back to life...back to reality

Just before school started, we received the shocking news that Quentin's mom Joyce had passed away.  It always amazes me what can happen on a normal day.  On a regular Monday night while you're watching TV and your phone rings or beeps and your world completely changes forever.

We were lucky to find a sitter and some flights and made our way back to where it all started in Rexburg, ID.  When we got off the plan in Idaho Falls, people stared at us like we were from the future.  I love it there.  I am so sad Joyce is gone.  I am so sad for her entire family.  But I was so happy to see some of our best friends from college again.  Sometimes you just need to see your friends.

The original De La Vega band: Tod Wever (lyrics and percussion), Jason Littlefield (guitar and vocal), Quentin Bell (lights and program), and Brent Knudson (dance choreography).

...and their groupies.

This is Tod putting Q in the Boston Crab, roughly around 2 am.

This is my face and Q's combined.

This is what Q does every time he sees Tod and this ....

is Tod and me combined.

Came home and celebrated 13 years together at a Coldplay concert.  Lots of memories with their music.

Tommy is no longer a baby but a small boy who only likes to wear pajamas.  He begs for his jammers allllllll daaaaaaaay lonnnnnng.  He likes to suck on his left sleeve.  When he's not in jammers he's usually just in a diaper so really...standards are low around here.  He's starting to say stuff like: What the heck! Oh my gosh!  Read me a book! Where's Ru Ru!  Where's Yellow! (Larry) I want to go to school!  Where's Dad!  I want yogurt!  I want string cheese!  Go away!  

It's really fun.

Last summer swim at the Manning's.

First week of school -- Lennon (3rd), Larry (1st), Ruby (Pre-K), Tommy (Co-Op and I tell him it's school).

Kristi's six month anniversary came.  That night a girl from my grief group rang my doorbell and gave me this.  People are so good.

She gets her own picture because -- DENIM JACKETS ARE BACK?!!

View around 5 am during our 20 mile run Saturday.  

That's Megan on the left.  Three more weeks until the race.  And then I swear I swear I swear I swear I'm not doing another full again.  Heaven help me.

T.Q.W.

 

Tod and I agreed while I was pregnant -- if the baby was a boy, we'd name him Thomas. 

 

My only brother's name is Thomas Knight Lowell.  I was mean to him growing up -- like really mean.  I have no clue why.  Now he's one of my best friends.  But he grew up with a pretty sick dad and three kind of crappy sisters.

 

He deserved a really good apology.

 

He's also a huge part of my kids' lives.  With my dad gone, it feels like Tommy has become the guy they look up to (besides Tod).  He's taught them how to trash talk and sends them Ninja Turtle eye masks in the mail.

 

Additionally, my mom's little brother's name is Tommy.  He was Sam's twin and died when he was only four weeks old.  I have many memories of holidays or parties with our family where my grandma would stop all of us and remind us about Tommy.  That he lived.  That he existed.  That he was our uncle/brother.  That we can't forget Tommy.

 

Now she is with Tommy, raising her little boy.

 

My mom raised her Tommy.

 

Now I get my own.

 

His middle name is Quentin because in 1999 I met Quentin James Bell on Vashon Island, WA.  We were both a part of a program through Ricks College that took 25 freshman and offered a semester of school on alternate campus sites.  Vashon Island was where I began my college experience and Quentin (Q) was there following his mission to Denver.

 

We were immediate friends -- mainly because we laughed at each other's jokes and were the only ones who cringed when one particular motivational speaker encouraged us to be "more better." 

 

Maybe you had to be there.

 

One day after we'd moved to Rexburg, Idaho to continue school he found me in the library where I worked.

 

Q: Holly...we need to talk (pulling me into an aisle of books).

Me: What.

Q: I have found....the man....you're going to marry.

Me: Who.

Q: That guy right there...the one making copies.

 

I looked through the books and saw a muscular guy wearing a yellow collared golf shirt (?) making copies.

 

Me: What's so great about him.

Q: He's like....a REAL man.  He's hilarious, he's smart, he's the hardest working guy I know, and I worked out with him this morning....he's an ANIMAL.

Me: Huh.

 

And so it continued...two years of Ricks College...Q telling me all the reasons I should date/marry Tod and me wishing Tod would just ask me out.  I got to know Tod through Q's stories as his roommate and best friend.  Because of Q, I spent a lot of time observing Tod as a friend.  I even remember a dance where I saw Q beg and beg until Tod finally asked me to dance.  Twice. 

 

It's in my journal.

 

  Four years later when we finally started dating, I remember feeling overwhelming gratitude for Q.  For caring enough about both of us to want our happiness.  And for knowing us well enough to recognize our perfect match.

 

Thomas Quentin Wever -- he's special already.