We got Mike buried yesterday. The service was so nice. I was surprised how much touched me. It was a whole lot harder than I had ever anticipated, I cried a lot....I think more than Dad. Mike looked more peaceful and and healthy than I had seen him. He was really thin, but not to thin - looked like he did in highschool, just grayer and a few lines on his face. Carl had the hardest job by doing his life history, but did a wonderful job. Paul did the family prayer, Terry did the opening prayer and Kenny did the closing prayers. I was so proud of them. Paul has truely taken over being the leader of those boys. He has taken care of his dad and of business for Mike and the boys through this whole situation. Olivia could call on Paul for help any time and he would be off to help.
We were able to spend time with cousins and aunts and uncles that a lot older than us. It is amazing how age just disappears after you all grow up. Aunt Thelma's age is showing and you can't help but wonder how long she will be with us. We saw cousins we had never met that were there to support us and cousins who didn't recognize me that made me laugh. I heard stories about us kids of when we were little. Friends we grew up with that I had to ask who they were because I wasn't sure who they were. I guess that's what happens when you don't come home more often than 6 years in between.
We drove around the old haunts and checked them out. Mom & Dad's house looked really good and pretty much the same. Ririe hasn't changed much except Brown's grocery is closed and that left no where to go in and check out for Mallownut bars. Marverick stores are still the same with the pink frosted cookies, and doughnuts that are almost as good as Krispy Kreme's.
Joe, Janet, Carl and I, along with our spouses and Barry, Kendi, Renee, Neal and the other kids could sit forever and talk and laugh about everything under the sun. Carl still needs to be right and be the loudest. We all complain that we don't get together enough, but we don't do anything about it. Joe and Janet were sure to get into a tiff to keep things normal and I can roll my eyes with the best of them when Carl is positive he is right.
Kendi and Sharon bonded really fast. They are both Relief Society president's in their wards and could talk about all of that. Joe's kids and Kendi's kids, and Irene all had a ball and found that the new cousins were really fun to be with.
I'll post more once we are finished visiting and I can put thoughts together better. I love my family and and so thankful for our heritage and our posterity.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Life is just a circle
Life is so weird! As my children are aware my oldest brother, Mike, is in a coma and on life support after a coking accident last Sunday. He has been unresponsive since he was admitted to the hospital and put on life support. Mike's youngets son paul keeps me posted while Janet is away and this morning said that the nurse said that Mike had been in cardiac arrest yesterday and that there is also something going on with his pancreas. There will be a family conference tomorrow that all Mike's kids, Olivia, Aunt Thelma, and Mike's bishop will be there (Janet is trying to get home so she can be there). Paul said they will probably turn the life support off tomorrow.
Janet and I have both had melt downs and thank goodness I have been blessed to find the good in every situation. With Mike I can think about his being with Mom and Dad and that he is released from all the worldly troubles that have been his. He will be like his old self when we were growing up and he will be able to do all the things he wants too and help on the other side.
My memories of Mike growing up are few right now. I'm sure if I could sit and look at old movies ad think about it I could come up with a lot of them. I can actually remember his favorite song in high school - Silence is Golden. I remember watching the cartoon "The Flintstones" and Mike pounding on the couch yelling "WILMA", "WILMA" just like Fred does on the cartoon. Janet's is of our first trip to Disneyland and riding the Matterhorn and Mike sitting in the front car saying over and over again "Scrud". His favorite word at that time. I wonder what Carl and Joe's are.
Mike struggled his whole teenage and adult life. He never quite fit in with the kids his age and was a little backward socially. But no one was more willing to help the underdog than Mike. I can remember being in 7th grade and one of the bullying guys Mike's age calling me "LeapFrogs little sister" and me standing up to him and telling him to never call me or Mike that again. Mike always did his best and wanted to do what was right. He loved his boys and Olivia and Irene. He is a good man and we'll miss him.
So now his life circle has moved to the next level - moving to the spiritual level of things. Next he will be busy as can be helping teach the gospel on the other side. I love you Mike and glad you are my big brother.
Janet and I have both had melt downs and thank goodness I have been blessed to find the good in every situation. With Mike I can think about his being with Mom and Dad and that he is released from all the worldly troubles that have been his. He will be like his old self when we were growing up and he will be able to do all the things he wants too and help on the other side.
My memories of Mike growing up are few right now. I'm sure if I could sit and look at old movies ad think about it I could come up with a lot of them. I can actually remember his favorite song in high school - Silence is Golden. I remember watching the cartoon "The Flintstones" and Mike pounding on the couch yelling "WILMA", "WILMA" just like Fred does on the cartoon. Janet's is of our first trip to Disneyland and riding the Matterhorn and Mike sitting in the front car saying over and over again "Scrud". His favorite word at that time. I wonder what Carl and Joe's are.
Mike struggled his whole teenage and adult life. He never quite fit in with the kids his age and was a little backward socially. But no one was more willing to help the underdog than Mike. I can remember being in 7th grade and one of the bullying guys Mike's age calling me "LeapFrogs little sister" and me standing up to him and telling him to never call me or Mike that again. Mike always did his best and wanted to do what was right. He loved his boys and Olivia and Irene. He is a good man and we'll miss him.
