Emma 1999-2009

Bobbie Jo and I have just returned home from putting our cat Emma to sleep. It was the most difficult thing that either of us have ever had to do. She was a crabby kitty, but we loved her very much. She will be greatly missed.

In January of 2000, after a particularly bad 1999, I felt the need for some companionship. On January 15, Emma (named for the cage "M-4" that she was rescued from)came home to my studio apartment to live with me.

We've been through a lot together. She was with me as I moved into the house that later became the first house I owned. When I met Bobbie Jo, got married, moved to our new house, and brought baby Max home from the hospital- she was always waiting for us at home. Many things changed, but Emma was always the constant.

She grew fatter over the years, and crankier. She suffered from health problems for as long as we can remember. Bobbie Jo and I remember crying while force-feeding her on the kitchen floor of our old house. She had no energy from not eating in a week, and was at death's door.

I don't know that she was terribly thrilled when Max became mobile. She was always gentle around him, though usually scurrying away if she was able. Max called her (and most cats) "emma", who knows how long that will last. It's too bad he probably won't remember her when he gets older.

Emma was my first real pet, and I will never forget her.
We love you Emma B, you will be missed.

So many things happening.

In this time of information; blogs, digital photos, video, facebook, twitter, email, and countless other ways of communication, sometimes I feel like I'm losing the battle.

There are so many things happening as Max grows, and I feel terrible when I don't document all of those tiny milestones in one way or another. I've written, taken photos, and videos of many of them, but I feel like I need to work harder at it.

But, I realize that this has got to be common amongst all new parents, as their kids grow at rates they never thought possible. I have kept better 'notes' than most, and there just isn't time to be 100%. I guess I'm pretty happy with the record that we are creating.

As this is being written on Thanksgiving, I couldn't make it without mention of the many things I have to be thankful for. I have a wonderful caring family, fantastic friends, the best wife a man could ask for, and a son that cannot be described with words.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks for reading.

The Journey Begins......

November 20, 2009

Trouble.

With a capital "T".

The Stripes Family

Mrs. Denton - a dear family friend

This week one of our family's greatest friends passed away. My parents first met Mrs. Denton in 1975, when they moved into their first house on Lake Grove. Anne Denton quickly became a close friend of both of my parents, and was one of the first people outside of the hospital to know of my birth (I received the below note in a birthday card a few years back):

Mrs. Denton would frequently be by on holidays, take each of us boys to lunch on our birthdays (Bill Knapp's was always my choice), and the most exciting part for any young child- she would take us to Toys R Us and let us pick out our own birthday presents!

The stories about Mrs. Denton are too many to go into detail here. Some of them as told to us were:

• She snuck into the White House and met the president (I can't remember who).
• She went to college and majored in business, because "women weren't supposed to major in business".
• She made a "bucket list" over 20 years ago, and was thrilled to show us the video tape of her sky diving in her eighties.

She was a tremendous woman, who was greatly loved by those who got to know her. She was one of the most caring and genuine people I have ever had the pleasure to know, and taught those around her to live life to its fullest, and to always enjoy what you do. She will forever be missed.

DENTON - Anne S. Denton's faith and trust in God was nurtured throughout her life and celebrated in her passing to eternal life on November 10, 2009. She was born in Peoria, IL on October 6, 1919, to Wallace and Garnet Snyder, and was raised there by her paternal grandparents, graduating from high school and college. Anne had many interesting jobs, including with Bell Telephone, Girl Scouts of America in New York City, and the U.S. Department of defense in Washington, D.C. She married the love of her life, Murray Denton on July 3, 1942, and following his WWII service they lived throughout the Midwest, eventually settling in East Grand Rapids. They had three children, Melissa and Charlie who survive her and a daughter, Sharon who died shortly after birth. Anne was an active volunteer serving at Mary Free Bed and Blodgett Hospitals, with the PTA, and at her church. Anne also loved the socializing that went with playing bridge, canasta, golf and tennis. Following the October 18, 1977 death of her beloved Murray, Anne became the parish visitor for Eastminster Presbyterian Church on a trial basis that last 13 years. One of the great challenges and joys in her life was being part of starting the Christ Community Church with Rev. John Tobian and others. She continued as pastoral assistant with Christ Community until her retirement at age 86, but Anne never really gave up working to bring members to the church. Anne lived at Porter Hills for many years, surrounded by friends and with great support from the wonderful staff and by Hospice of Michigan. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday with her children, Melissa, Charlie and daughter-in-law, Becky. Anne will also be remembered and missed by her grandchildren, Anna, John, Alec and Peter of whom she was so proud. One of her greater gifts to her family was introducing them to summers at Chautauqua Institution in New York. A celebration of Anne Denton's life will be held at Christ Community Church on Forest Hills Ave., on Friday, November 13, with visitation at 1:00 p.m. and the service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Christ Community Church or Porter Hills Benevolent Fund in her memory. The family is being served by Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service