Dinner at the 95th

Back in October we received a gift certificate to the 95th after sharing the news of our first pregnancy with a dear friend. We made plans to use the certificate to celebrate my birthday and to go out on a date. We took the train downtown and walked to the Hancock. Along the way we enjoyed the smells of spring with the freshly planted gardens along the Magnificent Mile. We also stopped in at the Apple store and Ryan got to see Watertower for the first time. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we weren't in a hurry which is a welcome change from all our pervious trips downtown for work.

We arrived early, probably because the elevators were so fast, and were seated at a table next to the window on the 95th floor of the Hancock. We had a fabulous bottle of Riesling. I had the filet of beef with a side of cheesey scalloped potatoes and Ryan had the salmon. Everything was excellent. We decided that if we could afford it, we should treat ourselves to a nice dinner like this a little more often.

This Blog’s A-Changin’

With all our family’s endured over the past few months, this blog has been such a blessing. We’ve been able to let everyone know what’s going on in our lives—the good and the tragic—and we’ve received warm words and uplifting encouragement through the comments and emails. Unexpectedly, many of you said that our testimonies have been a blessing and encouragement to you as well, something we hadn’t intended, but praise God!

And while the original intent of this blog was to track the progress of our first child, things have changed and people are still reading, still coming back for updates and still finding encouragement. We see no reason to end that.

We’ve made a few cosmetic updates to the blog, a few changes in the margins and there’s more to come. Keep us bookmarked as we continue posting photos, memories and the latest goings on in the Klos family. Thank you again to all who have continually kept us in your prayers.

Drop us a line in the comments if inspired, we like mail :)

Let's Play Ball!

In honor of William, the Hartmann girls are playing softball this summer! William had wanted to join the Alliance Bible Church softball team this summer. We thought it would be fun if we all (us girls and Jill's boyfriend, PJ) played on one team and Mom could come watch with Hayden. We had our first game last Monday and won! Ryan has volunteered to be the team photographer so we'll be sure to get some photos up from an upcoming game.

William's Internment

The following day after William's 16th birthday we had a private interment at my parent's church. We look forward to the day when we can be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us.

William's 16th Birthday Party

Our family celebrates birthdays with a dinner and cake. William wanted to have italian beef for his birthday. Even though we have all had at italian beef at least five times in the past couple weeks, we had it again for William. For his birthday this year we started a journal for all of us to write things we remember about him, things he liked, places we went, things he said. We also started making friendship bracelets in his favorite colors, teal and purple, to wear and remember him. It was nice to see that night that his friends also wore bracelets and bandanas with his favorite colors.

William had 12 friends show up at the house for his birthday. They had all been playing Jedi Ninja Tag, one of William's favorite games. We sang happy birthday and his friends helped blow out his candles. It's sad that William couldn't be here today to enjoy his birthday party and to see how much he is loved. It was helpful for us too to have his friends here, to know they cared and to help us through the night. They stayed for almost two hours visiting with us before they headed off to play Capture the Flag with glow sticks, another one of William's favorite games.

At school this week the Key Club worked on making t-shirts for William's friends to wear on this birthday. You can see some of them wearing them in the photo below. William was known to be seen wearing his girlfriend's rainbow scarf and for the following quote, "I thought tough men wear pink, real men wear rainbows." This is the quote they used to make the 50 t-shirts. They even ran out of shirts, some of his best friends didn't even get one.

Remembering William J. Hartmann

I am truly honored to have been William's sister. I learned so much today about all the lives he has touched during his 15 years with us on earth. He was my best pal growing up. We used to do everything together. I remember he went with me to the mall to buy shoes for my senior prom, he was only four. He told me I was beautiful. After I'd moved out of the house he'd come over to spend the night, we'd play games, watch movies, bake cookies, go to baseball games and camping trips. This summer we were all going to join the church softball team. In the past year or so William had begun to write two novels, he was gaining interest in photography and cinematography. He was hoping to save his birthday money from his birthday next week to buy a video camera to make movies. He was just an absolute joy to our lives. I can still see his smile and hear his laugh.

