Sunday, September 25, 2011

His Sweatshirt.... My friends!

Island Park is about one hour from my home.  It is a beautiful get-away!  I joined a group of friends at a cabin there for a Friday night into Saturday. We enjoyed wonderful associations that we rarely get a chance to have.  I know that even though I am still feeling fragile at times, I try to make myself continue to do things that I normally would have done if Alain were here, to help either maintain or find myself again. Part of death and separation is finding out who the part of you is that is still left without them. I know in time it will be much easier...but I am living NOW.

I thought it might get a little cold, so I pulled out one of Alain's favorite sweatshirts. We saw him wearing it often during the past 15 years.  It is a sweatshirt from Lennex... a sheriff's station in the Los Angeles Sherriff's Department. Alain worked in this area of south central LA before we met. Wearing it brought back all kinds of good memories.

That's the part that has made this journey hard... memories.  I want to still talk about him.  I want other people to still talk about him.  Bring up memories they have or remember.  I know death is awkward and so many people feel like they don't know what to say, but saying nothing is almost worse than thinking you may say the wrong thing.  I've discovered that there can be many ways to "mourn with those who mourn."  A hug, a hello, a note in the mail, a phone call, asking, "How are you?", and the biggest one... "Is there anything I can do?"  Chances are the person will say that there isn't anything, but the blessing to both will be in the asking?





This is a picture I took right after a thunderstorm that Saturday.
Although I am a beginner, this picture is my new favorite!










He that is thy friend indeed,
he will help thee in thy need;
if thou sorrow, he will weep,
if you wake, he cannot sleep;
thus in every grief in heart,
he with thee doth bear a part.

Thank you my friends!
You touch my life for good!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Eight is Great!


Two of my grandchildren were recently baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Joshua turned eight in July, (son of Brandon & Amanda),
and Ellie turned eight in September, (daughter of John & Angela)
Great-grandparents, grandparents, moms & dads...
aunts, uncles,& friends
all gathered to celebrate their decision to be baptized.

I am so proud of their decision to take upon themselves Christ's name
and stand as witnesses of his goodness in their lives.

 My precious grandchildren certainly
"touch my life for good!"








Thursday, September 15, 2011

Hugs for the Heart!


First of all.... I miss Alain!
Seven months have flown/crawled by!
Each day is bitter/sweet.
Bitter, because I want him back, I need him, this wasn't supposed to be!
Sweet, because I know what we had! I know where he is!  I know we'll be together again!


Not many marriages I know of 
have what we had.
Talking, sharing, encouraging,
more talking, more sharing, and more encouraging!


Our daughters still tell me they cry for him...
the grand-kids still talk about so many fun times with him...
I am still meeting so many people that share with me
what a great person he was. 
AND HE WAS!


I appreciate so much when people acknowledge
what has happened...
what I still must be going through.


I have recently been the recipient
of a plethora of different
evidences of Heavenly Father's sure love for me.

Family... spent time with grandchildren for two baptisms recently!
Friends... (and their friends)... showing up to do yard work with me!
Notes... in the mail...
Emails... on the computer...
Treats... delivered to my door...
Phone calls (daily)...to check on me...
friends stopping by..., & girlfriends visiting for the weekend!


Each of these gestures are like 
a nice warm hug to my heart and spirit!
Thank you my eternal family& friends!
I absolutely know I could not do this without you!
I remain humbled and in awe for my many blessings!


Monday, September 5, 2011

Expiration date on grieving...

 
 
In grieving
one has no control over
what the mind needs to deal with
and what the heart needs to heal.
In the past several months
I have come to learn that grief
has a time table 
of its very own.
I am sometimes very weak
in the battle of faith,
but sometimes...
I am very strong.
A strange new way to live.
 But I'm trying...
 
Is there a shelf life
or expiration date on mouring
the loss of a loved one?
I don't believe there is.
 

Saturday, August 27, 2011

More journeys...

Today another journey alone.
Family Reunion!
I was surrounded by so many loved ones
Hugs, smiles & concern...
But once again... a special event
without my sweetheart.

I've been told time and time again...
The first year...
with all the firsts 
will be the hardest.



I took this picture on my way up the road to the cemetery.
(Through the windshield splattered in bugs!)

It is so peaceful there
and I visited with mixed emotions.
Again I say to myself,
"Why did he have to be so wonderful?"
Thankfully I know where he is and in the blink of an eye
(unless I live to be 97 1/2 of course...)
we'll be together again!



These are my two uncles and two aunts who I love and adore.
We go way back of course!
They are my mothers brothers and sisters.
I'm so proud of my heritage
and wish we all could have been there today!
Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Lucile looked down with pride today!



The Rogers Family always knew how to put on a feast.
Today was no exception.
(I did miss my mother's pies!)



This reunion was held in a little sleepy town called Bloomington, Idaho!
I think it is the best kept secret ...
an ideal place
for raising a family,
breathing fresh air
and feeling the wide open spaces.


These horses and barn say "Hello... welcome to the past!"
1918 to be exact!





What in the world would I do without my big sis!
When we had to choose a sister, I know a lot of people
were standing in her line...
...and I won!

Families Are Forever!


Friday, August 26, 2011

...on a brighter note!




  More summer photo's I love....



Little Noema...    creative "Corn on the Cob" eating!



One of many group lunches... eat and then hose them off!


My grandsons wanted to make scarey spiders to scare the girls when they arrived.  I threw "caution to the wind" and let them hide these "frightening creatures" all over the house.






Getting ready to make frozen Raspberry Jam. ( Carter ready to give Nana a "pucker kiss!")


My sweet daughter- in-law Amanda and my four precious (silly, loud, energetic, adorable) grandchildren! We made a quick trip to Mesa Falls.  It was simply gorgeous! Wish their daddy could have been with us!






These kids had a chance to go to the world famous "Rexburg Rapids"... but just wanted to hang with a $12 slip and slid in the backyard.  (and a big black garbage bag extended it even further...)




Isaiah thought there were too many "bees" and so he went and found a pair of Papa's gloves to pick his raspberries. 


Joshua's 8th Birthday! 
Eight is great and so is our sweet Joshua.



The next day it was Carter's birthday.  Number Uno! 
Yum.... strawberry shortcake for all!



Huge ice cream cones... after stuffing themselves at Big Jud's!
(Seriously... Big Jud's has the best french fries in the WORLD!)


Aunt Amanda and nephew Carter on his birthday!





Father and son...   Aaron and Carter the boy!


Feeding  the ducks at the Rexburg Nature Park!


Feeding the trout at Warm River!

I have the best family in the world.  We have made some awesome memories.  I appreciated all of the help I received from each family that visited this summer.  Alain would be so very proud of the way they have all stepped up to help me.  We miss Alain and Papa, and want to carry on our traditions and never forget what a wonderful, supportive, helpful, kind, caring person he was, who would drop anything to help you out in any way he could. We are all better people just for knowing and loving him!  


Sunday, August 21, 2011

Uninvited Guest

(where today finds me...)


Uninvited Guest

In the middle of much grief,
an uninvited guest appears,
unannounced, unwanted and unappreciated.
(In every sense of the word)
This guest goes straight to the
heart and mind,
giving unrelenting and unsolicited advice.
No matter how much pushing or pleading
or trying to ignore...
he stays
until he has delivered
increased doubt and fear and pain.
Leaving behind so much
collateral damage.

Spiritual bulldozers are called in daily
working to pick up and clear away
debris of shattered dreams,
pieces of my broken heart,
and mounds of misguided thoughts
delivered so freely by this
uninvited guest.

Part of mortality.
Part of being human.
Part of the plan.