A lot of emotions

Today was unexpectedly full of emotions.  This evening, I've been going through the bags of things my sister had me bring to my house from Grandma's place.  Of course there are tons of pictures and cards and other memories, but there were two bags that really got me.  One was all the cards she received when my grandfather passed away in 2004.  The other was from my Dad's passing.  There were so many cards and notes she received, and the ones that knew my dad personally wrote about what a fighter he was.  And she had all the articles and tributes that had been written in about him as well.  Because Dad is gone, my sister and I are so much more involved in this, and we've lost a link to my dad as well.  It was unexpected.

Other emotions are because of a murder trial that is happening in my hometown.  It's really so, so awful, and although I don't know the people, my mother knows some of the family, and it's just a really awful situation.

And I'm a little emotional about missing my husband.  We've had so very little time together in the last three weeks.  He's been incredible and I don't know how he is continuing to put in such long days at school.  I'm so very, very grateful for him. 

In ten days, we are headed to IL for a weekend with our friends.  I'm so looking forward to so much laughter that is sure to happen!

And today is the first day of fall, and it feels like it!  It was chilly and I needed a jacket.  A candle is lit, and if I can ever get things put away I'll even decorate for fall.  So ready for this season!

I need a rest from my weekend

I got off work Friday at 3:51, and as far as I was concerned 3:52 was the best moment of the entire week.  We were going to get to sleep in Saturday morning, and I was really looking forward to a little bit of relaxing.  And we did...a little bit.  Friday was the high school Homecoming football game, but I stayed home and worked on organizing photos.  I woke up earlier yesterday than I had wanted to, but it was a good night of sleep.  I worked photos again throughout the day, and last night was our every-other-month-planned-dinner with very, very dear friends.  We had agreed that we would pick up my best friend, Steph, because her husband had to work.  One by one, literally everyone else backed out, and it ended up just being the three of us.  We had the best time!  We ended up being out later than expected, but we had a blast.

Today was a day that was really rough.  I had be on the road early this morning, to my hometown, to help get things out of the assisted living facility.  There was a group coming to take much of the larger furniture, although my sister and I are keeping quite a few things.  My aunt already had retrieved the furniture she wanted.  My sister and I were there for hours, packing, unpacking, sorting, pitching, etc.  We moved some furniture over to my mom's house (don't get me started) and my cousin and her son helped with that.  My sister became emotional on occasion, and all out cried at one point.  I know this is hard on her for so many reasons.  K and I were very, very close to this grandmother, but Grandma was really hard at the end, and I know K wonders if she did enough for her.  I know she did, but my sister is emotional.  We ended our afternoon with a fight, and I truly regret that.  I don't regret that I pushed back when she verbalized some feelings, but I regret that she then kind of had a meltdown, to the point that it would probably be a good idea if she spent some time talking to a professional.  I then had to go over to my mom's, which is always tough, and then I drove to Thomas's house.  They've had a situation develop as well that is challenging, and we thought we might have to drive back up again after I got home.  Instead, we managed to get my car unloaded so that we could drive to the church and reload it with the items collected for our back to school drive.

Andrew made us a lovely dinner, and I was famished.  I'm so grateful for him.  He has something in the evening every day this coming week again.  September is definitely my least favorite month this year!

Ready for sweater weather

I am so ready to decorate for fall, have candles lit, and start wearing sweatshirts and sweaters.  Unfortunately, while tomorrow will be in the 70's with comfortable dew points, there upper 80's and even 90's in the forecast for the week.  So the above all seems unlikely and silly.

After such an incredibly draining day yesterday, I stayed home this morning.  My poor husband had to go to church anyway because of some activities happening for which he was responsible.  I took the dog on a walk and enjoyed the peaceful and quiet nature, reminding me again why I love our location.  I then came home and watched the photo video that was playing at Grandma's visitation, and then I had a good, sobbing, cry.  I hadn't cried at all in the last weeks while watching my Grandmother pass or in planning and going through the services.  In addition, we had Thomas moving into his new house, my mother passing out at the services and me spending the rest of the day at the hospital with her, Lyndi in the emergency room Friday night with a migraine, and my mother receiving word of the passing of a family friend unexpectedly while on vacation.  I. Am. Exhausted.  I also hold it all together and always have, and now that there seems to be nothing to take care of today, I know I will be emotional.

My poor husband, though, he has been through it all with me as well, and he has an incredibly crazy week coming up.  The athletic director is out of town, for the entire week, so Andrew has to handle everything.  Which means our poor sweet pup is going to have much more alone time than she would like.  In an effort to minimize that, I'm not going to get nearly as much done during the week with my jobs, but it will have to be okay.  At the end of the day, it will all be okay.

