Almost There

Today was a very choice experience. We were able to perform the last earthly service for our sweet mother. We dressed her for her funeral tomorrow. How awesome! There were the 3 sisters, the 2 sisters-in-law, 10 granddaughters and 2 great-granddaughters. It was such a sweet exprience. I have never participated in the dressing and preparing of someone for a funeral. I used to think it would be weird. But, after today, my feelings have changed. Mom look so beautiful and peaceful! Her earthly body is finally pain free. She is such a wonderful person and her spirit was in attendance with us. The feelings were so tender in the room. Tonight is the viewing. We will be leaving soon. Tomorrow is her big day. Until then...

Rough Few Days

Mom as a toddler

Mom with her parents

Grandma and Grandpa crouse

Mom, Dad holding me, Doug and Linda
Mom and me Mother's Day 2008

So, we (my bros, sis', and Dad) have been meeting to go over plans for Mom's funeral. Things are not necessarily the way that I would like them to be. I guess my family has to deal with grief with joking about things. We get WAY off track while we are trying to brainstorm. I guess the problem is, when we are all together, we only have half a brain! I have gotten a lot of ideas for my talk. I haven't really decided if I'm going to actually write it out, or if I will just leave the ideas and go from there. I spent this morning scanning a lot of pictures for scrapbooking. I want to make some pages of Mom to have on display at the funeral. I don't know how many I will get done. Tomorrow we will be dressing her and making her beautiful for the funeral. It still seems surreal to me. Even though I've known this time was coming sooner rather than later. I am so grateful for her life and the many things she taught me by words and example. I am glad that my children were able to know her and that they have good memories of her. The funeral is Thursday, June 26, 2008 in Gilbert, Az.

My Mom

This has been one of the most difficult days of my life. My dear sweet mother passed away this morning at 7:29 at the age of 80. I had already said my good-bye's to her and I thought that I was prepared, but the heart stills cares. It was very hard to see her lifeless body lying in bed. I don't know how to act right now. The last few years were very bad for her. Her health was terrible. She broke her right hip 2 years ago, she had 11 mini strokes 1 1/2 years ago and pneumonia a little over a year ago. Last July we thought she was leaving us, but she managed to rally back. In fact, in April she seemed to be getting better. I was able to have some nice visits with her. Then the last 3 weeks she started to decline. We were brought together to say our good-bye's this past Tuesday, but she hung on for a few more days. I have missed her for several years, but now it's even worse. I know she won't be there. She requested that I and my sisters Linda and Mary tell her life story. It will be so hard to do that. But as my mother's last request for me, I will do my best. She was a great woman. She suffered a lot and had to endure much. Most of it graciously. She was always there for me with a listening ear when I needed her most. We became good friends. She had a strong testimony of the Gospel and a love for our Savior. She helped pass that on to me and right now, I am very grateful for that knowledge. Dad seems kind of lost right now. He tries to be funny to cover it up. I feel so sad in my heart for him. I am glad that she is finally out of her pain and discomfort. I love Mom and I miss her, but I also know that I will see her again. That's all for now.

Summer School and Sisters

So, I started back to work yesterday, summer school. I am working in a 2nd grade class. We have a whopping 8 kids! I work 3 hours a day, Mon-Thurs. My husband asked me how my first day went. I told him the 3 hours sure seemed like 5!

Today was better. The kids had library. They did a water cycle experiment. They read. I cut and pasted. The teacher I work with likes to "wing it".

My "little" sister from Utah is in town. Her son, Dan, tried to do his own lobotomy while riding on a quad.




He also managed to break a couple of bones in his neck. fortunately for his wife and 7 children, he will survive. Update: Dan has a bleeder in his head and is now back at the trauma center for surgery.

Anyway, I picked her up on Sunday and took her out to Gilbert to visit our parents. Our Mom isnt doing very well. On Sunday she had started doing a little worse. We had a good visit with Dad. Mom was out of it most of the time.

Then yesterday after I got off work, I picked up Mary and took her to lunch. We went to Pete's fish and chips. She loves it and can't get it in Utah. We were able to have a very nice visit. We hadn't seen each other in about 1 1/2 years, so we had a lot of catching up to do. She will be leaving this weekend.

While we were at Pete's, we saw one of our nephews that we haven't seen in forever, Chris Meeker. He was there with guys from his work for lunch. We had a nice short visit with him.

Well, I think that's about it for today. Until next time....