleep through this thing, or 2. Go to Sioux Falls for a quick trip to see our dear friend Trecil who had been in a terrible head-on car accident about 2 months prior.  She was still in ICU, couldn't talk, couldn't walk or eat, but had at least woken up from the coma.  Again, thinking that we needed to go and see her because most of us had not had the opportunity yet, we knew the right thing to do was go to the hospital about 2-2.5 hours away.  We probably rolled out of there around 5am or so. 

 

Jess wanted to be sure we let our parents know where we were headed, so we stopped along at a pay phone some where around Mitchell, SD to call my mom.  It was probably somewhere b/w 6:30 and 7:00am.  Please note this was 18 years ago and long BEFORE everyone had a cell phone in their pocket.

 

A groggy mom picks up, "Hello...?" 

 

"Hey Mom, It's me!"

 

Pause..."Honey girl?  Where are you?"

 

"Mooooommm (insert teenage annoyed tone), remember the softball tournament in Huron?  And now we are going to see Trecil in the hospital in Sioux Falls."

 

LONG pause...."Oh, yeah, right...Sorry I forgot.  Ok, well drive careful and we will see you when you get home."

 

Please remember this long pause...

 

So, we saw Trecil, had a great time talking to her, listening to and watching MTV.  Yes, back when they actually showed Music Videos.  She seemed really happy to see us, and the couple of times we tried to leave her heart rate would raise, so we felt like she knew we were there and didn't want us to leave. 

 

Sometime around 10:00amish we knew we had to get back home because Jess had to check-in at All-Star Practice!  The hope was to be home around 1:00pm.  At this point we were all starving!  A quick stop at Dairy Queen before we got back on the Highway.  I think the majority of us got real food, but not Jodi.  Nope, all she wanted was ice cream!  In hind sight, we are all so glad she got just what she wanted.

 

Fast forward to approximately a little after 11:15pm.  The absolute worst moment of my life and most of the small town of Warner's life.  It happened...I fell asleep at the wheel.  I wake up to us swerving to the right, and we hit a reflector pole...In my mind, "Dammit, that is going to leave a mark on the van."  Now swerving to the left, back to the right, a scream from the back seat, and we are back towards the left now in the median and rolling, rolling, rolling.  The police department says it was anywhere from 5-8 times that we rolled.  Apparently, after a car has rolled 5 times it is hard to tell.

 

We finally came to a stop...it feels like there is grit or glass or something in my mouth.  You feel groggy after having been at those speeds and in a moving object.  I look over at Jess, she looks at me.  We are both in the front seat with our seat belts on.  Karlie and Jodi had been in the back asleep with no seatbelts on.  I take my seatbelt off, and open the driver's door.  Jess, relayed to me later...I kept looking at you and thinking how do I get out of here.  I can't figure out how to get my seatbelt off.  She remembers coming to and blanking out several times.  She clearly had a concussion.

 

I could hear Karlie Dee up ahead of the van.  Ya'll she was ahead of us...do you know what that means?  Yes, she was thrown from the vehicle going approximately 80 miles an hour.  Estimates are that she flew 75-80 feet.  I thank God everyday that she is alive.  We go running up to her..."Karlie, Karlie, are you ok?"  She replies, "Yes, but I think I broke my foot." 

 

You learn in times like these that your mind only allows you to see what you can handle at that very moment.  Her ankle was literally hanging by a vein.  However, when looking down at it, it looked perfectly fine, so we went running back through the luggage to find Jodi. 

 

Jodi, Jodi, where is Jodi.  Our luggage was thrown out all around in the median.  Finally, spotting her all the way back at the beginning of the luggage.  What you need to know is that her body looked absolutely perfect. 

 

You then do what any 18 year old does after having been in a horrific car accident...You go running with your arms flailing up to the highway in the hopes that someone, anyone will stop.  A lot of things happened and were said in what felt like hours.  Remember this is rural America and in fact it did take over an hour for the two ambulances to arrive.  I still do not understand this.  We were between Brookings and Watertown...it should not have taken that long.

