The Gift of Family

I said I'd post some pictures from the time of my Grandpa's funeral

so here some of them are:

This is Elizabeth with my grandma's sister Lorraine.
Elizabeth makes Lorraine smile--every time!

The day my grandpa died, I took just the girls in the car and headed

down to there house, an hour and fifteen minutes away.

Ruby and Ivy spent some time coloring at Grandma's table--

which would be the very same table at which I used to sit and color.

I nearly talked myself out of driving down there,

thinking she would have enough company...the little ones might be distracting...

what if Grandma's too sad...etc.

All of those fears were dispelled when, as we opened the car doors and

Ivy hopped out, my normally-very-quiet Grandma exclaimed,

"Here's my Ivy Joy!" and opened her arms wide for Ivy to run to her.

She remarked to someone standing near her at the funeral a few days later,

(as she was holding Elizabeth)

"It's these little ones who keep me going..."

Ahhhhh, Grandma.

After the funeral, we walked over to my grandma's house for more visiting.

Ivy and her cousin Wade played with my brother's dog.

Daisey is  THE MOST tolerant dog I have EVER seen.

Daddy asked Ivy to smile nice for the camera.

This is what he got:

Hm.

Christopher always smile nice for us, though.

Andrew was delighted to spend some time throwing the football

on the yard with Dennis.

He comes alive when playing football! 

Elijah loves his RDO hat--it's the John Deere dealership

 for which both my dad and my brother work.

Cousins!!

Linnea and Callie always have fun seeing each other at Grandma's.

Callie lives far away in WI, so it's not often

but they always jump right in like it's been no time at all!

Ruby knew just where to go to get the old dollies from Grandma's basement

and she sat on the step combing it's hair--

while the wind blew her own around!

Ivy and cousin Reid chased each other around the yard.

My (available!) brother is a KID MAGNET.

All children flock to him--it's amazing!

This is my grandma and her siblings.

Grandma is in the back with the black shirt on.

She is the oldest of seven.

A brother is missing from this photo and one sister has passed away.

And HERE is my grandma with all her great-grandkids!

Every one was able to be there that day!

(Ivy was so excited that we let her have root beer, she wouldn't put the can down.)

My grandma and Lil' Bit.

Yep, these are what keep her going.

Sometimes

Sometimes, the only really good listener is the dog.

Overheard

Elijah:  "Hey Ruby!  Let's play like we're husband and wife."
Ruby:  "No, no, no---let's be in love instead."

I guess there's a difference.

Wordless Wednesday

She Even Smells Cute

In our house babies are well loved. 
Everyone loves the babies--and the babies know it.

One of the ways I know it?
I get to hear things like this, mentioned to me by Andrew:

"Hey, Mom--Elizabeth even smells cute."

Sound Bites

Ivy speaks with a lisp.
She came to me saying she had a "thore bottom" (sore bottom).

I put some lanolin on her and she grabbed my hand, saying, "lemme thee that." (let me see that).

I let her hold the container; she examined it, looked in my eyes and said,
"This meth-in??---Ith aMAYthing."
translation: This medicine??--Is aMAzing.

She makes me laugh!

Me & My Baby Girl

taken the afternoon of my grandpa's funeral

Mommy and Elizabeth (8 mos.)

We Miss My Grandpa, But We Still Smile

This is just one of the pictures I took yesterday, the day of my grandpa's funeral.

I'll post some more soon,

but I wanted to start with this one.

After the funeral, we all went to my grandparents' house.

It was such a good time of togetherness.

Many laughs, many smiles, some tears, many hugs and lots of food.

We miss him--but we still smile.

The Day Before

You may (or may not--I don't know) remember how I have a thing for taking notice of "the day before."

Today I'm thinking what a beautiful time we had together as a family the day before my Grandpa Glen died.

We weren't surprised, really, but we also didn't know that that day would be the day before he passed away.
Now, of course, we do and I'm so glad it was such a good day.


Today is the day of the visitation service at the church.  Yesterday (the day before!) I spent it running to town to pick up groceries and making sure everyone had something decent to wear.  Three boys had no dress-pants; I was lucky to find one at goodwill, but the others I had to pay full price for at Target.  Not so bad, though, as one was $4.99 and the other was $14.99.
Linnea had no dress shoes, but again we made out well at Wal-Mart for $5.

I kept my eyes open for something for me but apparently they don't make things that look nice on me and that I can afford.
I guess I'll just hide behind my babies like I usually do.

Today is also the day before the funeral.
I gave three haircuts and have had each child bring me their clothes for tomorrow for my approval.

Dennis, Nathaniel and I are singing for the service and so we practiced for that, as well.


My grandma is doing well.  She said to me as we ate supper on Monday night that she had the thought, "I'd better go fix him a plate..."
She's taken care of him for so many years that I know it will take a LONG time for those thoughts to diminish.

The children are outside enjoying a GORGEOUS afternoon and I just need to mend one little dress and then I'd better get us all ready to go.

The Wait Is Over

My grandpa died yesterday.
The wait is over.
I am so glad for the good day our family had together the day before his passing.

We Wait

I had the privilege of spending the day with many members of my close and extended family at the bedside of my Grandpa Glen, my dad's dad.

He is very near death; we just wait.

We made the hour-and-fifteen minute trip on Friday night, just Dennis, Elizabeth and me. At that time, my grandpa couldn't have visitors so we just went to my grandparents' house.

Today we were there with all the kids; we brought my guitar and Nathaniel's and after some time there, we took them out to play and sing.

What a sweet, sweet time of fellowship that was!  Singing the old hymns has a way of connecting people in a way like no other.


We don't know if he has hours, days, or perhaps a week.

We do know that he is loved, that he has been and is being well-cared for, and that he will be missed.

My Grandpa & Grandma on their 65th wedding anniverary

November 2011

I Recommend

I asked your opinion in my first I Recommend post and you encouraged me to do it again, so I am!  I probably would have anyway, but it was nice to see that you agreed. :)

It won't take long for you to see that I live life a little differently than "mainstream" as you see the kinds of things I read and study.

(If these posts are confusing to you, what you need to do is click on the highlighted words and they will take you to the article that I am referencing.)

1)  Thoughts on Sunscreen: Part 1 and Part 2   by Keeper of the Home
During the summertime (and beyond) everyone FREAKS out at me that I don't use sunscreen on my children or myself.  Seriously folks--read these and re-think your slathering habits.

2)  Why skim milk will make you fat and cause heart disease by The Healthy Home Economist
I grew up the daughter of a dairy farmer and became the wife of a dairy farmer yet I never knew all of this stuff either.  The real deal is THE REAL DEAL, people.  Find a local source for your milk.

3)  Raw Milk--Healthful or Harmful by Healthy Families for God
This is why I am so happy to have a VERY local source for raw milk--as in 25 yards from my house--our own tank!

4)  Five Fats You MUST Have in Your Kitchen by The Healthy Home Economist
I've always enjoyed me a lil' butter, but had bought into the lie that it was un-healthy so had always felt a tad guilty about it.  No longer!  I am learning so much about food--REAL food and we are getting healthier for it!

5)  Turn that A/C Off:  Clever Ways to Keep Your Sanity When It's Sweltering.  by Crunchy Betty
I know it's hot outside (and INside, too) but here's something to think about...

Let me know your thoughts!

Wordless Wednesday