......................out on a limb

OK, I’m going to go out on a limb and set the date and locale for the next reunion.

In view of the fact that, if you have kids, or have a work or school schedule that you must consider, or if you don’t need to deal with the previous two reasons and you fall into the category of just like to do something memorable on three-day weekends (like who doesn't?)it seems that taking advantage of holidays would be an important consideration. It appears that Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7 this year. I think school starts for us on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

I checked out Florence Keller Park near Crescent City and found out other than the fact that it’s really dark there (duh, it is in the Redwoods), and there are only two spaces with full hookups (and you’d have to wrestle the park host for one of them), and the restroom facilities are like those you may find at an old gas station on I5 somewhere between Sacramento and LA, it’s a great location. Even with all that said, I think that instead of there we should have the reunion at the local KOA. If you follow some of the links on the KOA website you may find yourself coming early and staying longer. There are a ton of things to do around here. OK, you were warned.

The local KOA is just a ½ mile north on 101 and I think it would be a better location. Here’s a link: http://www.koa.com/where/ca/05102/

Here’s a link to a motel on the south side of Crescent City. I know Ben and Illa stayed there in the past. I’ll defer any questions to Illa, but I think it’s a pretty neat and quiet place, unless I’m on the beach cutting wood there. http://www.crescentbeachmotel.com/

Here’s another link to another place on the coast right in Crescent City. http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CECCAHX

So, let it be written, so let it be said. It will be Friday, Sept. 4 thru Monday, Sept. 7…………......unless Suzi wants it at a different time.

Jim
2009 Reunion Coordinator-elect (we're still going through the vetting process)

St. Helens

We come home with the showing power was lost, also, the back roof over the patio, came down and part of the wood shed roof came down..... cat's in the RV ok, but out of food, though those outside, had to garage to go for food. Many tracks going into the garage, big and small. Can not go up the driveway as the snow is still deep, and have 2 feet at least in the back. We took pictures so we can put on the blog., but need to figure out to download it, as it's short on memory at this time.

We had so much fun at Suzy with her kids, they had a great Christmas, though the boy's did not make it in. Broke my glasses, snow was soft to fall into, laugh. I have had fun in it, and love to see it.

Our Border Collies we glad to see us home, as or washer and drier are knocked over with the roof coming down, what a life, laugh. We think we had three feet of snow in the back, it's great, deep to take down a roof, OK. Love to all

Go ahead, let out that inner child!

Just like the Phoenix, the snowman will rise again!





Actually, I don't think that it really snowed up in Portland. Yes, I do watch Northwest News channel 69. I think that it's just a conspiracy of the news media to make us stay away from the shopping malls. It worked for me. If indeed it had snowed there would have more evidence. Real evidence like snow men and snow women and snow children. All is not lost though, here's evidence that it snowed in Crescent City, or at least within 20 minutes of here. Sandi, Ohmah, and I went up to the snow today. I have to get into shape for "grandpa mode." I have to practice long-forgotten skills like snow man making, making hot chocolate on the tailgate of the pickup, and important stuff like practice pulling socks up without getting your feet wet, oh yeh, and chasing the dog.

I didn't really want to leave but Sandi convinced me that it was time to go by telling me what she was going to cook for our dinner when we got home. She always says that, "I'm always the last monkey out of the tree," but that's not really true. I beat Ohmah into the pickup.

So, all of you that have snow in your front yards (or rear yards), prove it. Unleash your inner child and show that you're not old by building a snow person. You better hurry though before the rain comes and turns the snow into a flood. By the way, I didn't see anyone rolling around in the snow "neked." It must be a rural legend.
Jim

SUSH !!!!!

GEE, everyone is quiet!! Is it the snow?? Or is it that Santa is on his way?? I'll bet he has trouble navigating in this stuff. He might even slide off a roof. The kids are quiet and in bed!! Yeah. All of them, big ones too. Even the TV is going quiet. Too much snow on the dish. Darn!! Means that I have to go scrape it off. BRRRRRR.

At least we finally got full water back. Will see how the outside is when it warms up a bit more out there.

Well, everyone have a good time tomorrow. I am going to miss having left overs. Oh well, the fridge is too full already to put anything more in.

Have fun everyone. Love from all of us.

Illa

so this was monday morning. after the first time i cleared the windshield. more snow expected tonight.
Jim, did you catch anything? sorry we lost connection. it was really nice talking to you.
Dick

...and the hits keep on coming.

