update on Jace's Painting

tonight i showed up at leslie's door with Jace's painting in hand. with my girls rallying in the car, a bug eyed dog staring at me through a glass door, and the sounds of "who in the world could be here?" ringing from someone inside, i stood, nervous, not knowing what leslie's reaction might be.

i was an unannounced visitor. and when leslie opened the door, she was surprised and demanded to know what i was doing there and why did i have the painting with me. when i tried to give it to her, she declined, saying that i won the painting, it was mine. i reminded her that i knew this, and i could do with it what i pleased, correct?

daniel's painting has a calming peace about it. before i ever even won the painting i decided that if i did, i would give it to leslie. she would derive the most from this grand piece of art. i did not know if she would even want the painting, if it would be too painful, but the peace that exudes from this particular piece of work would not and could not be too painful for her to have. there is something miraculous about this painting, and it was my honor to surprise her with it.

the painting is in its final home, where it belongs, with the people who love Jace the most. a beautiful piece of artwork that has brought so much peace to me, now resides with the person who needs peace from it the most.


i love you leslie! no one deserves this more than you!

 

Out of this World.

In Loving Memory of Jace Burgess.

"We are home now, out of this world"

Oil on unprimed

3ft x 4ft

2010

Artist: Daniel Gulick

Never forget & never stop praying for Justice for Jace !

maybe it is the fact that i was abused that Jace's story holds a special place in my heart.

maybe it was because i'd met this amazing little boy and knew his family, not all of them, and not all of them well, but enough to know their hearts and characters.

whatever reason it is, i have not gone one day since hearing the news that he was in the hospital without thinking or praying for and of him or his family for the bulk of my day.

i was already on a path of fulfillment, to change specific patterns in behaviors to make life better for my ladies. so they did not have to endure, see, or hear any more of a life that i grew up in, married into, and brought into my home. 

Jace is special. His family is the epitome of what i wish i could provide for my daughters and someday i may get that chance. until then, my friends will continue to be my supplemental family-the lucky dogs! tonight, they did the drawing for the painting that a very special man did to remember Jace. i never win anything, and leslie pulled my name out of the box! i wanted to run down like i was on the price is right!!!

this painting holds a special place in my heart. i already know where it will go, and i am excited to have the opportunity to be able to cherish this beautiful piece of artwork. even though i don't need to look at it to think of Jace or his family, it is nice to look at it, and see that it is significant to the journey that Jace has, and that we all will make one day. to be home...out of this world...

Jace & Leslie & Family have made me slow down and look at what i have and cherish it.

to look at my daughters and say yes, it IS okay to sit in my lap for a few even though you are SO big and it's SO hot. my mother never did enjoy that.

to look at my little friends and hold them a bit longer, take that extra time. i am already good at what i do, but spoiling every once in a while isn't that bad, is it? i don't think so.

to say YES you can have that oreo before dinner instead of harp on how they didn't eat their green beans.

for the first time since my ladies were babies, i allowed them to crawl into my bed without immediately taking them back to their own.

to turn off the computer, the tv, & the phones and say yes girls, it is time for us to do something together.

So Thank You Jace, Leslie, Stacey, Stan, Peggy, Nancy, & Andrew

you all showed me what a family is, and should be for one another. in good times, and in the hard times. and you taught me that even though i am teaching my girls independence and self-reliance, i can still let loose long enough to teach them something i was never taught:

Family Togetherness.

Donations to the Jace Burgess Funeral Fund
Donations can be made at any local Arvest Bank or mailed to:
Arvest Bank at 1515 S. Utica Ave, Tulsa, OK 74114 c/o Jace Burgess Funeral Fund.

1 Word.

eclipse.
oh my word.
i took leslie to go see the trilogy to keep us busy. i ended up seeing like 100 million people that i know.
i can't go anywhere in tulsa without running into someone. it's hilarious.
my friends have no clue how i know so much about each other.
it's just random really.
shopping...and find out who's pregnant and who thinks they are.
i do not gossip by any means but if asked outright, unless the information is something not my business, i don't mind sharing.

oh and just so you all know:
i am not team edward or team jacob.

all the way!!!!

woot!

ok blogger is acting all freaktastic on me. i have only a left line alignment? what the crap is that? grrr.
ok pic time!

one of my sweet ones was late getting picked up. he doesn't like leaving my house, hence the face.

look who shows up: ang. crazy cracka chick!

and she brings all this baggage with her! i use to babysit these children.

in diapers.

i am old.

*shudders*

wow i'm dark.

leslie was holding back a belch. hahaha

TWILIGHT IS ABOUT TO START!!!

ECLIPSE IS ABOUT TO START!

Ran into Misty & Katy too! I was so excited!! (Can you tell?)

Had to buy the shirt. Wow.

Leslie was NOT holding back a belch here.

eclipse started at 12:02 and over at 2:05.

i trudged in at 2:30 am.

i have no pics of this. there never will be any.

heh.

