Monday, April 18, 2011

Fun With Cats


What do YOU do to combat jet lag?  Me?  Well, I just stay in my pjs way too long in the morning, put the cats up high in the bedrooom cabinet (it's their favorite thing) and then do a photo shoot.  A nap usually follows that exhausting exercise.  Ci Ci was compassionate enough to share her favorite hideout with the new fluff ball on the block.  Apparently Baylee had a neck issue from sleeping wrong the night before, or maybe I just looked better to her at an angle.  Believe me, I have felt at odd angles for a week and a half now with this jet lag.  Does anyone have any good tips for getting over a ten hour time difference? 



Yesterday's Happy


Yesterday the door bell rang in the middle of the day, which is unusual, because Abbey was at school and she is the most popular one around here.  As I opened the door I was greeted by three darling bunnies and they were bringing Easter greetings and paper Easter eggs.  They asked me to choose my own egg from the box (appropriately a beer box because nothing says Easter and spring like the active fermentation of beer, right?).  Then I made them come in so I could take their picture and oooo and ahhhh over their clever outfits.  Victoria is on the far right, then there is Madelyn, and Mathias is the one with the wiggly tail.  The schools in Doha have different spring breaks and this happens to be the vacation week for these sweet neighbor children.  I'm glad they didn't wait until school was over to make their deliveries.  I needed a lift yesterday and it was just the right thing.  Thanks for having such adorable, thoughtful children, Rikki!


Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Silver Lining

The silver lining of the dark cloud of a funeral trip included:

Seeing family and friends,

cuddling with grandchildren,

Abbey holding our new Amelia for the first time,

seeing our home improvements that Randy did,

getting to know Janie (Randy's wife) better,

meeting Danny's wife Mary for the first time,

shopping (Thanks for spoiling me, Pat),

slurpees (and yes, I spilled a red one on our new carpet),

Taco Time (crisp meat burritos),

eating delicious homemade (thanks Mary, Janie, and Randy) food,

and a little snow action with hail thrown in.

Other bonuses of the trip:

Lots of time with this adorable granddaughter

Watching Millie's intense conversations with both Great Grandma Drawe and

Great Grandma Kearney

Uncle Randy's Bouncy Castle was a hit!


Seeing these Pizza Face Guys go crazy in our newly finished back yard was delightful.


Amelia modeled her handmade blessing dress and shoes for the creator (Great Grandma Kearney) and me.  We didn't make it to the blessing but this was almost as wonderful.


We even had the pleasure of an impromptu play, complete with a scary dragon, a princess (Abbey's best friend Jalisa), and a cheerleader.
It was reassuring to know that the awesome family tradition of putting our babies in household containers is being carried on with flair.
And of course we had the joy of being in Utah for the always unpredictable Conference Weekend when anything goes as far as weather is concerned.  Nice deck, right!

This is how we all felt when we had to leave.
Thanks, Sweet Pea for expressing it so well.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Funeral Photos

My two beautiful daughters!  They were such a big help with everything.  Abbey was my traveling companion and comforter whenever the tears would come and Kristy, along with Jared, brought her busy family from Colorado, and sang beautifully for the funeral program.  I've never seen her play and sing at the same time with a microphone in a performance, but it was Grandpa's request and she fulfilled it.  Thanks again, Kristy and Jared.

Ben, Mary, and this Sweet Pea were a HUGE help.  S.P. let me cuddle her and sing to her anytime I was feeling down.  Mary made lots of food, ran errands with me, and played chauffeur.  Ben was my rock, as usual, and even stood by me at the graveside service.  Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most.  Thanks to all my kids and grandkids for being there for the little and big things.


Thomas and Kimball were very reverent through the whole funeral and seemed to understand what was going on.  (I guess they have been to their fair share of funerals recently.)  The expressions on their faces were pure and sweet as they looked at Grandpa.  They love him so and might be the only grandchildren of mine who will remember him.