We had another 3 inches of the white stuff last night. that is on top of the already existing 8 inches. DOT and the city has restricted all roads to vehicles with chains or 4x4s with studs.

Everyone Home

As far as I know, everyone made it home safe and sound. Got a text message from Joe and family that they had made it a little after midnight. I guess they spent some time in Redding after leaving here. It was like 8 pm when they left Redding. Don't know the road they took but made it in 4 hours. I am glad that everyone came that could. It was a big help to me to have others there. I slept better after I knew they were home. Got to get ready for work as it is almost time to leave. have good holidays and give our love to everyone. I miss you all.

Take care and much love from all of us.

Illa and our families.

that is a very cool plaq and something to be proud of.
thought i would try to help you out a little. if you click on it it show up as the same size as the above pic, but its horizontal.

Ben's Service Plaque

I wanted to rotate the pic but the program said I might ruin the pic if I did that. So here it is. At least you can see it.

Love to all.

Illa

Back to Redding from Memorial

Dear Family, Karen and I met Glenda Saturday morning, she parked her car and we headed up to the memorial together. The weather was perfect, but the forecast was for snow in the early evening. We drove 1.5 hours into the mountains to a quaint little town, with snow about 12" deep. Our first impression of Ben's church was altogether good. Very loving and giving folk.

The Pastor, who is new, and didn't know Ben asked us many questions about the family. He had already talked to Teressa and Illa. When it came time to give his (short) message, he commented on how God had brought the family back together, and used our unique experiences in his message. He did a wonderful job.

There were some touching moments as the service went on. There were many who took up the Pastor's offer to share things about their relationship with Ben. The thing that touched me the most is when little Athena walked up to the front and took the microphone, and appeared almost the most relaxed of us all! I really wish I had a recording to share with you. What a wonderfully special girl Athena is.

Another highlight for me is when Joe got up to share how much he appreciated Ben being just like a father to him. Joe is the son of Ben's foster brother who died at a young age. Joe is a precious soul and a real asset to our family.

Illa, Teressa did remarkably well holding it together as they spoke, but ultimately they couldn't get everything out what they wanted to say.

Illa knows about the weather in Oregon and knows how hard the trip would have been for everyone. By the way, Karen and I cheated in this trip and left two days early, making the pass between storms. We could do this because I don't have a lot of work at this time.

One last note; we're at an age where most of us have lots of things going on. Health is a big thing. Marriage problems is another. Glenda is immersed in a school curriculum better matched for teen. Some people have jobs that are super taxing emotionally. Then they may have other things going on too. Some are lonely, some suffering with broken hearts. Let's always think the best of each other. Let's be praying for one another. And be especially praying for Illa and family as they adjust to Ben being gone. We love you very much, Peter and Karen

For Jim and everyone else

this was this evening. we have about 5 inches and suppose to get another 5 or so. plus freezing rain. its been snowing all day since about 5am.

We have dad

We have my dad, and I tell you... It's about time! The main urn and the smaller keepsakes were well cared for (a worry of mine, most everything was antique), and I had a surprise when the young gentleman bringing in father's main urn had that very nicely stowed in a green velvet bag.

Very respectful, did my heart good at any rate, and we received dad's remains in the same room that we dressed him in, so there was a bit of a cyclic feel about that. After receiving the main urn, I carried that over to mom. I wouldn't have wanted to try prying that away from her...

We also received dad's flag, and the memorial book and cards turned out very nice. I'm very pleased with how well dad's picture turned out.

On the way out of the city, we stopped at a place called "The Yogurt Shoppe" on Lake Blvd, on the north side right across from the ShopKo shopping center. Clay Tikker, dad's foster/adopt sister's son, owns and runs that... makes the yogurt for the frozen yogurt himself. Very good place, and we had a nice visit.

Well... I've run out of stuff to say, bit shaky and waiting for my kids and their dad, Joe and his family, and my brother and his family to arrive.

~Teresa

YEAH!!!!!! We finally have water!!!

We have been frozen for 2 days. I knew that as soon as I started melting snow for the necessities that it would probably thaw out. So now I have about 7 5 gallon buckets of water it starts to dribble. Goes good in the rest of the house but the master bath is just a trickle. Hope it gets along as I need a bath. Oh, well. Way it goes. but at least so far I only had to invest in a heat tape and a higher powered heat light.

