Janet's Memorial

Janet's memorial was today at El Camino Memorial Park in Mira Mesa. She is buried next to my dad. James was so great to plan most of it with music and setting up chairs and a little shade, although it was pretty warm by the end. James conducted and spoke along with Meagan, myself and Maria also said a few words and had roses to place on the casket. It was small and intimate, but I think mom would have been pleased. She was a wonderful lady and it was nice to reflect on the wonderful life she lived. Leah and Kelsi sang beautiful song and James provided lunch afterward for everyone at a friends home in Del Mar. It was nice to visit some more and share a few memories. Life is interesting, you are born, live a long life with lots of ups and downs and then its over. Janet lived it well and met all her challenges with dignity and grace. I know she was greeted on the other side by my dad and all her family that has gone before her. We love you mom.
 

Janet's last days...

As our trip was coming to a close in West Virginia, I got a call from a friend that mom had fell during the night and was taken by ambulance to the emergency room. She was very fortunate to have seen this friend earlier in the day while she was out walking Sadie. My friend put her number in mom's phone just in case she needed anything. Later that night she fell and hit her head and somehow was able to use her phone to call. My friend and her husband and son came in the middle of the night and called 911. Were it not for that tender mercy, I think I might have come home to my mom dead on the dining room floor which would have been dreadful!. She was in the hospital for quite a few days, some days we thought it would be her last, seeing visions of her life pass before her and visits from family like they were coming to get her. And somedays she seemed to be making a recovery. She did come home on hospice. The doctor told me she had about six week, which is exactly how long she lived. It was difficult having her home, strange to know you are in the last phase of your life, but she is such a fighter, she wanted to exercise and eat right and do whatever she could to take care of herself. We had a couple of rough nights, but mostly it was such a sweet experience for me to be able to have her in my home and serve her for the few short weeks we had her on hospice. I was worried about what her last breaths would look like, but she only had a few days where she wasn't really able to speak or get out of bed, and then she just quietly passed in her sleep. I was very grateful for that. And, sounds selfish of me, but also such a tender mercy that she passed in time for us to plan the memorial and bury her before we left on our cruise. We had been planning for Kelly to come and be with her while we were gone, but it would have been really hard to leave if she was continuing to deteriorate. She passed with dignity grace just as she lived her life. We love you mom!
 

West Virginia/Kirtland Ohio July 2023

 We had the best time in West Virginia with Amy's family. We had some fun excursions during the day and then Gary and I were able to spend a few days traveling to Kirkland Ohio and area which was really fun as well. We love you Amy,  Joe, Charlie, Harper and Calvin! Always a treat to spend time with family and I love the outside excursions in nature and history!

Zion Angels Landing

 Fun trip with Gary to Zion, we stopped in Vegas along the way  as usual. We did Angels Landing for the first time, it was great! A little scary at times, but if I can do it anyone can. We love visiting the national parks. We also stopped at Gunlock Falls and did a little hike on the way to Zion just outside of Leeds. Great time!

Las Vegas Family Time

 We have three kids living in Las Vegas right now. Kristi is in Henderson,  Kelly in Summerlin and  Tanner in North Las Vegas. Today we met at Tanner's pool for a little family time. Always a good time.