Christmas Family Newsletter

For the past couple of years, I have sent out a combination family newsletter/Christmas card to my friends and family. This year was kind of hard without dad and so I didn't get one out. I received a couple from some dedicated friends and I still want to get one out to let everyone know what we are up to but I don't know when I will get it done. I'm thinking that it might be a Valentine's letter and card.

Next Saturday I am putting together a Scrap and Craft day at work. We have 6 projects that the employees can sign up for and do. We are doing girls hair bows, woven headbands, a LOVE word book, a file folder organizer, a gift card organizer and a class on photo editing using Photoshop. I have put a picture of the LOVE book I did for my neice Whittney on this post. I think it turned out kind of cute! I'll put pics of the other projects up also.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2009 already! We spent a quiet night at home with our grandkids Austin and Carson. Brad took them and Connor to see Valkyrie and I stayed home. I wasn't feeling very good so I was in bed by 10:00. The next morning we made blueberry pancakes from The Prepared Pantry YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you haven't tried it you are missing a real treat. Oh yeah, and by the way, Brad's sister MerriAnn and her husband Dennis are the owners. Here's their web site:
www.preparedpantry.com.

My granddaughter is brilliant!

OK, I have to brag. I believe that it's not just a grandmother's right it's her responsibility.
My daughter called and told me that my six year old granddaughter picked up her copy of Twilight and started reading it to her. Not just reading one word at a time, reading it fluently. She had her read to me on the phone and I couldn't believe it. I know the comprehension isn't on that level--at least let's hope not--but I still think that's pretty impressive.
Thanks for letting me crow!

Dad's Funeral

Dad passed away on Oct. 4th at 3:45 pm. We held his funeral yesterday. It was very emotional and hard for me through Saturday but since then I've felt the most amazing peace. I just feel so good about where he is right now. Mom is such a rock. I know she'll have some rough nights but she is just amazing. I can't wait til I get to see him again!

It's getting close

The hospice nurse was here yesterday morning and told us we only have a day or two left with dad. I had a hard time keeping my emotions under control but today has been a lot easier. All of my brothers and sister are here and Brad, my husband is here today. We have been talking about the funeral arrangements and I think we have it all put together. Dad has always wanted Jon's wife Liatt to sing at his funeral. She has an amazing voice and his favorite singer is Patsy Cline. Several years ago at one of his high school reunions she sang "Crazy" by Patsy and she has agreed to sing that song at the funeral. It is going to be amazing.

Dad

Dad has been asleep most of the day today. Yesterday he was awake and alert a good portion of the day. His sister, Marilyn, and her husband Don came to visit. When he saw them he wanted to play pinochle. It was so cute to see them all playing like old times. Dad couldn't keep the cards straight but he had a good time anyway. Today is Leisa's anniversary so she is going to stay home and I'll stay overnight with mom. It's kind of unnerving when I go home. I feel like I need to be with dad all the time. I don't know how much time we have left and I want to make the most of it.

Dad

I had a very exhausting day yesterday. Well, the day wasn't exhausting but I was. I guess the stress caught up with me. Dad slept most of the day and I slept right along with him. He got up and had breakfast, then went back to bed. My brother,Don brought him ham and bean soup for lunch and he got up for that. He was sitting at the table and was trying to ask for something. He kept pointing at the table, the salt shaker, and his plate but he couldn't say what he wanted. Then he started moving his hands like he was milking a cow. He wanted a glass of milk! We laughed about that all day. We watched "The Ultimate Gift" in the afternoon and when Leisa came to spend the night, I went home. I slept good. This morning mom said he was very restless last night even after taking his sleeping pill. In the middle of the night he got out of bed and was fumbling with the blankets on the end of the bed. He kept saying "I can't find it". Mom asked him what he was looking for and he answered "The Holy Grail!" I don't think he found it. She gave him another sleeping pill and he's still asleep. I'm just getting ready to go over and sit with him and be there when he wakes up.