Illa

Lisi & Lili

I would love to be with you Illa. But I need to see that Lisi is safe, and with the cold and her legs, she needs to be close to her medical team. She is having problems with her legs, so I don't think the drive would be good. I know we don't wish to have you worry trying to come. We will be there in our hearts. But, know if we could we'd be there. Ben, would dish to have his special sister safe, and also he would know I would see to this. Love Lili

happy birthday PETER

and your not old!!!! just my older Brother.
you still have 11 more years. then you will be old. now Enoch, hes OLD. but not really because there is no age in heaven.

Family

It is so wonderful the snow, it is like a cleansing and covering the ugly we see, it's reminds me of how God must see us. All the hurts that we carry, and scares of the world. The blanket of beauty, like the snow, covering us and hiding the scares of this world. The crispness of the air, reminds me of how clear the breath of the clean air in the new world.

Also all the joy of seeing us, as a family, without the hurts, and no worry that our words will not hurt any of us,... as all that was is past. We also will share an understanding of the hardships of sin, that other worlds have never had to go through. How blessed we will be to raise our voices in praise and song, as Faith's are united in song to God and His Blessed Son.

What a time to look forwards in song, with all that are saved and in Heaven, singing songs to he angels in praise, and thanksgiving. We will be all one in Spirit and song. The hug's of those we love that have gone on before us... Also the time to share the love of a special family, and all hurts aside.

We are all one Faith, in God's eye's. I see the Sabbith, as a time, that God set aside to meet with us. When you think of time on the earth, and time in other lands.
He has set an appointment, like we set to see other's or our Dr.s, to reserve this time so that we can meet. Also that set's the time in the other times of this world so that he can have His time with each area of the world. As He created the world, and rested on the Sabbith, God also set a time for this world, in our time slot, so he could have this special time of creation, on our world.

I love each of you and am wanting o paint the ceiling with the star's, of the day when Christ ws born or what they think is the time. With the programs now in place we can back track this. Haven't had time to do so, as I have been busy, but this is one of the projects.

Also around it I am putting each of us and our children in the painting in a circle. I am going to use what I do have in pictures for this.

Love and Happy holidays I love you all Lili

looks like we are snowed in with kids, sorry

I hate to brake the bad news but we can't make it. We need to go over the mountains and with the 4 kids and no studs I don't like the idea. Please forgive me but my momma voice doesn't want to chance it. I have seen 5 cars hit each other today. So please forgive me. I love you all and its a hard decision but Rich and I have talked today about it. Unless it warms alot by friday It looks like i'm stuck at home. Love you all.

Lueria

blurry pics, but you get the idea. these were a couple of weeks ago. just an awesome sunset.

the weather out side is frightful

as of about 4am weve gotten about 4" of the white stuff. AND ITS STILL COMING DOWN and its 22 deg out. I have not seen it like this in years. usually its just an overnight event and thats it. Lost power for about an hour.

Two of my favorite pictures.

 

Jim

Ben with Suzie

I like this photo of Ben. I don't know what he and Suzie were talking about, but my guess is he is giving her a hard time for showing WAY too much cleavage!

Before Ben Passed

A week before Ben passed away I was preparing to teach at our church youth group. This is one of the scriptures, in paraphrase, that I was going to share (2Cor.5.4):

"For we who are in this body groan, being burdened, not because we want to be released from our body, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life".

Our perspective of death is entirely different from God's. As he see us, we are in a type of death while on this earth. Remember at the Garden of Eden? God told Adam and Eve, "in the day you eat of the (forbidden) fruit, in that day you will surely die". On the surface it appeared that God was wrong, Adam and Eve went on living for hundreds of years! But in reality, they did die. It was a death of the spirit.

I once saw a documentary about a man who had a head injury shortly after becoming newly married. He was struck in the forehead and was injured in the frontal lobe of the brain, the place where emotions are contained. Physically, from appearances, he recovered from his injuries, but he had lost the ability to feel emotion. He felt absolutely nothing for his new wife. No love, no affection, no feeling for the things that had brought them together. The young wife was doing her best to cope with her new husbands condition, but it was very hard.

I think this is a good example of what mankind is without God. Without God we are as an animal, an automaton; eating, drinking, indulging our fleshly appetites. But never fully experiencing the joy of our true identity in relationship with God. But then when we come to know God through Jesus, it's like a flame of life starts to burn brighter and brighter every day. New parts of our hearts are opened, we feel and realize things that we never knew before. Things like loving our enemies, or a new respect for our mates. There is a problem however: in this life, we can never completely experience what God has for us.

