Good evening to all. I hope your summer has started on a good note. Ours has been busy. Baseball, soceer and karate are in full swing. Last weekend we had our annual garage sale. Not the best weather, but it could have been worse. It cleared up after the sale, so I drove the kids to the cemetery. To say it was painful is definitely an understatement. I beleive it was much more dificult for me than the boys. I think Chris and I talked so much about being in heaven that the boys don’t relate the cemetery with Chris’s death as much as I do. It’s the hardest place for me to be. It’s a cold, hard slap of reality. I felt like a had my heart ripped out all over again. It was probably harder for the boys to see me in pain, than visiting Chris. The rest of the week we just did our crazy schedule.
Today, we went to the 7th annual Bucky’s Memorial Bash in Rochester. Bob Buckmeier was a close friend of our family. He was an amazing man who always had a big smile for me and a big hug! He liked to tease me and my sisters. He was full of life and love (sound like someone else we know?) When I was young, our families had some really fun times together. Bob died of brain cancer in 2004. His family started the Bob Buckmeier Foundation to help support local families dealing with cancer. They helped us when we really needed it. We took some Chris’s memorial donations and “paid it forward” today. I really hope it helps some families the way it helped ours. If you would like to read more, the web site is:
http://www.sprintforacure.com. The Buckmeier family is in our prayers tonight. I’d like to thank them for the wonderful work that they are doing. I hope the fundraiser went well for them.
Tomorrow’s another tough day for us. We’ve had some hard discussions about father’s day and some other days. I’m planning on taking the boys out and about to keep their(and mine) minds busy. It may be a long couple of weeks with my birthday and the 4th of July. Birthdays and holidays are the toughest for us.
I need to get Jaxson settled down, yes he’s still awake.
Have a good night!
Karen
The Baty Blog 
Hi Karen, Hope you and the boys have a great weekend.
Stay strong ❤
Lisa
My thoughts have been with the three of you today- hugs to you all!
Karen,
You and the boys continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. I pray for you to keep busy and to find the strength to get through these tough milestones.
Sheryl
Karen,
Thinking of you today – I know it probably wasn’t an easy 24 hours, based on your post. It was good to see you last week! You guys are still in my thoughts and prayers!
Miriam
Andrew has often commented about Fathers Day in relation to the boys and Chris being gone. Shows me just how empathetic he is. I thought of you often throughout the day. Take care & hope to see you and the boys soon.
-Cindy
Thinking about you and the boys often, and remembering Chris every day. We keep a picture of him and the boys in our office, and I have one of all of you on my desk, so just know you’re still in our thoughts and prayers at Pictura.
Jeannie
Dear Karen, Want you to know you and the boys are constantly on our mind. My heart goes out to you. Holidays, special occasions etc. seem to bring out extra emotions in me, too. I seem to miss Chris, my folks and other special people so much on days like fathers day. Reminds me of a cute saying by Mother Theresa (paraphrased), She said, “I know God will not give us anymore than we can handle, but I just wish he wouldn’t trust me so much” Enjoy those two young men in your house! Love, Kent
Dear Karen, Just wanted to let you know that you and the boys continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. This week of holidays must be difficult, but I hope you are able to treat yourself to something special for your birthday – Deb
I should know when your birthday is, since your mom posted it on the spread sheet, only it’s not on this computer. So I’m hoping that God has granted me a miracle and it shows up on that day . . . . or you look at it on that day. :0)
I know when I am struggling with things that I tend to forget very easily. You know I didn’t know Chris, but from his posts I could tell that he loved you very much and thought you were an amazing wife, mom, and woman. I had to smile when he would post some things about you, they just reminded me of what being a Stratton is all about (over the years, I have found it amazing how hard and fast our parents upbringing clings to us.)
I thought you might want to know what Chris’ new home is like: Revelation 21:3-5 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
So glad that the boys are able to separate where their dad’s physical body is from where his spirit truly is. Praying that, in time, you too will be able to know that distinction in your heart.
Cheryl