Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Spring
I am so ready for summer and warm weather. While I can appreciate the beauty of winter in the mountains and I'm grateful for the water it provides...I miss my flip flops.
Monday, January 28, 2013
So Quick
Who would have thought that after my last blog post I would so quickly be holding the hand of a family member during their last moments here on earth?
Last week Scott's mother became very ill and very quickly she went from living a full life to being in ICU on a breathing machine.
As a family we drove back to Pennsylvania to be with her. By the time we arrived she was already on the ventilator so we couldn't talk but she was still awake enough to recognize us, wink, squeeze a hand and a tear or two.
So quickly life changes. I am overwhelmed with emotion, but mostly I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for family. For good friends. For love. For my Heavenly Father. For the atonement. I am grateful to my mother in law for her son Scott. I am grateful that we were able to make this trip and spend such precious time with her. I am grateful my children got to see "Mom-Mom" one last time. I am grateful for your friendship Betty and I am grateful that some day I'll see you again. Until then "toodle-loo".
Last week Scott's mother became very ill and very quickly she went from living a full life to being in ICU on a breathing machine.
As a family we drove back to Pennsylvania to be with her. By the time we arrived she was already on the ventilator so we couldn't talk but she was still awake enough to recognize us, wink, squeeze a hand and a tear or two.
So quickly life changes. I am overwhelmed with emotion, but mostly I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for family. For good friends. For love. For my Heavenly Father. For the atonement. I am grateful to my mother in law for her son Scott. I am grateful that we were able to make this trip and spend such precious time with her. I am grateful my children got to see "Mom-Mom" one last time. I am grateful for your friendship Betty and I am grateful that some day I'll see you again. Until then "toodle-loo".
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
My Parents
Today is a special day for me. It is the anniversary of my parents death. 10 years ago today I held my father's hand as he passed from this mortal life. 20 years ago today I held my mother's hand as she crossed through the veil to Heaven. In two days it will be 18 years since I held my grandfather's hand as he too passed.
The Christmas season is a natural time to think of our loved ones, both those living and those who have moved on, but particularly those who we no longer have daily or regular interaction with and whom we miss. It is an especially significant, meaningful and powerful time for me because I have such special and sacred memories of being with my loved ones during their final time here on the earth.
What greater blessing could I have asked for than to loving hold the hands of my parents (and grandfather) as they left this life when I know that they were there, loving holding my hands, as I came into this life. The veil between heaven and earth is so thin at both birth and death. There is a sacredness and a touch of the divine. An overwhelming sense of love and yes, tears on both occasions.
I still miss them. That never goes away. It gets easier...and worse. One day you realize you can't really remember the sound of their voice, but you can still remember clearly the color of their eyes, or their smile, their hands. You "see" them in the face, laugh or mannerism of a random stranger and you know they are still with you. They visit you in a dream. You find the perfect gift for them while Christmas shopping and you tell them "This is what I would buy you!"
They have missed some significant milestones in my life. They all saw me get married, but my grandfather and my mother never got to hold or meet my children. My dad did. He held every one of them. And although they may have little or no memory of him I have memories of them together, and that will do.
So, yes, today is a special day for me. While I still grieve and miss them, while today is also a hard day for me, I still have gratitude. Gratitude for the time I did have with them. Gratitude for my memories of them. Gratitude for the gifts they have given to me and for contributing to the person that I am today. Gratitude that I was blessed and able to be with them when they died. Those were hard days, but also blessed and sacred beyond measure. It was their final Christmas gift to me, and I will treasure it always!
The Christmas season is a natural time to think of our loved ones, both those living and those who have moved on, but particularly those who we no longer have daily or regular interaction with and whom we miss. It is an especially significant, meaningful and powerful time for me because I have such special and sacred memories of being with my loved ones during their final time here on the earth.
What greater blessing could I have asked for than to loving hold the hands of my parents (and grandfather) as they left this life when I know that they were there, loving holding my hands, as I came into this life. The veil between heaven and earth is so thin at both birth and death. There is a sacredness and a touch of the divine. An overwhelming sense of love and yes, tears on both occasions.
I still miss them. That never goes away. It gets easier...and worse. One day you realize you can't really remember the sound of their voice, but you can still remember clearly the color of their eyes, or their smile, their hands. You "see" them in the face, laugh or mannerism of a random stranger and you know they are still with you. They visit you in a dream. You find the perfect gift for them while Christmas shopping and you tell them "This is what I would buy you!"
They have missed some significant milestones in my life. They all saw me get married, but my grandfather and my mother never got to hold or meet my children. My dad did. He held every one of them. And although they may have little or no memory of him I have memories of them together, and that will do.
So, yes, today is a special day for me. While I still grieve and miss them, while today is also a hard day for me, I still have gratitude. Gratitude for the time I did have with them. Gratitude for my memories of them. Gratitude for the gifts they have given to me and for contributing to the person that I am today. Gratitude that I was blessed and able to be with them when they died. Those were hard days, but also blessed and sacred beyond measure. It was their final Christmas gift to me, and I will treasure it always!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
This is Halloween
This is one of my favorite things about this time of year. I love my kids and I'm so grateful for their joy. 
Friday, October 26, 2012
Bitter-sweet
Today while unpacking some boxes I find myself a little melancholy. I'm unpacking my "treasures" from Florida and I miss home so much that it's a little bitter-sweet.
Today I'm grateful for all the wonderful memories that I have from the last 8 years in Florida. Life is an adventure!
Today I'm grateful for all the wonderful memories that I have from the last 8 years in Florida. Life is an adventure!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Taylor Creek Salmon Run
Took the kids today to South Lake Tahoe. It was a beautiful day. Low 70's, the leaves are changing and the salmon are spawning.
I am grateful for the beauty of nature.
I am grateful for the beauty of nature.
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| Sage & Carson on an overturned tree |
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| My "babies" |
We decided this looked like a Hobbit Trail
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| Can you see the animal paths? |
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| Salmon |
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| Duck eating Salmon eggs |
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| Spawning grounds |
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| Walk back to the car....just beautiful |
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Panama
This week Scott is getting a chance to visit with an old friend in Panama. David Lee is singing in my head & Matthew McConaughey's character from Sahara is saying "We got to do a Panama!"
I'm grateful for friends...new & old. I'm grateful that Scott has this chance to renew an old friendship.
I'm grateful for friends...new & old. I'm grateful that Scott has this chance to renew an old friendship.
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