 

The Lord's Prayer was said, over and over and over. 

 

The call to my parents.  Dad picked up, "Vilhauers," in his always chipper voice. 

 

"Dad, it's me.  We were in a terrible accident.  I fell asleep.  Jess and I are ok.  Karlie broke her ankle, and Jodi is turning blue."

 

The words which followed from my father's mouth will never, EVER be forgotten.  When we talked about it afterwards, he said he didn't even remember saying them.

 

"Honey girl, that's ok.  These things happen.  We will call their parents and be there as soon as we can."

 

A week later, after Jodi's funeral.  Mom said to me, "Honey girl, do you know why I was so confused when you girls called from Mitchell?  It was because we thought you were at home.  You have always talked in your sleep (my room is right below my parents), and that night we had heard voices in your room.  It woke both your dad and I up.  And we both heard the same thing.  It was a voice saying, wait, Wait, WAIT.  Three waits and each one got louder.  We just assumed it was you and went back to sleep."

 

She went on to say that it must have been our three Angels saying wait that is wasn't our time.  My bestie who is one of the strongest Christians I know, later explained to me, "Oh honey, you have got it all wrong, that was the creator giving his instructions."

 

Truth is...my mom doesn't know this...but I have always wondered if it really happened and if both her and dad actually heard those voices down in my room.  Or if it was the advice of some child psychologist telling them to use a story like that to help me get through being responsible for Jodi's passing...

Now age 36 and the real truth is...I don't want to know.  Maybe this is my ultimate LEAP OF FAITH.  That I was supposed to be the one driving that day.  That I was the one to bear the burden.

Those 3 words wait, Wait, WAIT have gotten me through the really tough days.  The days when I wonder why I wasn't the one taken...why was I the one responsible for driving.  Dammit, why did I fall asleep?  Thinking about the holidays, birthdays and special moments that Jodi's family is having to celebrate without her.  The fact that her mom never got to go wedding dress shopping with her only daughter, and her father never got to walk her down the aisle.  That her brother is now an only child and what pressure and loneliness that must put on him. 

 

That Karlie feels the need to pose a certain way with her foot in every picture so her ankle is hidden.  Again, we are so thankful that she is alive, but the number of surgeries, pain meds, etc. etc. that she has had to endure is just too much for any one person.  She is an amazing cheerleader and had to sit in a wheel chair her senior year on the side lines and could no longer be the flyer in all of the stunts that she was accustomed too.  In her words though...18 years later I find myself able to finally wear shorts, skirts and dresses knowing my scars give only a statement of the confidence in the triumph of living a life that God has given me - to love, give hope and help others achieve more.

 

You find yourself wondering why an entire town did not get to see the most amazing person develop into a varsity cheerleader, woman, wife and mother.  She truly brought light to everyone around her, and those eyes...those deep blue eyes!!  If you can picture a fluttering, beautiful butterfly, mixed with a jumping around happy bunny, (she was always walking around on her toes) with the most amazing light and Christian spirit...That was Jodi in the flesh.  She was the one, whom when she walked into a room, the place just lit up.  Jodi Lynn was always happy, always did the right thing, and quite frankly, was the only one ready to go.  God needed her upstairs and closer to him to do his work.  You know the song, (Only the good die young).

 

It has now been 18 years, Jodi Lynn has come to many of our minds during the most special moments of our lives.  When walking the Great Wall of China...she is there, in the silent night of a hospital room holding a new born baby...she is there.   When driving down a quiet gravel road and seeing a falling star...she is there.  When we turned, 20, 30...she was there.  She will continue to be there when we celebrate our 20-year class reunions, when we turn 40, when we meet our grandchildren for the first time and most definitely, when we walk through those pearly gates.

 

If you have a memory of Jodi, will you please share it?  Her life and amazing spirit are meant to be remembered.  It has been 18 years, but to many of us it feels just like yesterday that we were throwing her in the air, drinking Mello Yello and listening to Alanis Morissette - Isn't it Ironic.  We love you so much Jodi and miss you each and every day!!!!!!!