How I am feeling....

I feel ashamed....Russ and Julie had a gorgeous baby girl, and the present is still in the package-Not sent!! Bethany's baby, Haylee's Birthday was today, her present still in the package waiting, not sent! Not to make excuses.....It's been a rough two or three weeks....I've had a tough time with bronchitis- I was changing the sheets, and while they were washing, Kiwi made herself comfy. I think she stayed there for two hours, wouldn't you? I am pretty much feeling like her, like I need to find a place to hide, maybe put a pillow over my head. Mark's Grandpa passed away last week- he was close to 95 yrs old. Still so sharp. He had to be in a care facility for short time, but his children are my heroes! They brought him home, and each child took shifts to be with him. We went to visit him when he got home, and all he could talk about was how happy he was to be there. He kept referring to the care center "up North", only a short distance away. He pointed to a painting on the wall, and said isn't it beautiful? So happy to be home, almost as if he was finally at peace, even though he was in so much pain. The love and kindness, and time his children made to be there, however hard it was with scheduling, was such an honorable thing. Mark's family all said "No regrets". I know this wasn't an easy task- he was bed ridden. We shared several Sunday dinners with him, and several times he would put on his hat, some sort of black hat that older people wear, and his coat, and would announce it was time to go, he had home teaching appointments to keep. I would think "Wow, at his age, still fulfilling his duties"-I have a favorite tender thing that I loved about him, tender to me. He would ask me "How is your Grandma in Arizona"~ Which was so ironic, because on my Sunday phone calls to Grandma Sam, (oh how much I miss those!)she would ask me, "How is Mark's Grandpa"~ Mark's dad made the final remark in his funeral talk, that he is hand in hand with his wife, running through the green fields. (She passed away while I was pregnant with Justine) I like to think they were running, finding my Grandma Sam & Grandpa Haven, finally meeting, and having a Coke, from McDonald's of course!!

How the Queen Rolls...

Not to make light of the honor it is that Justine is a 'Queen'...but we love her because she is real- Her first text to me was "I'm not wearing the gown!" after she won. She looked forward to the game, and was kind of bummed she couldn't have her face painted- We bought her date that hot crown to wear to dinner and he wore it all night long. The other dates had to wear Burger King Crowns, because Justine hated that tiara wired to her head. Mark had to be in Kansas City the night of the dance, so we really were feeding the horses, with her all dressed up, and just FYI, there is a dead cat under that peice of hay...it didn't survive the stacking of hay I guess, it's pretty flat. And Kizzy really was chewing on a deer leg as her group walked up and got pictures- Just letting everyone know we are all still the same!

Homecoming Queen & King

Homecoming

This blog thing. I didn't want to start one because I knew it would be one more thing to keep up, and now I'm so behind! This last month, and especially last week couldn't have been much crazier- Last week was Salem Hills High School Spirit/Homecoming week. They dedicated the school, which is something the district hasn't done in over a 100 yrs, so that was a big deal. Justine was asked to lead the pledge, and had practiced it to where she says"will the audience please arise and stand for the pledge", she didn't know we already be standing because the boy scouts came in and did the flag ceremony, after she caught her self she says "oh your standing, and kind of laughs"...anyway it was a kind of had to be there moment and leads into her being announced on Friday as Ms. Congeniality for Homecoming Queen. Which is exciting, but I wish they would have let the Royals all know a few days before, because now I'm laying here, feeling like a truck hit me, everything in a blur~ Justine came home from school with a crown ready to break, she swears she didn't do anything, but it was streched out, bent, missing a giant jewel, I am so glad my sis-n-law Jen came over at that moment! Justine had been at tennis, had to shower, and we had to have her and her hair ready in 45 minutes! Jen fixed the crown, I got her hair curled, and we were on our way. After the first quarter of the game Jus had to be in her dress, with her parents and on the field. So glad that is over! Saturday was mostly relaxing, and we begged Marcie to wire the crown into some curls! Her date was fun, they barely made it to the high school from dinner for the royalty dance! Hopefully this week will be quiet~~