Charles died early this morning, at 12:30 am. I couldn't get back to sleep after hearing the news. I began a timeline of events, and am typing up my thoughts about him, adding to them as I think of something, some wonderful memory I have of him. I'm doing this thro tear filled eyes, as I think about how much I will miss him. I'm still in the "this is unfair" stage.
But I do have many memories. Once when I was out there staying with my kids, he came in from changing some water at 11pm, had heard on the radio that Denny's (?) was having a sale on pie, one slice for 99cents. He wanted Jolene and me and him to go to town, 30 min away, to get a piece of pie. Jennifer was old enough to babysit the kids (they were all asleep anyway) and off we went. I can think of so many spur of the moment, fun things we did when I stayed with them, which was every 3 years or so, I think.
He is a good, good man. The earth is poorer, and heaven is richer. And knowing his personality, he is having a grand reunion with Kim, Pa, and many other relatives.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Stella and Nano, and Charles
I flew to Utah on Tues July 24 and then on Wed rented a car and drove to my brother Charles' in Idaho, arriving at 6pm. My mom was there, and we got to sit in the room with him, just she and I, for 30-45 min. I told mom our spirits were communing with each other.
About 9 pm the decision was made to take him to the Twin Falls hospital and from there LifeFlight him to Huntsman, since tests showed that his fluids were dangerously low and he was going to slip into a coma in a few hours if nothing was done. His GP and good friend, Glenn, and his oncologist both thought if they could get the liver bile ducts open, he still had a good chance, especially since he has been a fighter this whole time.
An ambulance came and he went to the hospital, where he was stabilized. Early on Thurs morning an ambulance drove him to Huntsman. I left Twin Falls at 1pm, and on the drive down, my sister Squirt called and told me there was nothing left to do, and he had only a few days left. I was crying so hard she began to get worried (I'm crying now just typing this). We arranged to meet at Huntsman at 5.
I'm so glad I came out, just to get to see him, and hug him, again, this fantastic brother of mine.
Fri morning I was lying on the couch at Paige's house. Kincade was at work, Paige was sleeping, and I was watching Stella and Macy, just sobbing and sobbing. Stella was concerned, and asked me if I was crying about Uncle Chuck and because he was dying. I said yes and she said, "But he will live again!" She got out her tea set, set it up on my stomach, and proceeded to make me tea so I would feel better. She took the cup and put it to my lips so I could drink the pretend "tea." She was stoking my arm and head and asked me if that made me feel better. I told her yes. She asked me, "Do you want a hug and kiss?" I told her yes. She just stood by me and rubbed my arm and put the cup to my lips so I could take a pretend drink. Her concern actually did help.
When mom got sick back in Oct/Nov and I came out, she made soup upstairs in her kitchen several times for Grandmother Deeney, because "she's sick." It makes me happy to see her being such a sweet, caring little girl.
About 9 pm the decision was made to take him to the Twin Falls hospital and from there LifeFlight him to Huntsman, since tests showed that his fluids were dangerously low and he was going to slip into a coma in a few hours if nothing was done. His GP and good friend, Glenn, and his oncologist both thought if they could get the liver bile ducts open, he still had a good chance, especially since he has been a fighter this whole time.
An ambulance came and he went to the hospital, where he was stabilized. Early on Thurs morning an ambulance drove him to Huntsman. I left Twin Falls at 1pm, and on the drive down, my sister Squirt called and told me there was nothing left to do, and he had only a few days left. I was crying so hard she began to get worried (I'm crying now just typing this). We arranged to meet at Huntsman at 5.
I'm so glad I came out, just to get to see him, and hug him, again, this fantastic brother of mine.
Fri morning I was lying on the couch at Paige's house. Kincade was at work, Paige was sleeping, and I was watching Stella and Macy, just sobbing and sobbing. Stella was concerned, and asked me if I was crying about Uncle Chuck and because he was dying. I said yes and she said, "But he will live again!" She got out her tea set, set it up on my stomach, and proceeded to make me tea so I would feel better. She took the cup and put it to my lips so I could drink the pretend "tea." She was stoking my arm and head and asked me if that made me feel better. I told her yes. She asked me, "Do you want a hug and kiss?" I told her yes. She just stood by me and rubbed my arm and put the cup to my lips so I could take a pretend drink. Her concern actually did help.
