Tis almost the season

This week I am trying to get into the spirit of the holidays. I am finding it quite difficult this year, beings the weather has been so misleading. November?! Ha! Thanksgiving... Next week? No, that can't be. It was so nice out last week.
So whilst looking for inspiration, last night we went as a family to Halpins, a store that I love -especially at Christmas. They have Christmas trees and ornaments that are just gorgeous. I never buy anything there. I feel as if it is a museum. I love everything there, yet somehow it does not belong in our home. Well some of it does, but it is way too expensive.
Today I have Christmas music playing. Next Monday I really hope we get our tree. Up and everything. (I should be specific in my goals.) Realistically it may just make it from the tree farm to our porch. I hope to get it put up, decorated and all the empty ornament boxes hidden back downstairs. There that is better.
I started to address Christmas cards the other day. There is nothing to put into the envelopes yet, but at least they are addressed. Everything is in stages. We have started to do some shopping too. And when I say we, I mean me.
I want to get all the things that we "have to do" done, so we can sit back and enjoy this time with family. Here is the list I have to do to make it a successful Christmas.(In my deranged mind)

• Get a real tree. Last year we got an artificial one - due to the amazing snowstorm we had and I have yet to hear the last of it from the kids.
• Get Christmas cards sent out
• All shopping and wrapping completed.

I really don't put big expectations on myself. This is a very accomplishable list. There is no mandatory baking or elaborate meals around here. I may make an occasional chocolate covered pretzel stick. Or sometimes I buy the pre-made, pre-cut, pre-baked cookies, and have the kids decorate those. There is no reason we can't get this done so we can appreciate the season.

Tonight we are going to go see Disney on Ice. The kids are excited. As am I. I love to watch them do those amazing things on ice. And to watch the kids' faces light up. It will be a good time.

Rest in Peace Grandpa Harold. Rest in Peace.

On October 24th around 930 am, Harold passed away suddenly. Jake's grandpa. We didn't get to say goodbye. He hadn't been feeling well for quite a while. I am unsure what he officially died of. I have heard heart attack, loss of blood, renal failure, aneurysm in the abdomen. He was not feeling well - that was apparent.


Today was his memorial service. It was really nice. Jake's cousin Erik said a very nice eulogy and put together a great slide show that captured him well. And he had military honors, so two lovely gentleman came and did a flag ceremony and played taps. Oh man that gets me every time.


The last time Jake and I saw him was labor day weekend for his 82nd birthday party. The kids saw him just a couple of weeks ago. Jake was able to talk to him at the party the whole time, which is very comforting to him. Jake said it best today, at the service, when he talked about how the two of them were such good friends growing up and how hard it was for Harold to see Jake grow into an adult and not spend much time with him anymore. Work, family, yard work, and yes laziness - got in between their friendship. Heart breaking really. It happens too often.


Harold helped us so much. Without him we would not live where we do. Without him we would not have most of what we do. He gave so much to us while he was alive. I only pray that we can be and are so generous with our children and grandchildren.


Memories I have of him include: Werthers, Riesens, Hershey's Treasures, and CREAMSAVERS. We would be loaded down with bags of these candies every time we would visit him. He would buy them in bulk and give them to us.


Also he loved and adored our children. He called J'Lee Twinkletoes since she was a teensy thing.


He loved to hold them as babies and rock them and talk to them telling them who knows what. J'Lee went to the funeral today and when given the opportunity to talk she took the mic and said "My great grandpa was the best great grandpa", and then dissolved into tears and sobs. As did the rest of us..


Cash opted not to go. I am not sure what he thought it would be like. I had explained to him what would happen and that there was no body, etc. He was very adamant about going to school. (Which normally, he is trying to get out of...) We knew he did not want to go, and in no way were going to force him. He came to the lunch after, and it was just how it was supposed to be.


He will be missed, but I know he is much much happier now. Free from health problems and free to fish and hunt and be with Carol again. All the while keeping watch on us from above. We will meet again.


Dear Heavenly Father, please take care of Harold now, as he was the only grandpa that I really knew. Please let my children remember him and have stories to tell their children. Thank you for letting us have him on this earth for 82 years. Thank you for all the stories he had to tell and for all the laughs at how we thought it was funny he had a story for EVERYTHING! Thank you for waiting for him to become a believer. Carol had tried for so many years to get him to believe, and only after she passed was he able to come to you. Thank you for letting me see into the future what my handsome husband will look like when he is 82, as he is going to be adorable, just like Harold. It is amazing how much they resemble one another.


In His name,





Amen