The Kassel Family Project Life 365

Sometimes, you just have to bake muffins…

…and, then, order dinner…

I figured a Candy Cane Martini would be appropriate to “celebrate” snow in October.

Laura’s Affirmation of Baptism was today.

It was a very different service this year because of COVID-19. Only families were in attendance at the church.

Masks were worn throughout except for the two minutes that it took to take a few pictures without masks.

Laura read the Gospel and then read her faith statement in place of the sermon. She was so very nervous because she never thought anyone other than herself and Pastor David would see her faith statement.

Once again, Laura amazed me. Her faith statement was well-written, thoughtful, and funny. She made me smile and cry a little. We are so proud of her.

We had to leave the church quickly after the service was over, but we celebrated as a family at the Claysville Store for a late lunch. It was a homestyle family meal of fried chicken and all the fixings.

Congratulations Laura!

Hi Mom,

I am sorry that I haven’t come to visit before today. I don’t have an excuse because I have been back to Illinois, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Seeing your headstone makes it final. I mean, I haven’t even taken your contact information out of my phone yet. It has been three years since we said goodbye. I simply wasn’t ready. Life without you is different. It’s harder somehow. I spent a lot of time talking to you about many, many different things throughout 44 years. Sometimes, you were sympathetic. Sometimes, you listened. Sometimes, you laughed and joked. Other times, you gave me an old-fashioned dose of reality like when you said, “Don’t make a decision when you are so angry you can’t see straight. It’s easy to walk out and never look back, but you can’t take that back. You are strong enough to wait until the anger is largely gone.” You knew me so well and you knew I would take that as a challenge and wait. Andy tells me all the time that he can be that person for me, but it just isn’t the same. I love him for trying, but he isn’t you, Mom. Instead, I have conversations with myself in my head and I imagine what you would say. I probably only get it right half of the time, but it somehow makes me feel a little less like something is missing. I love you, Mom. I miss you. I promise I won’t wait three years to visit again.

Love, Erica

P.S. I brought you flowers. I know you would say what a waste of money, but I did it anyway. I will do it next time and the next time and the time after that. Hey, a girl has to annoy her mom now and then.

Andy and I are at Western Illinois University for the night. He is assisting with initiation for his Sigma Chi chapter and I came along with him.

I was able to get one of the suite rooms at the Hampton Inn for only $100. It is a great place to hang out while Andy is busy.

Before Andy had to be at the chapter house, we had dinner at one of our favorite places to eat from back in the day.

There is nothing quite like Monterey Jack Cheese Sticks from Jackson Street Pub! It was such a great dinner.

If you are wondering what we did with the kids, we left them at home for the night. We figured it might be time to see if they are okay by themselves for a night. Wish us luck! This could be interesting.

Laura’s Affirmation of Baptism is Sunday. Today, I picked up her robe and she received “The Moody Bible Commentary” from two of her baptism sponsors, John and Melinda Adams. It seems like just yesterday that she was baptized.

I yelled up the stairs at the kids to ask a question. John responded and I swear that Andy answered me. When did my 12-year old son start sounding like his dad? Is it not enough that they look just like each other? Seriously, this mom is not ready. Time can just slow down.