That was unexpected

Today was the service for my grandmother.  Andrew did the service as he did with my uncle, and he did a fabulous job.  We were blessed with the presence of friends and family, and we couldn't be more grateful for our friends who closed their restaurant so we could be a "private event" this afternoon.  My grandmother looked amazing, and it was just beautiful.

Except for the part where my mom collapsed.  It was about 1/2 way through the visitation, and one minute she was talking to Catherine, and the next minute she was non-responsive and borderline seizing.  We called 9-1-1, and the station is only a block away from the funeral home.  Everyone jumped into action quickly, and I was confident she'd be fine.  My mom's friend who had just arrived offered to accompany her to the hospital.  After our meal was finished, I went to the hospital and my sister went to the house to stay with the dog.  As I suspected, Mom has a UTI, and it tends to initially present in exactly this way.

It was nearly 8:00 by the time I got home today after getting Mom home from the hospital.  To say that I'm exhausted and drained is an understatement.  Everyone has thoughtfully been checking in and I keep telling Andrew it could have been so, so much worse.  But I am ready to sleep well tonight!

Twenty-five years ago

To be honest, I didn't really want to remember today.  I didn't want to think about the horror of twenty-five years ago.  But I also know for so many, there is no other option.  While our country changed forever that day, there are families who had giant holes from this date.  I've been praying for the victim's and loved ones all day.  It's just so hard to believe an entire quarter century has passed in the blink of an eye.  I pray for our country.

Tomorrow, we bury Grandma.  Ted has written a beautiful little speech to give at the cemetery, although it is supposed to rain.  It will work out.  I am so, so, so grateful for the memories of my grandparents.  Even as a child, I remember being grateful that my parents had me when they were so young which meant I had young grandparents.  How many people get to say they lost their last living grandparent at age 52??  I've been beyond blessed.

My memories of Grandma

My grandma was only 42 when she became a grandmother.  My younger sister and I were the only grandchildren until I was seven and my aunt was married and gained a step-son.  Although we never used the word "step" in our family (and still don't), they lived over an hour away and never had the same bond.  Six years later my aunt & uncle adopted a child who was ten years old.  Again, they still lived away and just never had the same connection, although he does adore my grandmother.

Because my grandparents were so young, they did so many things with us.  They would play badminton on their driveway, or stay up with us on New Year's Eve.  They took us to their summer place in Michigan.  Whatever it was, they delighted in us, and especially so my grandmother.  Grandpa had his grumpy moments, but never Grandma.  The woman had a quiet strength about her.  My sister, mom, and I are all strong women, but not quietly!  Grandma just took care of what needed to be handled, and she never wanted anyone to have to worry about her.  She was an amazing care giver to my grandfather for seven years as he battled Parkinson's, and she also helped to care for my dad and mom at various points of their illnesses.  When her sister and sister-in-law, the last two of her generation besides her, passed away a week apart and people worried about her, Grandma was quick to announce "Pish, posh" and she handled things just fine.  And she was always so pleased with herself when she did something she knew most people her age couldn't.  I remember her strolling in to Robert's baseball game swinging her lawn chair at age 81.  She was so pleased she was there.

And nothing pleased my grandma more than her family.  My sister and I helped decorate their tree every year on the day after Thanksgiving, and it came down on New Year's Eve when we stayed over.  Her great-grandchildren were just as enjoyed, and she loved when she could have my kids anytime, but especially over night.  Catherine commented the other day about how there was ice cream at her house.  I remember we visited one time, and she decided we would stay for a dinner of hot dogs, mac & cheese, fruit, and of course dessert of ice cream or cookies.  Nothing made her happier.

I'll miss Grandma, but honestly, I've been missing her for over two years.  The woman she has been during those two years is not at all the grandmother I knew.  It started five years ago when she moved into Assisted Living, but two years ago was when the decline really changed who she was.  Although, our last visit a couple of weeks ago, she still said that she "didn't require much."  My response to her was that even though she didn't need anything, if there was something she wanted I was happy to get it for her.

I am so grateful that my grandma was such an integral part of my life for so, so many years.  And I'm also so grateful that she has gone on and is with my grandpa and dad, and her brother and sister and so many others.

We will miss you, Grandma

My grandma passed away late this morning.  While there is relief and comfort in knowing she is reunited with so many loved ones and is no longer in any pain or discomfort, there are so many wonderful memories about this amazing woman.  I can only imagine how happy she was to see Grandpa and my dad again.  I am beyond grateful to have been her granddaughter.