Results

Well, I didn't win the Scrapbook Olympics. I didn't think I would. I do feel good about the pages that I entered, though. I finished (almost) another page with Mom on it. I just have to put a title on it. Michael is at the computer that I need to use to make it. I have really been having fun making pages with Mom's pictures. I just wish that I had had them sooner so that she could have been here to see them. Here is the one I just finished:




I miss her alot, but the days are getting easier. I don't think that a day goes by that I don't think about her. Even though she was mostly gone for the last 2 years, she was still here.

I went and had a bone density scan this morning. Everyone (doctors) is freaking out because I have passed 50 and I haven't had one! Why should I worry? To my knowledge, there is no history of osteoporosis in the family. It's just another way for them to bleed me of the tiny bit of money we have left.

I go back to work in a week. I am not looking forward to it, but it will be nice to be getting paid again. This has been a short summer as far as time off, but long on lack of money.

Today is Tanya's birthday. I took her to breakfast this morning. I can't believe she is so old! I'm glad I'm not!!

Well, I can't think of anything else to write, so I will just go for now. Til later...

Scrapbook Challenge

So, I took the Scrapbook Olympic Challenge that was made at Scrapbooks, Etc. I made two pages using 3 of 8 of the supplies they assigned. My pages are fairly simple. I entered them yesterday afternoon. Sometime today they will announce the winner. The winner gets $25 in store credit. I doubt I'll win, but I am happy with the results. The first one is my favorite. I made a matching one of the second page with a picture of Uncle Willard. I didn't enter it because it is basically the same as the one of Mom and Dad. It was fun and quite a challenge for me. I don't have a real creative mind. I can copy anything, but to come up with something on my own, is another story. So, here they are:

This one is my parents "engagement" picture.

This one is my mom at about 5 yrs old.

While we were at the scrapbook store, there was a bad accident in front on University. A guy hit a light pole and the power went out in the store. Tanya took off running to see if any of her newly aquired nursing skills were needed. Unfortunately, there was an off duty fireman and a respiratory therapist there too. When the police got there, they made everybody move back because the pole was split and could come crashing down. The guy hit at least 3 other cars (we're not sure about a forth one, but it's possible). Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. We had to leave the items we were going to buy at the store since they had no electricity. I guess we will have to go back today. Oh, no, not that! Gotta go for now.

A Month Later

Well, I decided it was time to post again. It has been difficult to even think about it for the last month. Things are getting a little easier for me each day. The viewing the night before the funeral was easier than I thought it would be. At least until my cousin and his wife brought in the casket spray. I took one look at it and the dam burst! They were absolutely beautiful! We had told her that Mom's favorite color was all the colors in the rainbow and the brighter and more vivid the better! WOW! She did a wonderful job! It was perfect! I'm sure Mom liked it.

Speaking at Mom's funeral was definately harder than I thought. I guess things went well. I learned some things about my mom that I didn't know before. When she was about six, they went to different churches. Whenever anyone asked her what church she belonged to, she told them she was a Mormon. She didn't join the church until she was about 13 or 14!

My dad is very lonely now. I think that is the hardest part for me at this point. I try to at least talk to him every other day if not more often. I don't have a car much, so it's hard to go see him very often. He didn't realize how difficult it would be after she was gone. We all know it was best because she was in so much pain and in such poor health. But, until it happens, you don't realize the hole in your heart!

It was good to see some of my Aunts and Uncles that I haven't seen in years. We had some good visits with lots of memories being talked about. I think everyone in the family was there except for a grandson who lives in Washington and a sister who lives in California who is in poor health herself.

Here are a few pictures:

My sister Mary, Me, Dad, my sister Linda, brother Bob, brother Doug

Aunt Carol and Uncle Karl

Rick and Mary

Well, I think that's it for now. I go back to work in 2 weeks. The party is over!

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....