My favorite part of the viewing was when my sweet grandsons unpacked their backpack, spread out their books and themselves on the floor, and started reading away.  It didn't matter that it was right in front of Grandpa's casket.  Grandpa Giggey was probably so happy to see them that comfortable.  Jared snatched the boys and the books away before I could capture the moment, so the picture of Thomas reading in the foyer will have to give you an idea of the scene.
My mother-in-law Donna and sister-in-law Marcell came to the services.  It was good to have them there.  This granddaughter had a lot to say to Grandma Kearney.
My brother Mark was so poised and wonderful through everything.  He was a great help to my mom and his funeral talk was perfect to end the family part of the services.  His time serving as a bishop and working as an insurance agent has really given him amazing experiences and helped him handle this with such dignity, reverence, and expertise.  The picture below shows the display that my step sister Renae made and the hand drawn pictures are by Mark when he was about ten or eleven years old (Elmer loves fishing, Elmer loves Mom, Elmer loves to hunt, Elmer loves to dance).

I've never been a fan of viewings and looking at someone's body after they have died, but my dad looked peaceful.  He had the perfect Elmer smirk on his lips and his hair was as unruly as ever.  I tried to smooth it down but it wouldn't cooperate - that is about the only rebellious part of Dad.

Here my mom's sister Aunt Judie offers Randy her condolences and love.

My brother Dan and his wife Mary have had a rough time the past few years and have been trying to move to the U.S.  Unfortunately Mary, who is Filipina, didn't get to the U.S. until she got a special visa from Senator Orrin Hatch's office to attend Dad's funeral.  She might not have met Dad in this life but we think he had a hand in getting her to Utah for this farewell.

Isn't Abbey so grown-up and so beautiful?!  She loves Grandpa so much and really didn't get to know him in his prime like Kristy and Ben did.  But her compassionate heart always reminded us to pray for him and think of him.


 Here are Elmer's remaining children, my step siblings:  Linda, Rick, and Renae.  Dennis and Sandra passed away years ago.

My mom was so much stronger through this whole day than I ever predicted.  Her irreverent side surfaced for a brief moment when the bishop was trying to get everyone's attention for the family prayer.  People couldn't hear him so my mom pulled out her key chain and blew her whistle with one short blow.  Shocked, I asked her why she did that.  "Oh, I was trying to get everyone's attention," she explained.  When I told her the bishop would take care of that she said, "I was just playing a joke." Now I bet you haven't heard of anyone doing that before! 

When the casket was being rolled from the Relief Society room to the chapel Mom hesitated and I jumped to her side.  She said she was waiting for Dad to walk with her.  I think he was there in spirit.  It was difficult for her to see her husband this way, but she enjoyed the celebration of his life very much.  She is going to have to find things to do now that she isn't a full-time caregiver.

Mark's son Carson is such a cutie.

Mom's cousins came to pay their respects.  Some came from as far away as California.

My real dad's brother, sister, and my step mom were there representing the Drawes.  Thank you!

There were a lot of people in attendance.


My brother Randy and his wife Janie were such good sports with Abbey and me invading them on such short notice.  They have been staying in our home in Bountiful while transistioning their move to Utah from New Mexico.  Randy has done some beautiful remodeling on our home for us and it is looking so wonderful.  Thanks, Randy and Janie for being so patient with us and making our stay so enjoyable with all the food and fun.  I think Uncle Randy stole my grandson's hearts with his bouncy castle up in our backyard.



I think my sister Yvonna was thrilled with the "party" that descended on the cemetary.  I felt her close all that day and in to the next week.  I think she was trying to reassure us that she was taking good care of Dad and talking his ears off, as usual.

My dearest friend Lori came and supported me.  When she's around, everything is okay.

It's difficult to steal a kiss from Moving Target Thomas!






Mom arranged for this sweet sister from her ward to play the bagpipes.  It was so touching to hear "Amazing Grace" from the bagpipes.

My Uncle Roland joined the VFW Honor Guard Volunteers.  It was a total surprise and choked me up.  And if you are wondering, yes, that is his original uniform!  *Since publication, I found out that I was misinformed - not the original.


21 Gun Salute

Taps being played





"On behalf of a grateful nation . . . " Another heroic World War II veteran has gone to heaven.




Aunt Thelma (Mom's sister) and her soldier sweetheart Uncle Roland

America is a sacred place.

Two of Randy's daughters and a grandson:  Chelsea, her son Alex, and Noelle

Noelle's son Cody, Keegan (Randy's youngest son), Noelle, and Keegan's son Dallon


Some of my step brother Rick's family

Kristy's two month old Little Millie gave Great Grandma and Grandma the best smiles of the day.

Thanks, everyone for your support, love, prayers, and help through this sad time.  I love you all.