Today was a hard day. The rain and cold that started Saturday persisted, reflective of how I was feeling. After a morning at home with Josh and the girls, I left to drive down to Uncle Rod's visitation. It was hard to see him. Hard to see Aunt Delores and Barb and Stephanie. Hard to see Daddy. While I was away, Josh took Ellie to a friend's birthday party. He texted me a few pictures, and they did a world of good to cheer me up.
Monday, May 1
Today was a day for saying goodbye. Josh and I drove down for Uncle Rod's funeral, through patchy rain, near flooded fields. Uncle Rod's service was nice (as far as funerals go, I suppose), but it's still been difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that he's gone. He's been a pillar in our family my entire life, and to think he won't be there at Christmas or other get togethers to tease or offer advice seems unreal. The weather was completely uncooperative, which didn't help--at the graveside service, the rain came in sheets and the wind whipped the tent, and mud caked our shoes and pants. After the graveside service, we headed back to the church for lunch, but before we ate, Josh and I slipped away to say goodbye to Gramma's house. They've gotten it nearly emptied, and it's set to be sold in a few weeks, and I wanted one more chance to walk through it. It was really, really hard. So many memories. So many good times. So much love, and no more chances to experience it again. As we walked out, I kissed the doorframe in the kitchen, where we spent so many hours playing dominoes or sharing a meal or washing dishes after Christmas dinner. My heart is broken that all I have now are memories. But I am so thankful for them.
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| The kitchen table is gone, but so many memories in this room. The fudge and cookies she'd set out for snacking at the Christmas Eve dinner. The clacking noise Grampa would make with his dominoes when he was about to win, or the mischievous little cackle he'd laugh right before he messed up one of our trains. The bet with Uncle Rod about Gramma's crock pot. Feeding my baby girls their first taste of pie. Hugs that smelled of Old Spice that lingered all day long. |
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| Last year around this time, I spent the afternoon with Gramma and she commented that she thought the tree outside her kitchen window was dying. It hasn't sprouted leaves yet, so I think she might have been right. I'd rather remember the smell of Dove dish soap wafting up, and the plastic bin we washed dishes in, instead of filling up the whole sink, and how every once in awhile I could convince her to let a dish or two air dry. |
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| The room where Grampa sat comfortably in his leather lazy boy. Where Gramma put up her Christmas tree. Where we sat and listened to the clock tick and exchanged few words. Where Grampa showed us his war papers. Where Rylan had a dance party in his footie pajamas when he was about two. Where Gramma rocked Elaina, not quite two months old, and sang The Donkey Song to her. Where she displayed the collie dogs that are now displayed in my living room. |
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| Gramma's lilacs, in full bloom. |
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| Puppers knew I needed some extra love |
Today was back to work--hard in it's own way, too. Tonight was more fun. While Josh and I were in Mexico, we played chess quite a few times at the resort. We decided it was time to relive some of that fun, so we ordered a chess board and had our first match tonight. I lost pretty badly every round, but I had a great time losing. And one of these days, I'll best him. It just might take a week or year or two.
Wednesday, May 3
Tonight we had dinner with Mario, Rita, and Arcadia, and when we came home, Josh mowed the tropical rainforest that was our lawn. The girls played outside while he mowed, and Yuna desperately wanted to join them. Poor peppers....
What happens when your husband asks your 7 year-old to take a picture, so you can see how nice he looked in his suit. And what happens when you put your phone on selfie-mode so said 7 year-old can see the marker on her nose, and little sister wants in on the fun.
Friday, May 5
In an unexpected turn, the weather finally decided to cooperate and feel more spring-like today. We took the opportunity to spend some time in the yard after dinner, where I discovered, much to my delight, that we have tiny baby peaches and apples growing on our trees. Grow, babies, grow!!
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| Non-edible but all the same lovely azaleas |
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| Soccer practice |
After a difficult and demanding week, today was exactly what the doctor ordered. The girls had soccer first thing in the morning, and Mom and Dad came to watch and brought Rylan and Brycelynn along to watch. The girls had such a good time with their cousins and grandparents. After the games, we headed to McDonald's for lunch before Mom and Dad had to be back on their way home. We came home and relaxed for a few minutes, and then I took the girls to get haircuts and groceries while Josh ran some other errands. Later, we dropped the girls off for an impromptu overnight stay with Mario and Rita, and Josh and I headed out for our first date night in ages. We had dinner and did some shopping, stayed out late, and had a great time.
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