My Late Brother Johns' Missing Gift

Every 4th of July for the past 19 yrs. has been a struggle for my family. This year however, we finally found a gift that my brother, John Michael Lemich, who passed away on the 5th of July, (READ ABOUT THE ACCIDENT HERE), left for us.

We knew about this gift, but have been unable to find it! We all have searched, at various times over the years, looking, hunting, getting frustrated & then giving up. Only to feel the tug at our hearts every few years & search again.

This year was again one of those years I began the search. I consider myself an amateur detective and after about three days and no luck once again, I reluctantly gave up. Then to my surprise, my sister April, who also was feeling the urge, started searching for the long lost gift too.

After 19 years, SHE FOUND THE PRESENT THAT MY BROTHER HAD LEFT FOR US!

The ironic thing is, the gift was found on the exact day of the 19th anniversary of my brothers accident.

To say that this lifted the mood of this difficult time of year for us is an understatement!

There are no words to describe our happiness

On this 19th Anniversary of my brothers death I would like to share his missing present with all of you too..............................................



THIS IS MY BROTHERS DAUGHTER-WHITLEY!
The search is finally over.

We feel that my brother somehow had a hand in helping us find his daughter!

We are so blessed to be able to have Whitley & Johnny in our lives.

MY BROTHERS SON JOHNNY (Luckily, he's been a part of our lives since he was born & also has been searching for his 1/2 sister).

My brother passed away before meeting either of his children, but is obviously watching down from above!

This 4th of July is a very special & joyous one for our family!

WE MISS & LOVE YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL GIFT TO US!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Preview of Too Much Stuff

I normally try to update my blog at least 3x a week. But I've been so exhausted. Football passing league has started & I've been taking pictures to send out to the players & parents. The picture taking is the easy part. Going through them all, downloading, cropping, organizing & sending them out is the part that takes FOREVER. So needless to say, I have 3 memory cards completely full of 4 different passing league games. Tomorrow is one of the biggest games against Mater Dei & I don't have a single card left! This should be interesting, not to sure how creative I can get with this one.

I'll probably be scrambling around before the game trying to get them onto the computer, screaming, "WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG!"

I've also been trying to go to bed a little earlier so I don't "lose it" on my family (4 hrs a night catches up with you pretty quick). Funny how it ALWAYS seems like it's everyone else & not ME whenever I get upset...even when I know I'm exhausted.

So just a little preview of some upcoming posts:

PAYBACK-Yes I did finally get my husband back for locking me out & I even got some pics...you'll love this post!

FOUND AT LAST- My brother passed away 19 years ago & left a very special gift that we finally found. This will be a bit of a tear jerker, with pictures of the present of course. I will post this on the 4th of July (the anniversary of his death).

So thanks for bearing with me & my slow posting...I promise I'll be better!

Celebrate, Reflect and Enjoy-4th of July

My family was all in Utah together for the 4th (we couldn't afford to go), but made the best of it here. It's always hard for us because it's the anniversary of my brother John's death. I usually start to get a little edgy and emotional the week leading up to the 4th. I try to make sure we have lots of plans, the busier I am the easier it is.

I decided to treat myself to a new bike this year...last year we were the Beverly Hillbilly's of OC with our crappy, squeaky, rusty bikes. I haven't had a brand new bike since I was 14 years old! I figured it was time...also I thought it would encourage me to get out and exercise more. I was going to get my usual boys beach cruiser in black, I'm such a tomboy that I don't usually like flashy. But I decided at the last minute to get a shiny purple and silver girl bike. What do ya think?


We rode down to the parade, stopped by to meet some friend's at a house party, but it was all adults and the little guys wanted to hang out with us for a while (we wont have very many years left of them wanting to be with the "parents" since they're 14 & 15. So we told them we'd be back later and rode around with the kids.

Anthony's sister's and all their kids ended up coming down and we met up with them, got some lunch and had a picnic at the park with them and some other friends who met up with us. The boys ended up leaving and me and Anthony headed home for a quick rest before we had to ride back down for the fireworks show.

I had to leave and go pick up Josh from work. I was sitting in the LONG line of cars waiting to turn, when a group of bikers came riding in between all the cars and some parked cars. Some girls were obviously drunk...one girl turned around to talk to her friends and ran smack into the back of a parked car and flipped over the top of her bike, denting the car. Okay now you are all going to know how mean I am...I LAUGHED so hard. I always do when someone trips or falls. I can't help it! I wasn't alone, all the other cars were yelling, honking and laughing too! I didn't feel as bad. She was okay, but she did a bike hit and run. The owner of the car came running out of the house party, but the girl was long gone. I'll take entertainment anyway I can get it.

When we got back down to the beach it was FREEZING. The little guys never came home and had only swim trunks and tank shirts. They were shivering and complaining...we brought them some jackets and I got these pics of them racing toward the backpack and then fighting with a friend for the warmest one.

Elijah, Adam & Friend racing to the backpack for sweatshirts.



The Boys fighting over the warmest sweatshirt.

Even Anthony was cold.






Crowd in the ampitheatre.

Crowds watching street performers.

More Crowds in the dreaded Out House line.

My hubby & me trying to stay warm.



Waiting for the fireworks to start.

YAY...FINALLY!

All in all it was a good day and I didn't even cry once...which was a first. We love and miss you John!

My brothers...John hugging Troy.