You bought the house at 2049 Carfax.  Mom found a Christian school and drove us there every morning.  Karen and I just visited Nazarene Christian School in Norwalk, and it was exactly the same.  A teacher remembered us and said "there were three of you, weren't there."  It hit me how much my life was defined as "the three of us" after that point.  

Losing Kami early affected my life in ways I never imagined.  It was emotional for me to sit in the same auditorium with Karen without Kami.  We went over to our old house and it was for sale.  We looked at the little patio where Kami's room was and remembered playing basketball and especially roller skating.  Kami was such a presence in that house.  She was always making up games and creating all kinds of fun for me.  I have vivid memories of our yard work (especially picking up the dog's droppings with Karen).  Dad was always hyper explaining our chores to us and making sure we did them the way he wanted us to.  Kami was the only one who was strong enough or capable enought to mow the lawn.  She was our leader in many ways.

You were given a death sentence while we were living in this house--stop what you are doing and how hard you were working and living or you would be dead in two years.  The Doctor got your attention and so did the prayers of Kami and Mom.  You did an about face and commited your life to God.  You stopped drinking and worked out your job with Sully Miller for you to be a consultant out of the house.  

We also owned a cabin at Pine Mountain Lake.  You took us out of school a couple of months early and moved us up to the cabin.  You guys decided you wanted to do a road trip and live out of the van, visit people and march at the nation's capital at Washington for Jesus.  I have vivid memories of not enjoying any of this.  I also remember singing to you many of the songs we had learned at our school while you drove.

You were happy and you were now present in our family life, but, I became very unhappy.  I did not want more upheavel, but I was not able to express what I really thought--it was all overwhelming and difficult to articulate.

After the two month journey we lived in our A frame cabin and then attended a school for a couple of months in Groveland, CA.  I remember the church there and learning sign langauage.  It was a big deal to me that they chose me to sing in the Christmas play O Holy Night.  I always enjoyed more reflective songs of lament.  You seemed to appreciate all of our singing.   

We have many stories from the three months we bought the house on 5118 W. Waltan Lane in Glendale.  The house was tri-level and we have quite the story of hiding someone in the closet.  We had an incredible pool we spent a lot of time in.  

You were the Division Manager over Arizona for Sully-Miller.  I do not know why we moved so soon, but I have a sneaking suspicion Mom was very unhappy with the neighbors, school and leaving amazing Thousand Oaks. 

Dad,

You bought the house on 309 E. Gainsborough Road while you were working as the Project Manager for Met H20 District for the LA Basin in Chatsworth and Calabassas.  We all have wonderful memories of our three years on this vibrant street with all our friends and neighbors.  We always talk about Darren, Wendy, Kelly and our famous neighbor Kurt Russell (three doors down)!

I was a Californian tried and true and having 2 older toe-headed sisters who were very competitive brought so much life to me.  I was genuinely happy.  We loved playing, swimming, roller skating, riding bikes and spent so much time outdoors.  You loved Disneyland and had such a great time with us especially on Tom Sawyer's Island.  I have such wonderful thoughts about our times as family together.  

Mom was so happy--involved with leagues and women's groups.  She also redecorated the whole house with her artistic flair.  She had a daycare out of the house and I was friends with every single one of the kids she cared for.  It was constant play mates all three years we lived there.  

Moving away from this home was a very difficult move for all of us--I do not think any of us every recovered.  Mom made a lot of determinations which affected the course of our lives after this move like we would never be allowed to make friend's with the neighbors, and she would never become that close to anyone again.  She determined to have only the three of us be friends.  As a young person I knew something was very wrong.  I now know it was depression and grief, but time and work marched on.  This was the beginning of many, many moves it is dizzying to think about.

You began showing signs of all the stress catching up with you at this time.  The load you were carrying was astronomical and you had so many goals you wanted to reach (like being a millionaire by the time you were 30 and making really great real estate decisions so you would never have to worry about money).  Dad, I know you did not reach all your goals, but you did realize years later you wre hopeless without a Savior.  I am ultimately thankful you passed down your faith in God to us versus all the money in the world.   

I only have my memories of life with you, Dad.  I just went to Riverside a month ago and I was able to see the house you bought with Mom while you were working for Kirst Construction in Pear Blossom.  This is the house I was born in.  Thank you for trying to give us a good life and for working so hard.  

Riverside was surronded by mountains and I hear stories of the pioneering engineering work you were doing in building the highways through and over mountains.  You were such an amazing engineer the Department of Water Resources recommened you to Sully-Miller an elite firm throughout So Cal.  You were hired and you went on to hire everyone from Kirst Construction as they were going out of business.

Your reputation preceded you and I hear you were legendery in your no nonsense approach to getting massive projects done.  You carried a very heavy load and I never understood how difficult it must have been for you.  You despised the L.A. traffic and so moved us with every job.  Living in Long Beach now, I completely see why you moved us--they are so far apart and the traffic is quite a bother.  

Mom was a trooper as she fixed up each house, got it ready to sell and moved time and time again.  You were quite a team in those early days and I appreciate both of you.