Bemom

We love you, Bemom. You'll be forever in our hearts.

This is somewhat therapeutic for me. I just need to get it out...

Yesterday, I got the call that my mother-in-law had passed away very suddenly. She was a very healthy woman and this was a complete shock to us all. Our family is beyond devastated. Karen, was not simply my mother-in-law, in fact, she was one of my very best friends. She was my biggest cheerleader, confidant, supporter and we were closer than perhaps most women are even as close to their own mothers. I'm taking this very hard.

I met Karen when I was 20 years old. She and my father-in-law are not married, but have been together for over 3 decades. She immediately accepted me as part of the family and the more I got to know her to deeper I fell I love with her. She was the smartest, kindest and most brilliant woman I had ever known.

When my husband and I would argue, Karen was the first person I would call. I suppose she gave me the best advice on how to live with Martin Tiernay, as she had spent her life living with Martin James and they are absolutely cut from the same mold. She would tell me, "Alice Anne, there's a reason why those Loftus men need women like us... We're the only ones that handle them!"

Karen was there with me through the pregnancy and birth of both my babies. She loved those children with all her heart. Marissa was especially close to her. They would spend hours upon hours playing dress up, hosting tea parties, talking about birds (a love of nature that they both shared immensely!) and doting over Bebop. Karen loved to shower Marissa with beautiful dresses and toys and books; she spoiled the girl rotten! Karen's greatest strength (and weakness) was her ability to follow orders without fail when it came to Marissa. I really believe that Marissa was her world and vice versa.

As Christian was getting older, he was becoming closer and closer to Karen. He adored his Bemom. One day they spent together playing and then Christian had to take a nap. When he awoke, Bemom had already gone home. He searched the house, and after several minutes, his first words were, "My Bemom left me." I immediately called Bemom to tell her what he had said and she just laughed and then cried! She said it warmed her heart to the core because he was finally understanding and loving her!

Our lives are forever changed. The loss of Karen, Bemom, Friend, is so intense I feel empty and completely heartbroken. As much as I cherish and appreciate my time with her and feel blessed to have been able to have her in my life, I feel robbed. I feel that it just wasn't enough time and I'm devastated. I ache for my children and their loss, I worry for my father-in-law and I grieve for all our family. Karen was simply, the most wonderful person we have ever known and we love her more than words can express.

May God help us find peace and may Karen always know how much we love her. We will carry her in our hearts for all our days....

Family Update

I feel awful that I don't keep up with this blog as much as I do with Figuring It Out. I guess I just don't have tons to share that most people don't already know!

Life is super crazy right now as we wind down with the end of the school year. Marissa has dance recitals, lacrosse, piano, playdates, etc. I feel like her calendar is busier than mine! Tonight we have recital pictures and I won't lie that I'm probably more excited about it than she is. I absolutely love having a girly girl and the costumes, make-up, hair do's and glitz are just perfect for us both!

She plays lacrosse (LAX) two nights a week and she's really enjoying it. I'm proud of her; she's really pushing herself physically and participating in something she's not very skilled at. As long as she enjoys it, I will support it!

She had a piano recital a couple weeks ago and boy did she make us proud! She looked so tiny next to that big grand piano, but she played her "Baa Baa Black Sheep" with confidence, poise and without error! I definitely had to fight back tears!

Christian is more boy than I can handle! He's fearless, energetic, fiesty and all loverboy! He bats those big brown eyes at me and I melt. Marty tells me that I have no control over the child...he's probably right. I can't help it. He's in the potty training stages, and is as inconsistent as Maryland weather. I'm in no rush though. I'd be happy to keep him as a baby forever! He's moving up to the pre-k 3's class in June and I'm having a hard time with him growing up so fast!

Marty is busy at work, despite the economic times, he's staying busy. We're thankful for our jobs and just hoping to survive these hard times. I think things will get a little worse before they get better. I'm definitely thankful that Marty has a good head on his shoulders and had the foresight to buckle down and prepare for the hard times!

The preschool is going well, I'm pluggin' away and getting ready for the summer session to begin. Enrollment will be lower this summer, but I think we're all looking forward to the smaller class sizes and personal attention we can give the kids. The camps look like they are going to be tons of fun and then we'll be set to start the fall school year off with a BANG!

I'm 14 weeks out from my women's figure competition. I'm hitting it hard. I struggle some with the nutrition (not eating enough) but the workouts are going really well. Marty has been a huge support and my friends and family are such wonderful cheerleaders! I hope everyone can make it Washington, DC Aug. 14th to cheer me on!

So that's the Loftus Update! I'll keep you all posted!