"How did Uncle Jeff die?"

You think you are prepared for any question that your small children may ask (why are clouds white? Where do babies come from? Why do birds fly?) and then one hits you like a ton of bricks and stops you cold in your tracks....

Payton and I were taking down the "Uncle Jeff" windchimes from the deck this afternoon because it is so windy today that we didn't want any of them to break. Of course - every time they chime we always stop and say "Hi" to Uncle Jeff. After we were done saying hi, Payton asked which position Uncle Jeff would play for Miles' big football game birthday party next week. We talked about that for a while and Pay said he wanted to be on Uncle Jeff's team because he is a "good blocker". Then out of nowhere, Pay asked, "How did uncle Jeff die again Mom"? I honestly froze. I didn't know what to say. He is only 5 years old and I am not sure I wanted him to hear the complete details of Jeff's death right now. On the other hand I didn't want to lie to him. I wasn't sure what this hesitation was inside of me? Was I ashamed of the circumstances of the death? Was I just trying to protect my innocent 5 year old? Was it something that I had not yet come to terms with? Was it that I didn't ever want Jeff's circumstances to lead to any excuses later for my children? All of these thoughts flooded my mind. Before I could even answer Pay changed the subject and was off talking about how he was going to go see if Uncle Jeff would play football with him. Then the answer came to me.....I told Pay (even though he was well past the question he had just asked) that it didn't matter how Uncle Jeff died, the fact is that he lives in Spirit! We can still feel him around and talk to him. Payton was luckily content with that answer (and so was I). My confusion stopped. The fear stopped. The anxiety stopped. Of course the tears came...but not tears of sorrow or pain. Tears of Joy...my little boy continued to play with Uncle Jeff for the next 2 hours like Uncle Jeff was RIGHT here (and I think he was). We just couldn't see him. There was football passing between the two of them, there was wrestling, there was pillow throwing...you name it. I continued to get a play by play of what the score was between the two of them and heard all of the rascally things Uncle Jeff did to Payton. Thanks for being here when we needed you Jeff!

Uncle Jeff pinches butts

A few days ago Miles, Payton, Owen, Ella and I were walking home up that big hill we live on - Powell Avenue. Miles was the last in the line up of kids and all of a sudden he jumped a little and said, "someone just pinched my butt." I of course told him the obvious - no one was behind him and so no one pinched his butt. He wouldn't let it go. He was sure someone pinched his butt. Then he said, "I think it was Uncle Jeff who pinched my butt." We all laughed because it felt very possible. I mean why would Uncle Jeff stop pinches butts just because he is in the spirit world?

A few days later at school Miles was again the last person in line. When he got pinched in the butt again! He swears it had to be Uncle Jeff.

So the little rascal Uncle Jeff continues to tease....we'll keep you posted on more butt pinching incidents. Next thing you know Grandma Louise is going to get knocked over from Jeff trying to hip check her while dancing.... or maybe someone's toe will all of a sudden get sucked...or maybe we might just start to get a nice back massage when we think no one is around...or maybe when the wind blows we may hear a familiar Jeff cackle.......or maybe our Oreos will all of a sudden disappear!