Never Forget!

Kindness Jar!

"Great things are wrought through simple and small things.
Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure,
our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love
for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

This is the jar that I keep little notes that I've written down
all of the kind service that has been given me
since Alain passed away.

I really don't know what I would have done without
all the help I've been given.
Most of my fear has come in the form of
feeling so lost without his constant
upkeep of our home, yard, cars, etc.

I know now...
and I am so grateful
that I am being watched over


and...
I never... ever... want to forget
the kindness of others!

Road Trip for a day!

I was lucky enough to talk some friends,
(who were able),
to go on a day trip to Thayne & Afton Wyoming!
We drove to my sister's ranch in
Thayne,
had a tour of her beautiful home and surroundings...
posed for a few pictures
(which none of us will really like the way we look),
and next headed to lunch
at the greatest seafood restaurant ever...
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SEAFOOD!

I promise it is the best!



Here we are in my sister's front yard.
(Aren't the surroundings breathtaking?)

Sheri, Shauna, Deby, me, Marilyn & Konda!

They have the coolest little stream that runs
in front of the house...

Yes... Afton, Wyoming!
Alain's Great-great grandfather is the person who
gave it the name Afton.

After we ate lunch,
we drove back to the ranch and
went for a hike/jeep ride to the top
of the mountain.
It had the most gorgeous view
overlooking the valley below.
Tam fixed us a yummy frozen drink and we drank it
out on her lovely wrap around porch!
Then sad to leave,
we headed back to our homes.

Thanks to my wonderful friends and sister for more fun
than I deserve!

Touched by three angels....

Again...

so grateful for my precious grandchildren.
These are special little angels...
Emma... Paige... & Ellie

Oh how their "Papa" loved and cherished them!
How do I know?

Last summer when they were here visiting,
he made them
KEEP SECRETS!

Over and over they kept telling me,
"Nana... you can't come into the shop...
we're helping Papa make something for YOU!

Hour upon hour, his little girls
stayed by his side,
not even wanting to stop and eat...
(just like Alain),
so they could be his helpers.

When he died
and Angela told her little girls
about the accident,
of course there was disbelief and sobs,
but through her tears Ellie said,
"But we had so many projects to finish!"

More beautiful benches, birdhouses and doll houses
will have to wait for now.

Papa would want you to now build
other important things...
Build your testimony... just like his.
Build good friendships... just like he did.
Build memories with your family.... just like he did.
Build your own beautiful self by
serving
anyone you can...
any time you can...

JUST LIKE HE DID!

Above is Emma.
Her mother said to her,
"Emma, I am so happy
Heavenly Father sent you to me!"
Emma look at her for a few seconds and said...,
"your welcome!"


The picture below is is the
SECRET SURPRISE
that was made for me
by Alain and his granddaughters last summer.
He finished painting it in the fall,
then it was put away with the rest of the summer furniture.
We didn't even get to sit on it together.
That was going to happen this summer.

Remember to...
never put off love,
or spending time,
or saying words of appreciation and admiration

to those you care about.
This summer together
did not happen,
and although I would wish for nothing more than that...
I do have this adorable evidence of his gift!
I will sit on the bench without him and happily remember...
his thoughtfulness and love for me!

Insert...Joy! Carter Wayne

Thank heaven
for the joy of family!
This is my youngest grandson,
and I've never seen a happier little guy.

His smile melts my heart!
I want to kiss his cheeks off!

I love you little Carter Wayne!
Thanks for making your Nana feel such joy!

Fresh Courage Take....

My journey seems to be filled with
highs and lows.
Of course I wish for more highs,
but part of grieving must be allowing the lows to be felt.
Yesterday and today I am feeling so lost without Alain.
I just can hardly believe I've got to go on without
his love, support and smile.

I gave the framed picture of
"Fresh Courage Take"
to one of my very good friends
when she was going through a very difficult time in her life.
After Alain died...
she gave it back!

Today I am looking for "Fresh Courage!"
Just when I feel like I am going to be OK,
a wave comes and knocks me down.
I don't try to fight it for very long...
...just feel what you feel I tell myself.

"Life's journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of
obstacles,
pitfalls,
and snares.
Rather, it is a pathway marked by
forks and turnings.
Decisions are constantly before us."

"The call for COURAGE comes constantly
to each of us.
It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be."
Thomas S. Monson

I am grateful and thankful for the confidence of
family & friends
that tell me that I can indeed do this...
...and do it well!
But... continued
prayers for courage would be most appreciated!

Touched by a note....

Thursday I went to my class at the "college."

Last Tuesday's class felt like a disaster to me.
We were discussing topics such as divorce and eternal marriage.
I felt I should share about my divorce,
but entirely didn't want too.
First of all, too many tears were on the surface leftover
from the day before.

I just felt so strongly that I should.... so I did!
I apologized for being so emotional and then just blurted it all out.
Afterwards I thought, "Why did I just do that?"

My teacher made me feel a little better after class
and told me to share whatever I could
of my life experiences to these students.
I told him he could just stand me in the corner
as a poster child
of life disaster.
He was very kind.

After the next class,
and as I was leaving,
my teacher slipped a note into my hand,
and simply said to me, "From one of the students...."
I came home and read it and cried, (shocker)
that what I said had made a difference
to at least
one person.

I'm posting this not for the words she wrote,
but for the fact that she took time to write it.
I simply cannot get over
how blessed and compensated I have been
through my Heavenly Father's tender mercies.

Today I was touched by a note.....

to be continued.....

"Bestest" Sister in the World Award!

Meet my sister..... my only sister....
sometimes we call each other and say, "Seester-Seester!"
I don't know why!
We just know we need to talk!

My sister Tam was 9 years old when I was born.
We honestly don't remember too much about
me as a little kid!
When I was old enough to notice,
I remember I thought she was beautiful.... stunning....
and had the most handsome boyfriend who
teased me incessantly !

When she was 17 years old and I was eight,
our dad was killed in a small plane crash.
She was supposed to be in the plane that day as a stewardess.
I can't tell you how grateful I am
that
she was not.





We have been so very close all of our lives.
We have never been in any kind of "katuffle" or had serious hurt feelings.
No matter where we have lived,
we have written, emailed or talked, leaving right where we left off.

For the past six years,
we have lived only 1 hour and 45 minutes away from each other.
What a huge blessing for both of us!
She was able to come over often
when our mother lived here with Alain and I.
She has been such a strength and support to me since Alain's death.
I can call any time and cry my eyes out and she will listen and love me.
Two of our often repeated phrases are....

1. It is what it is!
2. Tomorrow is a new day!


We also can be a little "silly!"

This is her husband Neil. They have always been there for me.
When my kids dad left us in 1994,
they gave me money for an attorney.
When I tried to pay them back,
Neil said, "Keep it to buy a washer and dryer."

Recently they offered to pay for the headstone for Alain.
Thank you is not a
big enough word!

My sister has two boys and two girls.
I have grown to love and appreciate my sweet
nieces and nephews through the years.
They are precious to me!


The family IS central to the
"Creators" plan for the eternal destiny of "His" children.
Proclamation to the Family to the World 1995

We should be so very grateful.

So grateful I know that "Families are Eternal"
I know that I can live with my sweetheart,
our children and their children
and continue to progress
and build a family
that can last through all eternity.
It's not a wish.... I know!