Family...is everything.

If you're thinking the last thing you would want to do on the day of your husbands funeral is have a photo taken...you would be absolutely correct. 

But...to honor him, the photographer....my husband...their Dad...their Grandpa...we did just that.

We realized it was the first time all six kids were together in about three years...and we were still missing and thinking of a few family members (grandies Ava & Cason...and husband, Ben)

 

This is our family. 

 

This is how I made it through these past days.  Together as a family...we made tough decisions.  I am in absolute awe of the strength and courage and support these six adults were able to provide to me as well as each other as we walked through these unchartered waters.  We all hurt...we cried together...we laughed together as we shared stories. 

Together...as a Family....We said Good-bye.

 

 

A few weeks ago in July, some of you may remember I hosted a Gramma Camp with 5 year old granddaughter, Taelyn.  (many of you asked if you could sign up) 

One night, as Taelyn was falling asleep...just out of the blue she asked me

"Gramma, why does Grandpa wear such colorful shirts?"

It made me laugh and I thought then how funny it was for a five year old to take notice of something like that.  A couple of weeks later, Josh & Laura came to visit with Ava & Cason.  Cason, age 4, was sitting on Don's lap one evening and out of the blue said "Grandpa, why are you wearing such a bright colored shirt?"

How funny...that in their young eyes...his bright colored shirts had made such an impression. 

(on a side note...Don hated shopping for clothes and I bought his shirts...but he did love it when I brought home great colors)

 

In light of those comments....Brandi found bright colored balloons that the older grands were able to decorate for Grandpa, and they sent those skyward before the service.  This too, we were able to capture. Thank you, Missy Huling for taking these photos for us...Don would be proud...he would likely tell me what he may have done differently and spoke in that foreign language of  Fstops and apertures that I struggled to understand...but proud nonetheless.

 

 

Thank you to each and every one of you who has reached out via phone, email, text, sent cards and contributed to his memorial fund.  Many also stopped by with food and supplies to get us through those first days.  We thank you so much for that love and support.

 

Thank you also to my Quilt community.  The outpouring of love I have felt from all of you has been incredibly overwhelming. 

 

Don loved to teach...whether it was photography or physical therapy and we are in the planning stages of creating memorials that allow him to continue to share his knowledge for the things he loved.