When mom got sick back in Oct/Nov and I came out, she made soup upstairs in her kitchen several times for Grandmother Deeney, because "she's sick." It makes me happy to see her being such a sweet, caring little girl.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Sad news
I discovered on Sat morning that it is not looking good for my brother, Charles. After all my fasting and praying, it seems that this will be the end of his earth life soon. One dr has held out hope, and I have prayed more than once since Jolene and then Adam told me this, pleading with the Lord, that if it be His will, Charles might continue on this earth.
It is hard to process and I have spent a lot of time crying. I can only imagine how Jolene, and his children and gkids are feeling, knowing how my kids would be feeling if this were happening to Rick or me.
I'm so thankful to have the gospel and to KNOW that this is not the end of his wonderful, enthusiastic, larger-than-life personality. After my dad died I read several life after death experiences books. They all just reaffirmed what the gospel teaches - that we progress on, and that this new place we are going to is a glorious one indeed.
I think my brother Eric said it best, when I talked with him. He said I have wonderful memories of him, and I plan on seeing him again in 20 or so years. Which because 1,000 earth years equals a day in heaven, will be in 5 min.
It is hard to process and I have spent a lot of time crying. I can only imagine how Jolene, and his children and gkids are feeling, knowing how my kids would be feeling if this were happening to Rick or me.
I'm so thankful to have the gospel and to KNOW that this is not the end of his wonderful, enthusiastic, larger-than-life personality. After my dad died I read several life after death experiences books. They all just reaffirmed what the gospel teaches - that we progress on, and that this new place we are going to is a glorious one indeed.
I think my brother Eric said it best, when I talked with him. He said I have wonderful memories of him, and I plan on seeing him again in 20 or so years. Which because 1,000 earth years equals a day in heaven, will be in 5 min.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Granddaughters
Despite my goal to blog once a week, I'm discovering that many times I simply can't think of anything to blog about. On one of the political sites I go to sporadically the host's goal is to blog everyday. I understand how hard this must be because I have a hard time blogging once a week, sometimes.
So, to maintain my blogging goal I dug thro my files and found these pics of Macy and Stella that are only a month or two old.
This is one of Macy sitting on Stella's bed reading a book. Makes the heart of all bibliophiles swell with joy!
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In June Paige decided have Stella's hair cut in a little cute style. I think it turned out adorable.
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On a subject related to bibliophiles, today I was in the dermatologist's office. The nurse came in and I tossed the magazine I was reading onto an empty chair so she could do her stuff. As she left, she picked up the magazine and handed it back to me. I told her, "Thank-you, because I have bibliophobia." She looked at me, and asked, "What's that?" probably hoping it wasn't contagious. I said the fear of being caught without reading material. She smiled. Only a true bibliophile can understand bibliophobia.
So, to maintain my blogging goal I dug thro my files and found these pics of Macy and Stella that are only a month or two old.
This is one of Macy sitting on Stella's bed reading a book. Makes the heart of all bibliophiles swell with joy!
.JPG)
In June Paige decided have Stella's hair cut in a little cute style. I think it turned out adorable.
On a subject related to bibliophiles, today I was in the dermatologist's office. The nurse came in and I tossed the magazine I was reading onto an empty chair so she could do her stuff. As she left, she picked up the magazine and handed it back to me. I told her, "Thank-you, because I have bibliophobia." She looked at me, and asked, "What's that?" probably hoping it wasn't contagious. I said the fear of being caught without reading material. She smiled. Only a true bibliophile can understand bibliophobia.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Home again home again...
...jiggety jig.
We were supposed to arrive at 12:35 am, but due to the plane leaving late we didn't get to our house until 3 am. Rick had to get up today for work, I felt quite bad.
On a happy note, the girl watching the cat did water all my outside pots and they look great. On an unhappy note, the cat is still here and doing well.
We were supposed to arrive at 12:35 am, but due to the plane leaving late we didn't get to our house until 3 am. Rick had to get up today for work, I felt quite bad.
On a happy note, the girl watching the cat did water all my outside pots and they look great. On an unhappy note, the cat is still here and doing well.
Friday, July 6, 2012
4th of July week in Utah
Rick and I flew to Eagle Mt, Utah, on June 30, planning on spending the 4th of July week with Paige, Kincade, and the little girls (yay!!) and also Chris and Scott.
Busy, busy, doing lots of stuff (don't ask me what, just stuff). On July 4 we had a BBQ with the Upstill family, then lit off fireworks on the street in front of their house. I was surprised that it was allowed because of the hot, dry weather, and the numerous fires already gone and going. As a side note, we observed the charred mountain behind Paige that caused her to be evacuated a few Fridays's ago. And, on the afternoon of the 4th, a fired started in Alpine and burned up the mountain - we could see the orange flames and the huge smoke cloud.
