Still in MT

Just a quick note: The funeral was beautiful....as far as funerals can be. All of my siblings came and all of my mom's siblings came. Only one blood-descendant didn't make it which is amazing for a family our size.

Right now I'm staying with my grandma who I love hanging out with or, as she puts it, having a perpetual "slumber party" with. I still cry here and there, but I am also really enjoying my family. I sure miss Kurt & Hunter though.

Cooper is reveling in a plethora of cousins. I feel like a lone wolf because he is gone so much. I'm here for another 2 weeks. I'll try to post soon but hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

June 15, 2008

I'm broken today and I'll never fully be recomposed again, not in my lifetime. A beautiful part of me left this world yesterday. My grandfather is free, free from pain and limitation. Reunited with those who have missed him as much as I do now. My mind understands that, it really does, but my body reacts to my heart and I selfishly still want him here. I need him to tell me how pretty I look and ask me to go dancing. I need him to help me beat the pants off our pinochle opponents. I need to be able to hold his hands and feel his goodness which he naturally emitted. I'm lucky; I'm blessed. He changed me for the better. We had experiences together that are so dear to my soul. I love him. I'm broken, but he is whole.

RePost

This isn't a hoax or something you would find on Snopes.com. This is a plea on behalf of a friend of mine, Rick Anderson. His ex-wife, pictured above, took their son and has disappeared. After a year long custody battle, Rick was awarded sole custody. Approximately six months ago, his ex, Michelle Anderson, left her parents' home in Shelley, Idaho with their son, and has not been heard from since.


Peyton (pictured above with Rick) is 3 years old. He needs his daddy as much as his daddy needs him. Rick is a man of integrity and compassion who doesn't deserve to have to go through this terrible trial. Please take a moment to study their faces, and if you happen to see them, please notify Rick Anderson at: 406-781-7415 (cell) or 406-952-4077 (home) and, of course, call the police.

His moment to shine

Brace face. Tin grin. Metal mouth. Coop has joined the throng of those with metal and colored bands adorning their mouths. We found on Monday he would have 4 brackets put on his teeth today and he has been beaming ever since.

He wrote himself and note on a post-it as a reminder to get orange and blue bands. Then he put it on my calendar. Then, he put it on the head rest in my car....the place he always sits.

He's been telling anyone who would listen and it took FOREVER before 2pm came and he could make his dream come true. A mere 90 minutes later....OUCH. A pinch on the inside of his cheek and the tears poured. Reality has set in, but with a little wax, a dose of ibuprofen, and time....he'll be back to his braces loving self again.

ps. Here is the conversation he had with his orthodontist when picking the colors.

Cooper: I want orange & blue bands.

Doctor: Oh, your a bronco fan?

Cooper: Yep!

Doctor: Do you watch the games?

Cooper: Yeah.

Mom (interjecting): No you don't.

Cooper: Yeah...I really don't like football.

A moment in Montana

Cooper and I zipped up to Montana for a few days. Our mission was twofold: 1st, surprise my dad for his retirement party and, 2nd, see my grandpa who has been very ill. We were successful on both accounts. My dad's party was a blast. There were 7 Guard members retiring and well over 500 people attended. My dad did a little lip sync for my Mom and Kevin, Jake, Kelli & I did a few skits to roast him.

My grandfather still isn't doing well, but I'm so glad I got to see him. I wish I could put life on pause and just stay up there for a few weeks. I will be back soon though. My grandma has been one amazing caretaker through all of this, but I know it's been extremely difficult for her.

I was lucky enough to be in MT when Kevin & his family were, so I was able to reconnect with Ashton (best hugs ever) and Chloe (Energy enough for all of us). Chloe is in the 2nd photo. Also, I was able to be there for Molly's baby blessing. She is beautiful and such a sweet little thing. I also posted a photo of Kalea. All of my nieces and nephews, on both sides, are adorable, gorgeous, handsome. I have many people who can back me up on that statement.

On my way back, I drove through 2 snow storms...in June. Then, Kelli told me she woke up to snow this morning. It BETTER be warm when I go back...or else!

Vacation? I think not!

Kurt's parents came to visit for about a week and a half, but there was a lot more work and a small amount of visiting going on. Maybe Ben (Kurt's Dad) is a workaholic or maybe he is just a guy who can't sit still, either way we were the lovely recipients of this trait. My once scrapbook/storage room has now been transformed into a food storage room. Unfortunately, I still need to go through everything and actually get stuff on the shelves.

I don't have a picture, but I'll take one soon. He also built a garden area wall in the backyard for me to garden, but that means I have to do a little prep work. Yesterday I went out back to shovel dirt when I hit a swarming ant colony. I kept shoveling until I felt a little bit on my ankle. Ant's bite. What are ants good for anyway? Well, they got what was coming to them. I went inside and got my kill-ant-save-garden powder and went to town. Then, I came inside to wait for it to work. Meanwhile, I had the ant heeby jeebies. My compassion for ants is almost non-existent at this point.

Ben & Kurt also fixed our leaky downstairs windows. I'm so happy about it because it was something we have been living with since we moved into this house. It is so nice not to have old towels sitting under the windows now. Especially because this is one rainy summer so far.

While Ben worked outside, Linda worked on computer stuff and paperwork for their house and all sorts of other things. She also entertained Cooper for hours...or was it the other way around. We played some mexican train and she set up a blog...although I haven't seen a post yet. Anyway, maybe next time we'll get a little more visiting in...although I doubt it.