I really hope that William's testimony about the rededication of his life to Christ has brought comfort to you. That you can be sure that he is with God in heaven. That his soul is not lost somewhere. A couple weeks ago at Ethan's memorial service William had written in the guest book:

Monica & Ryan
You two have always been my mentors. At the beginning of the sermon I was angry with myself for all that it took for me to come to faith again. But the life and death of Ethan brought me back to faith. I was sorry and felt like he died for my sake. But when I heard that he was created to help hundreds, I felt honored to be one of them. Once again you brought me to faith. I love you all and thank you for everything you gave me and helped me with.

Your loving brother,
William

William's Obituary

McHENRY - William J. Hartmann II, 15, of McHenry, died Saturday, April 5, 2008.

He was born April 18, 1992, in McHenry, to William and Patricia (DeGolyer) Hartmann.

He was a sophomore at McHenry West High School, where he was a member of the Academic Team and Key Club. He was a creative individual who loved skateboarding, computer games, and being with his family. His affinity for learning and wisdom shone through in his constant curiosity and acute attention to life's details. Always ready with a joke, his humor could disarm the most stressful situation, and with a heart his chest could hardly hold, he offered a hand to anyone who needed it.

He is survived by his parents, William and Patricia; his sisters, Monica (Ryan) Klos, Lauren and Jillian; his grandmother, Linda DeGolyer; his nephew, Hayden; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, William and Margaret Hartmann, Lauren DeGolyer; and his nephew, Ethan Klos.

The visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at Colonial Funeral Home, 591 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry. Prayers will be said at 9:15 a.m. Thursday, April 10, at the funeral home, before the funeral Mass is celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2304 W. Church Ave., Johnsburg.

Interment will be private.

Visitation and Funeral for William J. Hartmann

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 9 at Colonial Funeral Home, 591 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry.

Prayers will be said at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, April 10 at the funeral home, and funeral mass will follow at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, 2304 W. Church Avenue, Johnsburg. Internment will be private.

Ethan Welcomes His Uncle William to Heaven

Yesterday I lost my 15 year-old brother. I still can't believe it's true. My baby brother. I still wait for him to come home thinking he's just out with a friend. I don't know what else to write. I love and miss you William. We look forward to seeing you in heaven.

My parent's meet with the funeral director tomorrow morning. But as of right now, there will be a wake on Wednesday at Colonial Funeral Home. Thursday will be a mass, but I'm not positive on the church as it will not be at my parent's home church. Their church is doing a remodeling project and are doing all masses at a near by church. I'll post more information as it becomes available. Information should also be in the Northwest Herald.

Colonial Funeral Home
591 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry, IL 60050
815-385-0063  |  directions »

Ethan's Service

Thank you to everyone who came to Ethan's memorial service the evening before Easter Sunday. Your support and encouragement has helped us greatly. To see everyone together, a fraction of all those praying and reading the blog, was amazing. I know that this wasn't your typical service and, for most of you, not at all what you were expecting. Not only did we want to set aside a special day for Ethan, but also a time to give thanks and praise for the wonderful gift that God has given us.

In January we'd done quite a bit of research when choosing Ethan's name. God has provided more insight since then. Ethan, a very smart man during the time of King Solomon, wrote Psalm 89 as a way to bring light to Israel during a very dark time. Isn't that interesting?! Our little Ethan has also been a light during this sad time in our lives. We hope that Ethan's life and testimony will bring light and the Good News of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ to many.

Our friends at Alliance Bible Church have recorded the memorial service and we hope to have it available for you to download as an audio file soon. In the mean time, here are the songs we sang.

You Never Let Go (Ethan's Theme Song) by Matt Redman
Center by Matt Redman and Charlie Hall
Everlasting God by Lincoln Brewster
Everything Glorious by David Crowder Band

We wish to extend a special thanks to Paul, our friend and pastor, for his love, counsel and friendship as well as for leading a special service for Ethan. Thank you to Kary, Reggie and the Praise Band for their time, talent and sharing a love for worshiping our awesome god!