Saying Goodbye/Celebrating Mom

Ryan called me late Saturday night to say Mom had gone to see Jesus, so the girls and I headed out to go be with our dear hurting family the next morning. The 5 hour road trip was something I dreaded, but the girls, the puppy and the kitten(yes a baby kitten!!) were wonderful. We tumbled into the arms of Ryan at the end of it and were so glad to be with him again.

 We spent lots of time as a family remembering Mom, and the tears were many, but the peace of knowing she was with our Saviour ruled our hearts even in the sad moments. Monday morning was Ryan and my anniversary. 13 years!!! It was spent much differently then most of our past ones have been. We took the girls to the park and fed the ducks and goldfish donuts..it seems they like Mrs. Dunsters donuts as much as we do!!  Who knew??

 Little Elle ran upstairs at our house after I told them about Grammie going to heaven the night before, and came downstairs with a bandana on her head. Mom had been wearing them after she started her chemo and so she was known and loved for her many ,bright head coverings. Elle has never worn them before ,but didn't take that one off day or night for a week after. She didn't mention anything about it,but when Ryan casually asked her if she was wearing one to remember Grammie, she shyly said"Yes,, is that o.k. Daddy?" Dear little heart. It was her silent tribute to her much loved Grammie.

 Bear had an exercise in self control at the sight of all those running, flapping, swimming ducks.

  Little Elin has a bit too much of her Mama in her.. She thought it would be great fun to catch a duck to pet!!

   It didn't work out too well for her and I had my hands wrapped around a warm cup of cappuccino, so didn't feel very inclined to lend a hand. She had fun though!!

 I am so blessed to have this man as my husband for so many wonderful years through the easy and the hard.  It was fun to reminisce with him for the occasion .To think of the kids we were back when we said "I do" and having very little idea of what it meant,then to flash forward to our 4 little girls running around chasing ducks and squealing over goldfish. God has blessed us beyond "what we could ask or think" and we are so grateful.

 After we fed the various wildlife( and one drooling not so wild life!!), we took to the trails. Ryan blew us away with his handy athletic skills  :)

                This one really got the giggles out of the girls!!

 Then Elin had to try her hands at it. It was a happy time in a sad day, but that is how the week went. The happy, good times and memories interspersed with the sad tears . The feeling of loss and missing Mom so bad was unlike anything we had experienced as a family and it hurt. Just being together and sharing our stories, memories and thoughts of who Mom was to each of us made everything feel so much better.

  We said goodbye to Mom in a beautiful service through which God's love and goodness was clearly spoken. The girls sang "What a Day That Will Be" with their cousin Sami, and Ryan, his brother and sister all spoke of their love for Mom. She was an amazing lady, so deep in her love for Jesus for life,  and us as her family. She taught me so much and I'm so grateful that God gave me such a wonderful lady to be my second mom and super Grammie to my girls.

  Dear Elle wore her bandana to the funeral too. We didn't say anything to her about it. We just let her pay her tribute to her Grammie in her own little 7 year old way.

 Back at Mom and Dad's beautiful home, we stayed together for another day. Elle and I got to look after the twinnies , feed those adorable boys, and....

   Put them to sleep!!!

                            This little turkey kept popping his little eyes open as soon as I set him down, so I propped him up in the corner of Grampie's chair,  he thought he was still being held and slept on!!

 Little cherubs.. Man I miss baby days at times like this!!

            We did one last thing to celebrate Mom before we went to our own homes again. We went for a hotdog roast at her beloved shore. Whenever we were all together Grammie would always suggest a cook out at the shore and we would bundle up and have a great,delicious, smoky meal together. Every year it seemed there would be a new little one grown up just enough to get to climb on the rocks with their cousins/or siblings. First it was Em that would explore, then Elle joined , and Eva and this year it was Elin who was  just another one of the girls on the huge rocks.

  Ryan and Bear heading to the water.

  Elin gathered her own "fire sticks" to add to the blaze.

                             Bear had to be tied as his nose was too much for him and got him into trouble with all the food around.

   Oh the times we have have had  through the years. Our family has changed and this time it is minus one instead of adding one(or two!)  And although we will never feel or be the same again, we are still a family and our memories will keep Mom close to our hearts always. I love to think too of  how through the years we will see glimpses of her in her children and grandchildren. Whether it be a look, laugh ,smile, or just plain spunk!!The lessons she taught us and the legacy she left I hope we never forget.   God is so good and we are looking forward to spending eternity together again already!!