September 15, 2017

It was so comforting to be together with my mom and siblings.  We spent the day cocooned in Mom's little bunk house that Dad so lovingly built for them to live in once they sold the big house to Judi and Mike.

We cried and hugged and went through plans.  My Aunt Jan and cousin Natalie brought over rolls and warm soup for lunch.  It was so nice.  JB and I searched for my Dad's book of instructions, but we couldn't find it.  Finally Katie said a little prayer and went straight to it.  It was in the hall closet.  We worked on finishing Dad's obituary (which Dad had already written) and started the process of collecting photos for the slide show.  I got the assignment to write Dad's life sketch, and that weighed heavily on my mind.

In the afternoon we all went to the mortuary.  We saw the casket Dad had already picked out--a beautiful knotty pine that fit his personality perfectly.  We made plans and figured things out and then headed back home.  We are all so thankful for JB, who has stepped up to be in charge and to take care of Mom and all of us so well.

That afternoon we took a little walk up the street.  We climbed up into Wayne's tree house since we could actually see it without a gazillion kids climbing all around.  We visited and then headed back down the street.

Rindi and Millie

Up in the treehouse... Mourning my dear dad.

Joined by grief...bound by love.

Stalee, Mom, and Joni
Our hearts are tender and full of love for one another.

Greg took the kids out to dinner while I was in Hooper.
They were all sad to hear of Grandpa's death, but I'm so glad they have each other!

Meanwhile...back at home...

Lance and Owen...bubbles galore!

We started to go through pictures that Judi and Mike put up on the TV.  We would cry, and then laugh, and then laugh so hard we would cry.  It was strange to be having so much fun.  But we could feel the love and happiness that comes from a whole lifetime of good memories.  And the sadness from knowing that our dear Dad wasn't there to join in the fun.

As I climbed into bed that night, I had a thought about the kind of day my dad might have had.  And I just felt certain that it was a wondrous day for him.  My tears dried up and I fell into a deep sleep.