6:50 am (that) the next morning.

still bright and peppy as ever.

and yes, i slept in my eclipse shirt.

don't hate.

Neglectful Diva. Bad Diva.

Until roughly 2 weeks ago, I have not posted much at all, I have noticed that many of you have come to my site in the last few months sporadically and I hope that you didn't give up on me!! I am so sorry that I neglected my BlogFamily-but there were many things that I neglected the past few months and I had to square them away before returning to my BlogLand.
Now that these things are dealt with, I am hoping to continue to blog on a regular basis or semi regular. I may not participate in some BlogWorld shared events, but I hope to eventually.
Please bear with me as I journey to become less neglectful and more sharing!!! =)

A Life Taken.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it. -Mother Teresa

Today we lost a life. A life that was tiny, but was a huge integral part of this world. Jace was a 3 year old little machine...a force to be reckoned with. His mother, Leslie, made sure he got all the love and hugs and kisses in the world. I believe wholeheartedly that she is also the reason he was so strong, so determined, and such a force!

Today will forever be in my memory. The day a life was taken. Jace wasn't just playing one day and then fell. Jace was murdered. Someone decided to shake him violently and take his life from him, from his mother, from his family! I cannot begin to imagine how Leslie and her family are even coping-or how they will continue to cope from this day forth without their precious Jace. I am having a hard time not crying and staying calm, and I'm not even his parent. I don't know if I could be as strong as Leslie has been throughout this. I don't know if I could endure this with half the grace she has.

Jace was an amazing boy. His smile was infectious, his laughter so cute! He had a light in his eyes that was undeniably put there by the caring nature of his mother and by his own mischievous nature. (Nurtured by his mother no doubt! LOL) He was a sweet, kind soul, with a beautiful heart and a playful nature. He had his moments, as most children do, but even those were laughable and memorable!!!

Jace, you are loved and missed.

Leslie, anything you need, if I can provide it, I will.

Lord, wrap your arms around Leslie & her family. Cloak them in your love, your peace, and your strength. Give them your shoulder to cry on, your arms to run into, your lap to sit in, and your words to live by. You will take good care of Jace, we know this. It is hard to accept that he is in a better place because he is not here with his family, but acceptance will come in time. It is hard to let him go because he was so amazing and special, and they want him here with them. Surround them Lord, in this hard time. Thank you Lord, for your grace, your mercy, and your never-ending love. Amen.

RIP

Jace Burgess

6/16/2010

random thought tuesday

brought to you by the unmom.

of course, twisted slightly by yours truly who decided to add a timer so you can see just how awesome random i actually am...

60 seconds! aaaaand....go!

hey fat jesus, can i have your man-purse!?

a steam vac has been sitting in my living room for months. my floor continues to be stained, and yet the vac sits, unused, neglected...

sarah jessica parker never ever needs to move to the country. flannel does nothing for her nose.

the theme for clifford the big red dog is playing non stop in my head. i think maybe all the noggin songs replay in my head throughout the day...

please.stop.the.madness.

someone please inform me why the cutest fucking dress at gymboree had to be 36 fucking dollars? for a dress for my 6 year old!? are you kidding me?? and it was ON SALE!? i will never ever again feel  bad for my wal mart/toys r us clothing purchases! EVER. and if you think less of me for this, i don't care.

*...muttering about 36 dollars for a fucking dress for a 6 year old...*

why oh why does my daughter think ketchup, peach syrup (from a peach can), water, and yogurt is "science"??

let's not forget to top it with "e-z cheese" *le sigh*

so there's this girl. & i miss her tons...i love you still!

ok...geez...haiti...i get it...

 i mean, i care, but...don't we have our own shit to worry about? economy, job security, social security, ummm...etc...yeah...just sayin. enough's enough.

whoa...is my hair out?

...rick-a-rick-a reverse...

why is everytime i turn on the tv it's something about the jackson 5?

i thought we were over this shit?

are we really supposed to care that obama sent his first presidential tweet? oh, i'm sorry i shouldn't assume that's annoying to everyone. i shall rephrase: am i really supposed to care that obama sent his first presidential tweet?

is the president tweeting part of his job description? i am so picturing him in the oval office with his nose in his cell phone and a stack of unemployment figures on his desk.

who would download an app to prohibit texting whilst driving?

p.s.: avatar rocked. so i heard. i shall try to watch it today for the 2nd time & hope i don't fall asleep. again. lol

would you pick your child's gender if you could?

im on a sound diet. if it sounds good...i eat it.

i'm dyin: june 30th, people. june 30th.

yeahhhh thinkin' that's about all i got...

Uh huh...

Yes, I realize that I have not posted.

Yes, I will in the very near future.

For now, you will have to just do THIS: (I did  it looks hella-funtastic!)

Love Love Peeps.