Katies Challenge # 5

Hi Dad! Hows everything in heaven? We are all fine down here but even though its been 11 years since your passing I miss you more each day! Some things that have happened since youve been gone! Wow I guess well start with babies! Kristen had her baby, a boy named Tommy Jr. Chuck and Susie have 3 kds now! Samantha, Mara, and lil Pete. All three have our big brown eyes. Amanda wetn on to compete in the dance division and they won 2nd place in the nationals in Myrtle Beach! Went on the following year to win 1st in their division! She graduated from High School but only because we finally after all those yrs of guessing found out htat she had ADD. She was on meds for about a yr and a half but has been off them ever since. She decided to go to ICC and after 4 yrs she made it! She is a Graphic Designer now and works at the Casino of all places!LOL In her freshman year she met a guy that she actually went to school with at Mueller School waaaay back when. They were both working at Target. Youd like him alot too! Hes sweet and loves his Amanda which is all that matters. They moved in together in 1999 and married two years later in a ceremony that was so beautiful at the big Lutheran Church on Allen road. We invited Mary but she declined and sent a gift. They bought their first house in 2003, a nice 2 story on east Maywood. 3 bedrooms and a nice yard complete with a wooden swing set and fort tyoe of thing with a slide! last year they brought OliviaPearl into the world. Yes Pearl is for your mom and you too! I cant tell you how much shes like Amanda! And yes Grandkids are the best!! We ahve dinner together every Sunday. She is Ikes litlte doll! And she loves her Paw Paw!She talks all the time, and loves to run. Remember how Amanda didnt wak much but ran everywhere? Well shes like that too. Well on to Emily. My goodness where to start. She too graduated from high school but with high honors! She was in the NHS, and recieved several scholarships for of all places Bradley! She was 21st in her class of just over 300. She was smart and hung out with all the smart kids so Im sure some of it rubbed off on her! She didnt play volleyball like we thought she would but swam all 4 years for Central! That was hard work but she did well, going all the way to Regionals her senior year. She lived on campus all four years at Bradley, and stayed with the same roommate all 4 yrs. Their jr and senior year were spent living in an apt with two other girls off campus but still connected with Bradley. I think they were just starting to build them the last time you were here. When she graduated she worked at methodist for about 3 years. Shes had some rocky times over the past 3 years. I hate to even mention this but its part of whats been going on in our lives since we last saw you. She was drugged and raped two years ago. This is probably the darkest time for us as a family. She had 3 suicide attempts over the next 4 months and finally was put on the Psych floor for a few days to get her head straight. She couldnt work for 6 mos and left her dream job of L&D to work on the skilled floor. She was in counselling for over a year but has come through shining, somewhat like her old self but different too. She had a somewhat boyfriend for a bit over a year, but she had the courage to finally break up with him. She and her roommate from Bradley, Allegra, are living seperatley now and its a hard time for both of them. Allagra is moving back to her home town of Chicago. She works for Bradley too. I will miss her like one of my own!Emily now has a better job working in the wound Clinic at Proctor hospital. She loves her job though its pretty demanding of her time. I am so proud of how both of the girls have turned out! But I wish youd have been here to share in all the happy and sad times too. I love and miss you dad! Ill see you later than sooner I hope! But I know that youve really been there for everything watching over us sending us strenght when we needed it! You are the best! All my love-Laura