Game Night?

Last Friday we had a Game Night scheduled at church. I had the snack ready and was looking forward to it.

My favorite Radio station (KDYL) was giving away Beach Boy concert tickets - it was a sold out concert. You had to call in and be caller # 10 when they played the song: "Salt Lake City" The concert was at the Peppermill Concert Hall Friday Night. Guess what, I won a set of tickets, sooo instead of going to the game night, I went to the concert. WOW - this was the first time I was in that concert hall. There is NO bad seat in the entire house - mind you some are better than others, like the ones right in front of the stage. We had section C row 14 - - for free tickets, not bad. The concert was totally awesome. They didn't take a break at all. The concert was 2 hours long. The Beach Boys came on stage blazing and left 2 hours later the same way. We were singing and dancing most of the concert. My voice was still a little bit rough the next day.

You, my love wouldn't have enjoyed it though - it was a bit (a lot) noisy, but it was FUN. We didn't even go into the casino afterwards. We drove straight home. What a concert. There are only 2 of the original Beach Boys left.

Symphony

Tonight was the season finale of the West Valley Symphony - it was the first time that we went since you left. You would have enjoyed it. Show tunes. WOW They got several standing ovations. It is hard to believe that they are not professionals. They are really good and I pictured how much you would have enjoyed it. Love you sweetheart.

ONE YEAR

I can't believe that you are gone 1 year already and only. I still miss you so much. I found the perfect rose bush. It is a hybrid and it is called "Apricot Candy" I bought it about 2 weeks ago. It started blooming within a few days. Beautiful salmon color. After the blooms opened up a bit, they turned peach. Within a few days the blooms turned pink. So at one time I had 4 different colors on the same bush. The bush is like you - very special.

Today was the day that I planted the bush into the final place. In the corner of the patio. I had lots of potting soil, fertilizer and your ashes. Tony dug a hole and after Pastor Troy got here, we prayed for you and I planted the bush. I cried - but I think, they were good tears. I miss you like crazy but I know that you are now much better off than you were before here on earth.

It was a hard month for me - could you believe, I hardly could bring myself to pick up the crochet hook? My heart just wasn't in it. It seems like the service today gave me some kind of closure and after my 2-hour nap I picked up the hook and made a leg warmer. i am way behind (MY) schedule with them. I hope to be able to mail them latest by the middle of the month. Bless Kathy for being so patient. It would be wonderful to meet her - which is difficult, since she lives in Canada and I am in Utah - Oh well. I haven't heard back yet if she received the sample hat.

I received a letter from Dean accusing me of scheduling the memorial service for the same time he had visiting. I am floored and very hurt that he thinks I would be capable of that. I wrote him a letter and tore it up. All my anger was in that letter. I wrote him a second letter and that is the one that will go out to him. He is not going to like it - too bad. I read the letter (the one he wrote to me) to Janean and she was with him this morning and kicked him a few times. Until further notice I won't go out visiting him anymore. That letter was disrespectful to me and your memory. He has nobody but himself to blame for the consequences.

In all this Tony has been my rock. Thank you so much sweetheart for asking him to stay on after you leave.

I will try to put a picture of the rose bush in here if I can figure out how to do that. Thanks Bev for the help with posting the picture.

Sweetheart, I love you so very much and am waiting for the day when we are together again (Not for a long time though - I am way too busy here)

11 month

Yep, I made it through 11 months without you, my love.

Remember - one of the plans we had is riding the Front Runner to Ogden and back? I did it yesterday. Tony was with me. You would have enjoyed it. It sure doesn't feel like the train is going 80 - 90 mph. Except for the fact that we were passing the cars on the freeway. In Ogden we had a cup of coffee and a donut and went back to Salt Lake City. The only thing better would have been if you could have enjoyed it with me.

I haven't started fertilizing the ground yet - it was totally crazy weather. I will do that next week - after Mothers Day. That's also the time when I will hang the Topsy Turfy Tomato Plant. I haven't found the right Rosebush yet, but I will start hounding the nurseries as of Monday.

The shower for Torrie went very well. Very nice turnout and the baby (Nyann) is an absolute doll. I took pictures, but they are still in the camera. Your printer/scanner/copier died and I had to get a new one. It's delivered but not installed yet.

