In Memory...

A little over a month ago I received a phone call... you know the kind: where you're hit with the news that causes a pit to form in your stomach and panic to get caught in your throat; that ends in a mess of tears and a struggle to find the right thing to do.  The hard kind of phone call... the worst kind. 

It was from my sister, letting me know that my Grandmother had been rushed to the hospital and that the family was gathering.  That it looked like the end... 

I thanked her for letting me know and at that moment, everything started spinning.  I was at work that day and couldn't get it covered, there was a horrible snow storm headed the direction I needed to go, and Chris couldn't get off to take me.  I just needed to be there with my family.  I was able to make it through the next two days of work and then Thursday night I got another call.  This time saying "If you're going to come, you need to come now."  So I got the next day covered at work and braved the weather all by myself and headed up to the hospital in Trail, BC.  The trip that should of taken me 4 1/2 hours, took me 7 with the snow and crazy drivers, but I made it.  And I was able to say goodbye to my Grandma and be with my family through one of the hardest times we've ever faced.  

I will cherish those last moments I was able to spend by her side before she passed away on Sunday evening, November 20, 2011.  I stroked her arm, fed her slivers of oranges, gave her water and little ice cubes, and talked...I told her all about what my life has been the last year, about service and the joy its bringing me, about our new house and decorating it, about married life, about music and spiritual things.  And through it all I regretted not taking the time to be with her before, not calling her to share stories before, not visiting.  The resurrection hope is made more real in these circumstances... and I will try to live my life the way that she did: in full service to God so that I may one day see her again, in perfect health with her bright smile.  

I have tried for many days (almost a month now) to write about how this has effected me.  I know I need to put pen to paper and pour out the emotions, but the words just do not come for some reason.  The poetry escapes me.  Perhaps I just need more time, but I wanted to at least write this blog post in her memory.  To not let this moment that's had such a huge impact on me pass by without mention.  

Thank you for your patience as I've been grieving and been a little quiet around the blog lately.  And thank you for reading this post, and for in just a little way, helping me celebrate her life and who she was as a person, a wife, mother and grandmother, and a servant of Jehovah.  

Hug your loved ones every chance you get.  

december hair diaries

Its been almost a month since my last post...wow, that time went by fast.  So much has happened and I've been really sick, but I'll share a few things in the days to come.  

But for today I thought another installment of "The Hair Diaries" would be just perfect. :)  New hair always makes me happy.  

I had been rocking the ombre look since September and it had grown out nicely, but was seriously SO LONG.  So long it was getting caught in things.... embarrassing things...like my armpits.  :P  And it was looking kind of brassy in the places where the red color from before never quite got covered over.  

Of course once I knew it was time for a change I started pinning ideas and a direction seemed to form.... milk chocolate color with lots of dimension and a fresh cut. 

And cutting my hair was a big deal...this year I promised my husband I would go the whole year without getting a drastic cut.  And I did it!!  I can't believe how long it got.  The before pictures really don't even do it justice.  And I didn't do anything drastic with the cut.  Just my favorite chunky layers and clean, healthy ends.  

I am happy with how it turned out.  Its probably the closest to my natural color I've had my hair in a long time.  I think it will be perfect for the winter time...which is just now maybe hitting us.  We've had a couple days of a little snow, but nothing sticking.  That's my kind of winter!

Of course my cousin Hannah was the one who did my color and cut for me.  She is just starting a new adventure herself, she quit the salon she was working at, got her business license and has opened an adorable little studio on the Ave in Wenatchee.  I was so excited to go see her new space and get my hair done there.  I'm so proud of her and I know she's going to do awesome as she progresses forward with this new journey.  

So there is a little hair happiness for today.  Its been a hard month, but I think even this little change is helping.  

Ago

One hour ago... I was watching The Sing-Off on HULU.

Two hours ago... I was finishing up my 365 project post from the last month. 

Ten hours ago... I was hugging Chris goodbye as he left for work today. 

Eighteen hours ago... I was unpacking more boxes in my office. 

Twenty-four hours ago... I was napping with husband.  Sleep is so glorious. 

Three days ago... I said goodbye to my best friend and made the drive home from Canada. 

Five days ago... I got the news that my grandmother passed away. 

One week ago... I was driving through a winter storm to be with my family in the hospital at my grandmother's side. 

One month ago... I was editing and sharing pictures from my most recent family portrait session. 

Six months ago... I was at my sister Megan's wedding. 

One year ago... we lost and found our Spencer puppy. 

Five years ago... Chris and I were falling deeper in love and I was making plans to move to Spokane.

Ten years ago... I was listening to Savage Garden in my very own bedroom.  

Fifteen years ago... I was learning to be a part of a much bigger family. 

Twenty three years ago... I became a big sister for the first time. 

Thanks for another great list to fill out Nancy.  It was interesting to look back through time....

project three sixty five

No words for this last month....just pictures.  

Please forgive my absence...  

eleven.eleven.eleven.

This is one of those things that I didn't want to miss....something I didn't want to see everywhere and wish I had done.  So I did it!

I took a picture at 11:11 am on 11-11-2011.

Could I have been more creative?  Totally....  But I'm at work, and this is my life right now: staring at the computer screen.  So I captured it.  And I'll share it. :)  Thanks Liz, for the challenge.

Did you take a picture too??