Gigi

For the past week we've had extended family in town. Andy's brother has been in town with his wife and son. We've been trying to spend time with them and bond some while they are here because today at 2:00 their plane leaves sending them back across the country to their home. It's been nice having them here, though the reason that they are here isn't so nice. As I mentioned very briefly last week, Andy's grandma (Gigi) passed away Monday, January 23.

I'd like to share a little background. We had been away from Andy's family for reasons that I am not going to go into because my gosh it would take days to explain all of that and seriously we've put it behind us. (besides, this isn't an episode of Donahue) In January 2008, I received an email from my sister in law, Trina, telling us that Gigi wasn't doing very well and that if we were willing to try to work things out they were willing as well. Long story short... Andy and I decided that as difficult as it would be, it was time to try again with his family.

And I have to say that I'm very glad that we did. Family isn't always easy, you have several personalities coming together...therefore it will never be easy. However, we were able to have a whole year with Gigi. A year, that if Trina would not have contacted us, we would have missed spending with her. It was a long winding year as Gigi's health wavered and there were several times that we didn't think she'd make it as long as she did. But Gigi was a feisty woman and was going to do things in her own time.

As hard as this process and the funeral has been for me and the fact that it was like reliving my own grandma's funeral (without being numb this time around) I'm glad that we were able to be there. I'm glad that Gigi was able to see the girls and see everyone back together. I will always remember Gigi as a strong feisty woman. The woman that one time told her daughters to 'Go to hell'.

December 22, 2008

I've been slacker when it comes to posting, I know. You'll have to forgive me as I'm trying to get everything done for Christmas, Cassie's birthday is on Wednesday (Christmas Eve), and I'm dealing with a never ending waterworks.

Last night I was up until midnight crying and this morning I was wishing that someone would just give me a shot of something that would dry up my eyes and make me sleep. I'm having a hard time dealing with my grandmother's death this Christmas. Last year I was so numb during Christmas that I just went through the motions. This year, though, hurts. I've been dealing with some headaches from the crying and my shunt just ached this morning when I woke. I've been trying to hold back the seemingly endless trickle of tears. Unfortunately, if I hold them back from trickling, sooner or later the damn brakes and I sob.

The other day, out of the blue, Kalli said, "I miss great-grandma." I answered, "Me too honey. Me too." And I do. I miss my grandma something awful this year. And honestly I HATE this.
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In hopes to end this on a happier note. This past weekend the girls decorated cookies I made and also decorated a gingerbread house. Tons 'o Fun!


Kalli's side of the gingerbread house (Note: I decorated the front :)

Cassie's side of the house.

The girls decorated cookies.

September 22, 2008

This past weekend was Andy's birthday and I can honestly say that he enjoyed it completely. Friday night we went out as adults (no it wasn't Halloween...we like to pretend though) and Saturday afternoon we had his family and my immediate family over for a little party. I can also tell you that Andy is spoiled. He got a computer game from his brothers and parents that he wanted and once everyone was gone we went out to get more memory for the computer so that he could play it. The first place we went for it was out of what we needed and I have to say that I felt bad for Andy. It was like giving a child a toy with no batteries. We did get the memory that we needed at the next place though and Andy was a happy boy. He stayed up until 12:30am playing that night and suffered the next day when we had to get up and go to church for 8:15 service.
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Also this past weekend, I went out to my grandparent's house to take pictures. There is no one living there anymore. No one probably should have been living there for quite a while as it is very run down and dilapidated. I'm sure some would wonder, why then I want to take pictures of the place. My answer? It is where my grandma and grandpa lived. It is where my mom, aunts, and uncle grew up. There is a lot of history there and, for lack of a better way to say it, I like old buildings/things. Top that all off with my love to take pictures.

When I was out there I didn't get to spend as much time taking pictures and walking around as I would like to because of time limits I was on. (Cassie had a carnival to attend) I'd like to go back out there to get more pictures.

Here is one of the pictures that I did get of the front of the house. Mind you, no one entered through the front of the house.

