Stacey Laho

Here's the "red button" version of our Memorial Weekend. I say "red button" because Alisha has a red button switch she travels back and forth to school with for communication. Every day I record on the "red button" what she did the night before. It's brief but informative. Friday delivered the long awaited Prom event. Our daughter, Hannah, looked stunning in her wedding prom dress. I keep reminding myself I get to spend more money one day when she weds, which I anticipate happening long after we have financially recovered from prom. She felt like a princess, danced like a princess, and looked like a princess. Priceless. Later that evening the rest of the Fam went to Caleb's baseball practice. We don't usually all go to practice. Matter of fact, I strategically work the schedule to see this rarely happens. I always say to our kids, practice is for you to show me in a game what you learned. But alas it made more sense to stop on our way ...

Recently, I received a large envelope with letters to our family. These letters were from children who spent a week at Kids Kamp last summer through Ward Church. This particular camp holds special meaning for our family as it is a way we remember our son, Kodey, who died in October 2002. To honor Kodey's love of Kids Kamp, we set up a scholarship to help children attend who may not otherwise be able to, due to financial strain. Although not required, we often receive letters from the kids who go.   Here is the brochure. The Camp is at Center Lake Bible Camp in Tustin, MI. The hovering fog over the lake in the early morning hours appears mystical.       Here is my boy. I love the grin and eagerness in his eyes to throw that water balloon. It's a perfect image of him as almost everywhere he went became a celebration.     Here is one of the letters we received. I kept the writer's name hidden. But I could not resist sh...

  Fifteen years ago I awoke on Mother's Day crying. My mom was gone. It would be my first Mother's Day without her present. To say I miss her is like leaving this page blank.   I spoke to my mom everyday after I married and had children. Everyday. And I wanted to. She would call it, "Just checking in calls". There was always something to talk about. She was a busy woman volunteering, on bowling leagues, golf leagues, her card club, and being the Proverbs 31 woman with attitude.   On Mondays I talked to her late in the day because Mondays were her days at Angela Hospice. She volunteered with hospice for over 17 years. She began serving with hospice upon their inception through Hospice of Southeastern Michigan. I would hear stories of patients my mom took care of. Some had AIDS. Some were young, like a mom who had given birth few months earlier and suddenly became terminal. Most were old. All were important. It was never an effort to check off a list ...