Happiness and Tragedy

Last month we welcomed 2 new additions to the family. Two of my cousins had baby boys. Here's their pics!








The one on the left is Jonathan and the one with all the hair (amazing amount!) is named Malik. Atara, Malik's mom has had a very tough life, but despite all the hardships she has endured she finally found Malik who truly loves and cares for her, and as a result we have this little cutie! All of us are very happy for her and Malik Sr. and are excited about their futures.

The same could be said for Kimmy as well. She and Steve have been together for about 8 years and had 3 kids together. While life has been tough and they aren't where they want to be yet, they have it pretty good as a family. Everyone knows how good a mother Kimmy is and how she lives for these kids. Today however, everything changed for Kimmy, Steve and the kids. I don't know all the details yet, but at some point Kimmy found Jonathan had passed away this morning. It's looking like SIDS right now, but the authorities in MA will be doing an autopsy to determine what may have happened.

In the meantime, the family has been devastated in more than one way today. DCS removed the other two boys from the home today. They are ages 4 and 2. No one understands why this happened as it makes no sense at all. So, Kimmy's Mom went about trying to gain custody of the boys during the investigation period so they would be with family. She was able to do so, but with some limitations. Kimmy and Steve are not allowed anywhere near them for the next 72 hours. So neither of them can go to the family home with the rest of the family for support. In fact, neither are allowed in their home right now either. To add a whole new level of ridiculous to the situation Joe (Kim's Dad) is not allowed in his own home with the family until he clears up a case from when he was 10 yrs. old. Joe is about 42 years old.

When he was 10, there was some altercation where a kid wouldn't get off a bike and Joe shot a BB gun at him. Since then, model citizen and no repeats of the BB affair. Apparently, the case was never closed and so DCS says until it is he can't go home. So, he goes to court in the morning to get it closed.

It's bad enough that this happened in the first place, but without any evidence of homicide whatsoever, a family is torn apart during the darkest hours of their lives. It is shameful, cruel, and unconscionable. What about the other two boys...? How do they feel with strangers taking them away... not being able to see their parents and now not understanding why everything has been turned upside down?

I know some may say this is a reaction to so many high profile cases where the system failed other kids. And in my head I can understand that response. However, there were signs in those cases where kids were at risk. None in this situation. While resources are being expended on a case where at this point I know of no evidence to support any allegation of risk, other kids at risk aren't getting the support. I just don't know. It doesn't seem right to me.

Please say a prayer for Jonathan, Kimmy, Steve and the boys. They really need it right now.

Maine 2009

Okay, so here's a few shots from our recent return to home in Bangor, Maine. We did the traditional annual lobster quest down in Trenton at Lunt's Lobster Pound. Aunnie and I each had a 2 lb. lobster, and it was GOOD! I made it back to my church on a visit and got a nice shot of the glass as you enter the church on your left. The house you see is the one I grew up in before we moved to Norfolk St.. It is still the one I dream about when I dream about being home. The coastal pictures were taken down in Bar Harbor on my iPhone. In fact, all the pictures were taken on my iPhone.

The table is one my dad made by hand, sanding by hand for hours. It is made out of various parts of a wooden pallet. I've got some more pictures of other things he's made to show you later.

Of course, on the way up we had to stop at LL Bean's in Freeport, ME. Always a nice break from the road. Got a windbreaker there and we got a cooler for our road trips. Would have loved to get yet another bag, but I think Aunnie would have killed me. LOL. Since we were there close to dinner time, we stopped at McGritty's Pub down the road from L.L. Bean's. It's actually closer the end where you get on the interstate. Anyhow, if you find yourself up in that neck of the woods, make sure you stop by. I had the lobster mac n' cheese with fried jalapenos on top. While that may sound counter-intuitive I have to tell you it was fabulous. Big chunks of lobster, and the jalapenos were not hot, but more tangy. It was really a treat. Then of course that was followed by the strawberry rhubarb crisp. Yummy. It was really nice to get home again.