Finds 2

While going through my grandma's things at my aunts house, we found some Christmas cards. Empty Christmas cards.


I'm not planning on sending out Christmas cards....but if you get one of these in the mail, act surprised :)

We also came across ALOT of pictures. Several of which were of me while growing up. I'm thinking that I will share these in Daily Photos in the next couple days. Maybe.

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Yesterday Tony and Kelli took the girls with them to get a REAL Christmas Tree. Not only did they find a tree and decide that when tired and cold my children get really cranky/whiny, they got us a tree too. So....last night we set it up and today, we undecorated our tree to decorate the new tree. Sound kinds nuts? I thought so too. But at the same time, Cassie is thrilled because she helped to cut down this tree.

(Thank you Kelli for the pictures!)

Finds

I spent the evening at my Auntie Mary's helping her go through some of my grandma's things. There were TONS of pictures that needed labeling, a zillion cards, and then some other odds and ends. Let me just say that my grandma and grandpa saved everything. There were a few things that were going to go into the garbage, but I decided that I wanted them :) Here are some of my finds. Nothing real big, but hey....I liked them.

Here is one of the things. It is a set of 4 Christmas cards/prints. I'm thinking about framing these to hang at Christmas time.

The next items are a set of 4 prints. They are Currier & Ives, American Homestead set. I'm going to frame these as well. Not sure where I'm going to put them after that. Hmmm...


Lastly, are these 2 prints. They are 1972 prints of Norman Rockwell pictures. Thinking I'll probably frame these too and put them somewhere.


I want to protect all these prints as they are in pretty good shape. I'm going to try to look these up and see if they are worth anything. I'll let you know. Maybe.

Grandma's Eulogy

LaVerne Mary Schott – Eulogy
December 1, 2007

I am LaVerne’s third grandchild, Paula. I wanted to give the eulogy today for my grandma as a way to show my respect and honor her. However, I wasn’t sure what to say. I was told to talk from my heart and that is what I’m going to do.

LaVerne Mary Schott wore a numerous number of titles. She was a wife, a mother of 5, a grandma to 6, a great grandma to 2, and a friend to numerous. To some this may not have been a lot, but to grandma… I believe that this was perfect. She loved her family and devoted her life to them. I grew up with her always being around. In fact, during my grade school years she practically lived with us caring for my brother and I while my parents worked. During this time, I actually found it odd that my friends didn’t have a grandma living in their homes.

Grandma babysat for all of her grandchildren at some point. Sometimes, most of us at the same time. I’m sure that we all have several memories of growing up being so close to her. Here are a few of my memories

I remember lying with her at night before bed going through family members full names, asking her questions about when my mom was little, and just cuddling. I remember the piles of books that she would read to my brother, the way she never noticed when Kim and I would sneak pots and pans from the cupboards to play drums with, and how patient she was with us.

One of my strongest memories is a phrase that Grandma used to say to me. “Hate is a very strong word.” When I was growing up saying that I hated someone or something came easily. Every time I did though, grandma would say “Hate is a very strong word.” I didn’t think that much of it at the time, but I’ve noticed that as an adult I don’t say the word hate very often. Grandma’s words have embedded themselves in my head.

I can honestly say now though that I hate how much this hurts and I hate watching my family hurt.

I’m proud to have been able to have spent as much time as I did with my grandma.

Grandma, I know that you are out of pain now. I love you and miss you terribly. Thank you for everything.

December 1, 2007

Today is the first of December. This means that there is only 23 days until Cassie's 7th birthday. And then Christmas.

Today was my Grandma's funeral. It was a lovely ceremony and I delivered the eulogy I wrote up ALMOST tearlessly. Is tearlessly I word? It is now.

I did good up until the end when I turned what I was saying to Grandma. I'll post later what exactly I said.

Now we're relaxing until a little later when it will be time for me to go to my work Christmas party. After which I'm going to go out and hopefully forget about this week a little bit.