Monday, September 27, 2010

Two Funerals and a Wedding

Exactly one year ago tomorrow, we said goodbye to my sweet, sweet mother-in-law.  She lived to just one month shy of her 94th birthday, and we know that she has been reunited with her sweetheart who passed 25 years before her.


On July 19 of this summer, we said goodbye to my brother-in-law after a very brief illness - it was way too soon for him to leave us  and his wife....
But on September 24 my family had a very good reason to be happy and to celebrate for our niece married the love of her life...

My new nephew-in-law is a carpenter by trade and had a novel way for the rings to be presented... What better transport than in a handcrafted tool box!


The wedding was such a fun time of family.....


Great food and sweets and dancing....
And while this past year has brought much sadness with the loss of loved ones, my family is still able to enjoy fully all of those times that are meant to be fun and joyous occasions.  
I even caught my recently widowed sister-in-law enjoying a moment of fun - displaying just a glimpse of her wicked sense of humor....





Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Blogging...

I don't know why I just can't do an update every day. There is no reason not to. I wake up breathing so that in itself is something noteworthy.  Pioneer Woman (whose blog I have faithfully followed almost since the beginning) lists the 10 key ingredients to a successful blog and one of them is to basically "water it" daily.

So, I am watering.....

Tonight I am thinking about my daughter who is now off to her freshman year of college.  This is what she looked like as we drove her down to deposit her at her new home for the next nine months....
All the photo editing in the world couldn't have erased the fear on her face that day....

We arrived and moved her into her temporary housing for the first four days while she participated in marching band camp.  This dormitory had air conditioning....


She didn't want us to leave so we hung around for quite a while.  I think she was really mildly traumatized  by the fact that this was really "it" and she would probably not see her home for a month.

I then casually mentioned that her brother, dad and I should probably get back on the road home and this is what I saw....


She wasn't quite ready for us to leave yet, but there really wasn't much for us to do either. So, we all strolled outside and looked around the "turf" outside her dorm. This was to be the gathering spot for the freshmen band members at 5 PM.  So, we waited and chatted, and she chewed her fingernails...



Finally, a few other girls walked over to the "turf".  We encouraged my daughter to go over and introduce herself.  She hesitated a moment and then finally agreed.  She walked over and joined in the circle and....


The moment her butt hit the ground, we were outta there!!

We aren't coldhearted parents. We just knew that we needed to use the opportunity to leave.  We returned four days later for the kids were all moving into their permanent dorms.

We are still going through a period of adjustment... many ups and downs.  I think the ups will begin to outnumber the downs for her soon.  I for one haven't shed many tears on her departure. I think I'm too excited about this next four-year adventure she will be living.  Also, knowing she's really only an hour away brings me great comfort.


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Our Gift

Could very well be another birthday for our guy to look like this.... Here's hoping Freckles will be wearing his birthday hat come February 1, 2011.

He has pancreatitis but it seems that the combination of fluids, antibiotics, and anti-nausea medications have really turned my little guy around. We saw him tonight and there is life back in his eyes and I swear he was smiling.  The girls at the vet's office are smitten - he's quite the ladies man there.... They are enjoying his "song" - he had been completely quiet since he got sick. 

Our gift is some more time and if it's a week, a month, or a year I'll take it!!!