First of all THANK YOU all for the love and support I was given this past week! From the Cards, phone calls, care packages and someone filling my car up with gas!!! I truly was touched! I had spent an hour trying to write down what took place during my emotionally filled week but my words seemed so inadequate and unworthy to even describe what took place last weekend!
Here are the key points that I will forever remember:
1. My Grandma: never have I looked at my Grandma how I looked at her this weekend. I had always believe my Mom had gotten her strong nature from my Grandpa, but I now know it was my Grandma who taught her to be so tough! My Grandma was a Rock, but yet so vulnerable. My Grandma is a quieter lady, that keeps things to herself! I was so grateful at the viewing I was able to sit by her and just listen, listen to her vent about her worries! It was a moment I will never for get!
2. Gracie: for knowing so little, she knows so much! Those he cried she cared for, and she truly ached for them! She was aware what was around her, but confused at what was going on: People were talking at the viewing and Gracie told them to be quiet because Grandpa was sleeping. She at one time during the fewing asked if he had a bald hair cut!! I am so unworthy to have this little girl.
3. Easton: How could I put one child and not the other. No words were spoken, but many kisses and hugs were given! I love my little bubs!
4. My family: I love my family so much, even though events were sad to bring us all together I was so grateful to get to see all my brothers and sisters! {minus chanse, he was there in spirit!} I have the most amazing family, in laws included! My family is the most unique family in so many ways but one thing I am grateful for is we all support each other. There is no fighting and none of the crazy drama you hear of! I wish one day we could all live closer! I felt so empty when we all left!
5. My mom: This is the first time I have seen my mom not have her emotions under control. She was so close to my Grandpa. The hardest part of this weekend was seeing my mom and other family members suffering!
6. I had the opportunity to cut my Grandpas hair {or what hair he had!} My Grandma was hesitant to ask me but I was grateful she did! My mom came in with me, it was such a sweet time I got to spend alone with my Grandpa even though it was for just a moment!
7. We went to an horse auction my Grandpa had lined up before he had died! One of my best friends dad was the auctioneer and did an amazing tribute honoring my grandpa, while one of my grandpas hired hands brought his horse in!
8. This is the only funeral I'd been to where you laughed for the majority of it! I wish everyone had the opportunity to meet my Grandpa, he was the funniest person I know! If you met him for a minute, it turned into an incredible adventure! While my mom and aunt were putting together his life sketch one of my Grandpas friends walked in and said if someone were to read this they would think someone had made all this up! My dad was one of the speakers, every time I hear him speak I get chills, He was the last speaking, bringing the spirit so strongly into the room it almost felt tangible! All the Grandkids were asked to sing at the funeral, from the beginning I didn't think was the smartest idea...Thank You to my sister in law Diana, she was the only one composed enough to finish singing the song!
{my sister talks about this picture on her blog! No body loved my Grandpa more than my brother Jeff. So Heartbreaking!}
9. My cousins and I went over to the farm after the funeral to get pictures on my Grandpas Hay Bails. My cousins Kayli and Jill are two of my best friends. We grew up just like sisters, and to this day we are closer then ever! We loved to go play at the farm, one of our favorite things to do was climb to the top of the stacked hay and play up there!
10. Branching off with my family, I want to talk about my sisters! I would love to be half as amazing as ALL my sisters are. My sister Brittney is so tender hearted. I don't think I saw her stop crying the whole weekend...due to worry for those around her! My sister Kimri is the toughest of us all, she takes charge and gets things done, I try so hard to do half of what she does but it is impossible! My sister {in law} Dianna, she was such a trooper and there for my brother! She would be a mans dream wife! She puts my brother first, and made sure this weekend was about him, and not what she wanted: even if it meant she missed out on something she would like to do! Angela {in law} even though she wasn't able to make it I know how hard it was for her to see Travis leave again! His work takes him all over the place and the moments they have together are so few! I was so Grateful for her to be so willing to let Travis come be with his family during this time!
11. Lastly I can not can not say enough about Matt. How did I ever find someone like him? I can not even begin to describe how grateful I am to have him in my life! {I am crying just thinking about it!} He was purely amazing this week doing whatever he could to help me out. But this goes far past this week! He is always doing to thing to make our marriage even better! I love him so much! During the funeral it was mentioned many times how much my Grandpa cared for my Grandma, and how much he respected and loved her! I know with out doubt that Matt fills that for me, How wonderful that feels!
I feel so detached right now after sitting at my computer now for 2 hours and it is now 1'oclock in the morning! There are so many more memories, these were the few that really touched me this weekend! I leave with pictures that describe my weekend!
{My cute niece Alex before!}
{And after...she donated her hair to locks of love!}
{Jeff and Addy on my Grandpas horse at the auction!}
{This picture is priceless...I hope my kids remember moments like this!}
{I don't know why Bubs is in the saucer....but hey what the heck is Jay doing??}
"Life is not a journey to the gravewith the intention of arriving in a well preserved body
. . .but rather to skid in broadside,
used up,
worn out and
loudly proclaiming,
"Wow, what a ride!"
We got our family pictures a few weeks ago!! Heather did such an amazing job, I love how all of them turned out! The only downer: Easton's attention last for about 2 seconds! On the flip side Gracie was our little model and loved all the camera time she was getting! I could not be happier! Thank you Heather! {I recommend her to all of you!!!!!}
