Hunter Update...

It is hard to believe that Hunter is 12 years old. I can’t believe that 12 years ago he was just a baby and now he is a pre-teen. I am lucky to have such a wonderful, loving, caring, happy pre-teen and “yes” he will stay that way as a teen (well I am hopeful anyhow). Well Hunter has matured so much over the past year, he can stay home for a while by himself and if you happen to get a call from Eric’s cell phone don’t be shocked, (like so many were) it is just Hunter on his dad’s cell phone, and he finally has a facebook account which does make this teacher mom a bit nervous.

Hunter has successfully completed the 6^th grade and we are a few months into the 7^th grade already, things are getting a bit harder for him in school but he does take after his dad in the school department and does very well without much work. Of course I did give him something….yes the ability to be social and talkative. So I guess he has the best of both worlds smart and extra friendly!

Hunter is playing soccer and the season is almost over he enjoys soccer but his true passion continues to be baseball. He has been practicing 2 times a week with a baseball training club and has learned so much from the coaches. Not only the game of baseball but the importance of a good attitude and hard work. Of course he is still in Boy Scouts, we will see if he will continue the verdict is still up in the air.

I am so thankful that he is such a great kid, being a parent is hard enough these days but being a single parent is even harder, having Hunter as a son makes it so much easier to be a single parent and I am so thankful for that.

Love,

Hallie

Love...Happiness....New Beginnings

Living with the loss of a spouse makes you want to stop living yourself. You live one day at a time usually not for yourself but for the others in your life. For me my one-day at a time living was for Hunter. I am so thankful that because of him I was forced to live my life and continue to try and keep our life as normal as possible. When Eric passed away I lived one hour at a time, then one-day at a time, then one week at a time and finally I am living one month at a time looking forward to a future that once again can be happy. I am happy to say that Hunter and I have been able to move forward and continue living thorough our grief. I have been fortunate to have supportive family, friends, co-workers and many others who have supported me just when I needed it and supported Hunter just when he needed something We have been fortunate to have a new person in our lives, I have mentioned him before and I am happy to say he is still in our lives. He has been very supportive about our situation. Heith understands that even though Eric is no longer in our lives physically he is still there emotionally and mentally. Hunter and I continue to share Eric with him and are helping him learn who Eric was and what we loved about him. He is supportive when I need to grieve, let’s me cry when I need to cry, understands when sometimes I am just not happy and is there for me each and everyday. He is walking with me in my new journey and supporting me as I develop into this new person. Hunter is laughing again, being silly again and basically being the 12-year-old boy. Because of Heith we both have something to look forward to whether it is a game of catch for Hunter or a hand to hold to hold for me. It is nice to look towards a future again and to know Hunter and I can have a future with happiness, laughter and a sense of normalcy. Everyday I am blessed to know the love I had with Eric, to have spent so many years with someone so special in so many ways. Each day I wake I am thankful for all the special memories I had with Eric. Now because of this new man I once again have hope for a future one that can help me continue to remember Eric and all that we had and one that offers hope that once again I can be happy.

Love,

Hallie