I put my Etsy store on Vacation - Mode until the end of this month. I have too much to do to keep it stocked. I got another order for 200 1 1/2 inch white circles and 200 2 1/2 inch aran fleck circles. I am alternating them with the remaining leg warmers. And then there is an order for gnome hats in the waiting. I sent a sample and waiting for the decision. Kathy told me, she can keep me as busy as I want to be. She is one heck of a nice lady. Since I had problems with the black leg warmers, she told me to forget about them. Not a problem.

Today is JOY. Decorate a hat. I bought a straw hat at the DI and made braids hanging all around the brim of the hat. Looks funny.

For my birthday on Monday, Janean took me to Olive Garden for soup, salad and bread sticks. Afterwards we sat on the patio here at home. It was a very nice day.

I am thanking the Lord every day for the fact that you are now pain free and oxygen free. I am happy that you are with him in heaven. But it saddens me that you are not here with me anymore - at least not in body. In spirit you most certainly are. It helps me that I am able to talk to you every night telling you about my day and I KNOW you can hear me and guide me.

I love and miss you sweetheart. Next month your body will be put in its final resting place.

10 months?!

Happy Easter to all.

Today is the 10-month anniversary of Gary leaving this earth to be with the Lord. We celebrated that fact (a bit early) with a visit to the Hale Theater. We saw "Fiddler on the Roof" - WOW What a performance. If we would have been any closer to the stage they would have to pay us, because we would have been part of the cast. We had seats in the front row. It was totally awesome. Sweetheart, you would have loved it. Remember how we drove past the theater and said that one of these days we will see a show there? Time ran out before we had a chance. I still miss you lots though. I don't think that fact will ever change.

Later this month I will start fertilizing the ground where the rosebush will go. It is still too wet at the moment. The nurseries are not open yet, so I checked some stores like WalMart and HomeDepot for roses. Still no salmon colored. I WILL fine some though.

Both my grand daughters, their significant others and their children were in church today. I got a hug from both of them. I was thrilled. Torrie, the youngest one had a baby girl about 2 months ago. There will be a baby shower for her next weekend in my clubhouse. I am so looking forward to that. There was no contact between them and us for about 20 years because of something that happened 20+ years ago. Their mother kept the hate alive. Maybe the shower next weekend will open the door?? One can only hope.

As for my Etsy store - nothing going right now. Mind you, I haven't listed anything for about 7 weeks. I am still crocheting the leg warmers. With all those color changes and 10 pairs in solid black it's taking a lot more time than I anticipated. Thank goodness there is no deadline. I set a personal deadline though. I crochet one black one alternating with a colored one. This way the black is not hurting my eyes too much. I can't crochet a black one in the evening though. Only in sunlight.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Happy Anniversary, my love - We made the best decision today 7 years ago by saying - I - DO. Well that was ONE of the best decisions we've made - LOL We'll be going to IHOP tonight and order one "Kitchen sink" and an extra plate. Just like we used to do, except it won't be YOU, who is sitting across the table from me.

I started looking at rose bushes yesterday. I think, I might have to go to the nursery to get a salmon color one. I saw lots and lots of pink, red and yellow but no salmon. Then again, it is early yet.

I love you so very much and I miss you.

9 months

Yesterday it was 9 months that Gary has left to be with Jesus. We celebrated this one day early by going to the "Living Planet Aquarium" in Sandy with J-O-Y (Just Older Youth) our senior group from church. It was fun.

Yesterday I took a big bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup (homemade of course) to Bunny, because she isn't eating much. I was shocked when I saw her. She is as weak as a newborn kitten. Hopefully the soup will give her some appetite and she will eat again.

Yesterday was also the first 4th that I didn't fall apart at 10:30AM. I don't have to look at the watch - I know it is 10:30 (the time Gary was taken off oxygen 9 months ago) I had a conversation with God and asked him to please help me through the day. It IS getting easier - I am not missing Gary any less but I think, I am getting used to the fact that he is gone and in a much better place than we are. I miss you lots sweetheart.

Next Saturday the West Valley Symphony plays at Granger High. Gary and I used to go every chance we had. I will be there.

I think next month I will be able to fertilize the ground for the rosebush I will be planting in June - at least I can make a start. I will also check around the nurseries for rosebushes. It has to be a salmon color one.