So now his life circle has moved to the next level - moving to the spiritual level of things. Next he will be busy as can be helping teach the gospel on the other side. I love you Mike and glad you are my big brother.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Life is always interesting.
If you have looked at my last entry on Facebook, you know that we had a fire in our church building. It was kinda frightening to wonder what was really happening. It felt like hours before the fire department came to check things out. Thank goodness it was only a burned out motor in the air/heat system, because had the building been in flames they wouln't have been able to contain it and save the building. I was awfully thankful that it occured on a Saturday not a Sunday. But when Alan got home today he said that the alarm went off again this morning before he left. I wondered in the other ward was in Sacrament meeting, but he said they had gone to Sunday School and Primary. All I could visualize was a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds freaking out. I'm sure tomorrow they will get the serviceman out there and get it fixed.
Alan made it home safely from the Grand Canyon and said that they had a good trip even if they did get rained on. He only had 2 boys go and both boys bore their testimonies and spoke about what they felt while going down and then out. Alan is always so good about ensuring they learn a gospel principal no matter the activity.
Rachel and her family are here for a few days. She is going to go and help Megan when she has her proceedure done this week. I know Megan appreciates the help and I am so unhappy that I can't take the time. I tried to and tired to get my teeth done, but my boss put the kibosh on that since we are acquiring 2 companies this week and are preparing for that. I sure wish I could retire and just play and help my kids.
I was able to get tooth fixed that was broken and had some decay under the old filling. I had to really do some hopping around at work to get it done, but at least I got it done. This time I got quite a few canker sores. I always get a couple, but they go away. This time one of them was really bad and was getting bigger. So I had to find time at the end of the day so Mike Dick could put some stuff on it so it would get better.
The ward has now called 3 young women to help with the music in church. One is the new ward chorister and the other 2 will begin learning to play in church. I'd like to get them using the organ so that they are not afraid of it. I'm really proud of these girls and their willingness to serve. I know I have the responsibility to teach them and that can be daunting and take some time, but I know this is needed so that they can fulfill the responsilbilities they are given now and in the future.
This will be my golden birthday - you know the one that matches the year you were born. I had to laugh when I got senior tickets for the movies. I know Dad looks senior age with his graying hair, but come on I dye my hair so I don't look it. Not really - I told the girl that I was just a couple of weeks from 55 so she gave me the discount too. I was on Facebook and chatting with one of the girls I grew up with. She was so funny in worrying about not being a better friend and doing more. For me, it was just good memories of being a kid and how much fun we had. We weren't prefect and we all had our challenges, but that was years ago and I much prefer my memories of fun over the memories of hurt feelings.
We have had true monsoon this last week. It started on Thursday afternoon with a big storm that really put down the rain. It would clear up for a little while and then rain again. Now I would be ok with that except that the humidity level has also gone through the ceiling. It is really hard to feel comfortable even with the air going. Yesterday just going from my car into the church drenched me. I even had my umbrella. Then when we were waiting for the firemen my glasses kept fogging up. BUT September is just around the corner and the wonderful weather will return.
Take care family - I love you all
Alan made it home safely from the Grand Canyon and said that they had a good trip even if they did get rained on. He only had 2 boys go and both boys bore their testimonies and spoke about what they felt while going down and then out. Alan is always so good about ensuring they learn a gospel principal no matter the activity.
Rachel and her family are here for a few days. She is going to go and help Megan when she has her proceedure done this week. I know Megan appreciates the help and I am so unhappy that I can't take the time. I tried to and tired to get my teeth done, but my boss put the kibosh on that since we are acquiring 2 companies this week and are preparing for that. I sure wish I could retire and just play and help my kids.
I was able to get tooth fixed that was broken and had some decay under the old filling. I had to really do some hopping around at work to get it done, but at least I got it done. This time I got quite a few canker sores. I always get a couple, but they go away. This time one of them was really bad and was getting bigger. So I had to find time at the end of the day so Mike Dick could put some stuff on it so it would get better.
The ward has now called 3 young women to help with the music in church. One is the new ward chorister and the other 2 will begin learning to play in church. I'd like to get them using the organ so that they are not afraid of it. I'm really proud of these girls and their willingness to serve. I know I have the responsibility to teach them and that can be daunting and take some time, but I know this is needed so that they can fulfill the responsilbilities they are given now and in the future.
This will be my golden birthday - you know the one that matches the year you were born. I had to laugh when I got senior tickets for the movies. I know Dad looks senior age with his graying hair, but come on I dye my hair so I don't look it. Not really - I told the girl that I was just a couple of weeks from 55 so she gave me the discount too. I was on Facebook and chatting with one of the girls I grew up with. She was so funny in worrying about not being a better friend and doing more. For me, it was just good memories of being a kid and how much fun we had. We weren't prefect and we all had our challenges, but that was years ago and I much prefer my memories of fun over the memories of hurt feelings.
We have had true monsoon this last week. It started on Thursday afternoon with a big storm that really put down the rain. It would clear up for a little while and then rain again. Now I would be ok with that except that the humidity level has also gone through the ceiling. It is really hard to feel comfortable even with the air going. Yesterday just going from my car into the church drenched me. I even had my umbrella. Then when we were waiting for the firemen my glasses kept fogging up. BUT September is just around the corner and the wonderful weather will return.
Take care family - I love you all
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