My Grandmother

I am standing upon the sea shore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.  I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says; “There, she is gone! ” “Gone where? ” Gone from my sight. That is all. 
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at that moment when someone at my side says, “There, she is gone! ” There are other eyes watching her and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes! ”

And that is dying.

My grandmother was such an amazing woman and she did well in raising my own mother.  I'm so sad and happy at the same time.  Happy that she's going to be with my grandpa very soon and so sad for my mom and for me because we will miss her.  The poem above was in the book at the hospice where my grandma is and it was very helpful in describing what is happening.  She will not be gone, just no longer in our sight.  My sister told my mom an analogy which has been very helpful too.  Death is a lot like being born.  Sometimes it's quick but sometimes you have to labor at it.  My grandma has been laboring at it for 4 days now and she's about to be born into the spirit world where loved ones are going to be so happy to have her.  She was a good role model and I am so blessed to be apart of her family.  I love you grandma, tell Grandpa hi for me.

2010 New Years Eve!!

Christmas was great and so was sleeping in on News Years Day!  We hung out with our friends Cori and Brian on New Year's Eve playing games, eating potato soup, setting off the noise makers/poppers with the kiddos about 9:00 I think, and watching the new James Bond movie.  I fell asleep during the first 10 minutes of the movie though. 

I also got a new church calling on New Years Eve which was a surprise...a pleasant one at that.  I've been called to be the 1st counselor in the Relief Society and I was both happy and apprehensive to accept the calling.  Now that I've had time to let it sink in I think I'm ready for whatever challenges come my way, but mostly I'm excited to work with a committee over the enrichment activities.

Baylee is starting to smile and coo when you talk to her.  I've been told you can't spoil a newborn but this baby girl knows the difference if you're sitting down with her or standing and bouncing her.  She's such a cutie-pie though and it's my fault she's so spoiled.  I have a hard time putting her down.  Baylee is such a snuggly baby.

The kids were excited to go back to school...but not as excited as I was!!!  The first day off I took a much needed nap!

We enrolled Alynna in the 2nd grade and she's already making friends.  She was disappointed not to be in Melody's class but I think she'll do so much better if they're apart and not competing with each other.  It looks like Alynna will be living with us at least until March.  It's nice having 2 big sisters in the house to help take care of Baylee when she's fussing.