60 and Counting!

Happy Father's Day to our very own Great Grandpa!  We are so glad we came to your family to live.

 Well, it was current for about 2 days after printing.  But we saved a spot to cut and paste in a few expected additions.

Settling in for a Long Winters Nap

Twas the month before Christmas and all through Grandpa's room,
Not a creature was stirring, other than Hannity and O'Reilly speaking of doom;),
The pictures were hung by the TV with care,
In hopes that Grandchildren soon would be there.

Grandpa was nestled all snug in his bed
While visions of Grandma danced in his head.
And Jimae in her bedroom and Dixie dancing to rap,
Then all settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Grandpa sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the van Dixie loaded him with a flash,
Tore open the door, and tried not to crash.

The weather has turned cold including some snow
While Grandma is in Heaven, he lives here below.
When what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But the memory of them being together, it's almost been a year.

With the youngest daughter, a cute little pixie,
Making plans to be merry, it must be party Dixie.
More rapid than eagles the courses they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Nicki! now, Laura! now, Alex and Ashley
On Dana, On Rachel, On Caleb and Marcie!
To the front of the porch! Knock on the door!
DON'T dash away! Dash away--Don't dash away all!"

And then, in a twinkling, Grandpa heard on the floor
The prancing and pawing of so many more.
As he poked out his head, and was turning around,
Great grandchildren came running in with a bound.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His laugh how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up with a yearn,
And the whiskers on his chin ready to kiss with a burn.

The remote of the TV he holds tight in his fist,
You might have to grab it and throw it out in the mist.
He has a slender face and a skinny little belly,
That shakes when he laughs, like a bowlful of jelly!

Grandpa is waiting for visitors, a right jolly old elf,
And he laughs when he sees you, in spite of himself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gives you to know you have nothing to dread.

So come for a visit, Grandpa will greet you with cheer.
Stay for a bit and it won't be unclear
That as you leave, 'ere you drive out of sight,
Grandpa wishes Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!

(Poem revised by Aunt Pam.  No I don't have my mother's poetic talent.)  

Honoring our own Veteran

"Freedom in never free."  Author Unknown

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms.  It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die."  G K Chesterton

"This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is the home of the brave."  Elmer Davis

 

"Lord, bid war's trumpet cease; Fold the whole earth in peace."  Oliver Wendell Holmes

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers."  Jose Narosky

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget the the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."  John F. Kennedy

"There never was a good war or a bid peace."  Benjamin Franklin

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"  Maya Angelou

"Courage if fear holding on a minute longer." George S. Patton

We are grateful for the good fight fought by our Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather.  

Thank you, thank you.  

I glory in plainness

This week marks 7 months since Mom passed away.  

I miss seeing her, holding her hand, and singing to her. 

This week I was able to detour through all the Saturday errands and made my way to the cemetery, now not close to anywhere I regularly go.   Dad kept asking if I had been to see the marker.
 There is something so sacred and personal when you visit the resting place of one you love so much.    You just feel a bit closer to the other side.  There are moments I feel her close by and I want to turn and see her there by me.   One day that will be so.
I love you, Mom.

Another year older and wiser too!

Stacked to the ceiling!

Almost everyone that lived within 60 miles  and in some cases even further, came to the 

89th Birthday celebration for Grandpa Bodell.  

Each family brought one of their favorite treats to share, 

then Grandpa shared one of his favorites--Root Beer Floats--with all of us!

(Sorry we didn't get the picture before some of you had left.)  

We squeezed in tight into the party room at Atria.  It wasn't designed for a family of our size, but nobody cared as we all just loved another chance to be together and to wish Grandpa another happy birthday.

We missed Kriss, Tim and Dixie and the rest of you that live so far away.  

Grandpa wanted to thank all of you for coming and sends his love to all of you.

Waiting for Eternity

Today marks exactly six months ago

 that our dear Mother, Grandmother, 

and Great Grandmother 

left us to return to her eternal home.

And today Grandpa saw for the first time the 

monument that he will one day share with her.  

May it be a place that we can visit to 

honor and remember them for generations to come.  

Grandpa misses her so much that 

he feels his heart is really broken.  

Please keep him in your prayers.  

We miss you.  

Happy Birthday Grandpa!
We love you so much and are so thankful Heavenly Father sent you to our family to live!
We wish we could come visit you today. We miss you and love you.
Savannah, Cole, Brighton, Charise and Billy