Yesterday we had another busy day planned, golfing early for the guys, then Park City, and perhaps a movie after. We got up to see it raining, and it rained until 3 or 4, so those events were rescheduled for today.
Last evening Paige had her book club, Scott was tired and went home, so at 7pm (when the group members started showing up) Kincade put the little girls to bed, and Chris, Rick and I decided to take a drive. It was going to be around the lake, but Chris was driving and started out north. Just beyond something Fork (I can't remember the name now, it was a small grouping of houses and an LDS chapel), with the sun shining brightly behind us, gray skies all in the front, we saw a rainbow. I have never seen one like this before; we saw the complete arc, from end to end. On one end the colors were extremely bright. What made it even more unusual was it a had a lighter complete arc just above it. We stopped to take pics.
These pics absolutely don't do justice to how incredibly pretty this double rainbow was.
We kept driving, sure that Tooele was just beyond the next hill. I finally got out the GPS and discovered that it was still 40 min away, so we turned around to go back and take a road that pointed to Mercur. Mercur was between two mountains (or large hills, I suppose), so we were in a little valley, lots of trees, rock outcroppings and the odd cave or two. After a few minutes, expecting deer or antelope to come jumping out at us at any moment, we came to a gate that said No Trespassing. We decided Mercur must be a mine of some sort. Chris was all for opening the gate and going thro, but Rick and I said that wasn't a good idea. Having been foiled in his trespassing plan, he took the next gravel trail (I can't even call it a road) up the mountain, claiming we needed to do some 'ploring, since we were in a Nissan Xterra 4wheel drive SUV.
I was kinda iffy about this plan but Rick and Chris thought it was a great idea. Chris also thought we needed souvenirs so he stopped to load up 3 rocks for Paige, who happens to like rocks in her yard, as do I.
All's well that ends well, and we ended up back on Highway 73, headed toward Eagle Mt. I even enjoyed Chris' adventure ride.
Busy, busy, doing lots of stuff (don't ask me what, just stuff). On July 4 we had a BBQ with the Upstill family, then lit off fireworks on the street in front of their house. I was surprised that it was allowed because of the hot, dry weather, and the numerous fires already gone and going. As a side note, we observed the charred mountain behind Paige that caused her to be evacuated a few Fridays's ago. And, on the afternoon of the 4th, a fired started in Alpine and burned up the mountain - we could see the orange flames and the huge smoke cloud.
Yesterday we had another busy day planned, golfing early for the guys, then Park City, and perhaps a movie after. We got up to see it raining, and it rained until 3 or 4, so those events were rescheduled for today.
Last evening Paige had her book club, Scott was tired and went home, so at 7pm (when the group members started showing up) Kincade put the little girls to bed, and Chris, Rick and I decided to take a drive. It was going to be around the lake, but Chris was driving and started out north. Just beyond something Fork (I can't remember the name now, it was a small grouping of houses and an LDS chapel), with the sun shining brightly behind us, gray skies all in the front, we saw a rainbow. I have never seen one like this before; we saw the complete arc, from end to end. On one end the colors were extremely bright. What made it even more unusual was it a had a lighter complete arc just above it. We stopped to take pics.
These pics absolutely don't do justice to how incredibly pretty this double rainbow was.
We kept driving, sure that Tooele was just beyond the next hill. I finally got out the GPS and discovered that it was still 40 min away, so we turned around to go back and take a road that pointed to Mercur. Mercur was between two mountains (or large hills, I suppose), so we were in a little valley, lots of trees, rock outcroppings and the odd cave or two. After a few minutes, expecting deer or antelope to come jumping out at us at any moment, we came to a gate that said No Trespassing. We decided Mercur must be a mine of some sort. Chris was all for opening the gate and going thro, but Rick and I said that wasn't a good idea. Having been foiled in his trespassing plan, he took the next gravel trail (I can't even call it a road) up the mountain, claiming we needed to do some 'ploring, since we were in a Nissan Xterra 4wheel drive SUV.
I was kinda iffy about this plan but Rick and Chris thought it was a great idea. Chris also thought we needed souvenirs so he stopped to load up 3 rocks for Paige, who happens to like rocks in her yard, as do I.
All's well that ends well, and we ended up back on Highway 73, headed toward Eagle Mt. I even enjoyed Chris' adventure ride.
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