Bittersweet Day.....Walk For ALS in Minneapolis!

Sign along route for ALS walk

Team Nadermann all ready for walk around lake to start

We just returned from a wonderful weekend in Minneapolis!   It was just what the Kerian family needed after a difficult week.  One of my best friends, Paula, lost her brother, who was 38, this past week unexpectedly, and it was a week of sadness and laughs as many memories were shared about him.  Paula's husband, Mike, is one of Wayne's best friends so we wanted to be there for them as much as we could.  It was comforting to be there for them; yet, saddening kind of, to relive some emotions one feels when losing their brother.  So after the funeral on Friday, and spending time with Mike and Paula, we loaded up when the kids got home from practices and headed north to Minneapolis for some much needed time with family.  That's just what we needed.......

Alex and Connor with Wayne and Graham behind

As a family, we had signed up to do the ALS walk in Minneapolis.  In the past, some of us have done the walk in Cedar Rapids, but we thought we would try a new place.  This time we walked 3 miles around a beautiful lake on a gorgeous fall day!  Everyone went, except my dad who was not home yet, and we had a super time!  There were thousands and thousands of people there so the support shown was amazing!  I am not sure how much money was raised but on the last announcement they made before we started, it was A LOT!  It was nice to have Wayne and Alex join as well as this was their first ALS walk, and I love them even more (if that is possible) for doing this with our family! 

Along the walk, we saw a sign that said, "We walk in memory of Ken Nadermann".  Of course, we huddled all around to take a picture.  I know Ken was looking down at us saying, "Get moving family!" but he was smiling as well!  Sara and I were joking along the way that we weren't walking too quickly because of the little boys, and we knew Ken was calling both of us "wussies" for not picking up the pace.  Bittersweet!

Kim and Wayne halfway

So once again....we walk for ALS because we can.....and will continue to do so!  Love and Miss you Ken!  We know you were walking with us!