This is what it means when the scripture above says, "swallowed up by life". You see, death is more than a doorway. As the Apostle says in the scripture, 'death is really the process of being overwhelmed by life'.

You know me, I've never considered Ben as a "sweet guy", but I have to tell you a few days before Ben left us, we talked on the phone. I asked him about his relationship with someone with whom he had some conflict, he said, 'it was alright, they had talked'. I have to tell you, the rascal Ben, that rough prison guard, the biker, that fellow that was about as strong willed as anyone I've ever known, was so sweet sounding as we spoke. I wept because I could sense he was being swallowed up by life.

By the way, when I spoke to the youth group, I had to cover a different subject. I continue to weep with joy when I think of the end of Ben's suffering, and the joys he is experiencing now.

Ben's Obituary

Well, I think this is it except i still need to put in Peter and Glenda's ages. I also need the name of the town where Bonnie lives. Please let me know if there is anything more I need to put in, or to take out. Thank you. Illa


Obituary and Funeral Notice of
Benjamin Gordon Garcia (1952-2008)

In Loving Memory of Benjamin Gordon Garcia, born April 30th, 1952 who crossed over into his Father’s Loving Care on December 1, 2008.

Ben was born of 4-30-1952 in San Francisco, California to Benjamin Gordon Pedro Chavez Garcia & Glenna O’Brien Garcia. When Ben was approximately 2 ½ years old, and his parents were no longer able to care for him and his siblings, his family was split apart and the children taken in and adopted by different families. Ben was taken in by Wayne Kenneth & Elizabeth Ross of Redding, California and renamed Benjamin Kenneth Ross.

Ben joined the Army at the age of 17 in July 1969 after the passing of his adopted brother Joseph Wayne Ross and finding out that the adoption had not been completed where upon he resumed his birth name of Garcia. He served in the Army from July 1969 to February 1972 and served in Okinawa and Vietnam, achieving the highest rank of Sergeant. Ben achieved the “Excellent Marksmanship” Medal and served in the 82nd Engineers and 101st Airborne Units. He was shot in the right leg while on a mission in Vietnam. He was Court Martialed twice for in-subordination regarding the in-justices done to several of his fellow soldiers and his practice of trying to correct those issues, where he earned the nickname of “Blue”. He left the service with the rank of PFC-Sp 4 with an Honorable Discharge.

After leaving the service he rode around the country on a motorcycle finally ending up in Portland Oregon and starting work with Portland Security in 1973. He met his wife of 34 years on a blind date in April of 1974. They were married May 18th, 1975 in Redding, California on the ranch where he grew up. Ben left Portland in July 1975 and moved his new family to Redding where he started College at Shasta College earning an AA in Criminal Justice in 1978. He worked Security for Shasta College while going to school leaving with the Rank of Lieutenant. After graduating he worked for different Security Companies like North State Security (now Nor-Cal Security), and Western Intelligence at different stores like Pay-N-Save, Safeway, and J.C. Penny’s as well as joining Anderson Police Department from 1978-1982. On January 18, 1982, Ben was hired by California Department of Corrections and worked at California Correctional Center of Susanville, California. In March of 1983 Ben transferred to a Fire Camp, Intermountain Camp #22 at Bieber, California. Ben retired from this Fire Camp October 1, 2006 as a Correctional Officer and a Job Steward of the Northern Camps Division after 24.75 years of service to the Department.

Ben was diagnosed with Colon Cancer May 31st of 2005. Ben had planned to retire after 30 years but I guess God had other ideas. Ben decided to go ahead and retire after being told that the cancer had returned and had spread and that he would have to be on Chemotherapy for the rest of his life. He felt it would not be fair to his Co-worker’s and friends to put their lives in jeopardy if there should come a time when he was unable to respond to a situation.

Ben was so happy and pleased when approximately 10-12 years ago that his siblings started trying to re-connect. It was great to watch this family that had been ripped apart, grow together and learn about each other as brothers and sister and come together at this last stage instead of growing up together and then drifting apart as they all grew older and had other family commitments which took their time.

Ben went into the hospital on August 13th, 2008 with a blocked colon and survived 2 surgeries. I brought him home on November 4th, 2008 after the Doctors told us that they would not do the final re-connection surgery or remove the tumor that caused the blockage as neither one would increase his survival chances.

Ben did get his wish of “One Last Trip” to see the ocean and his family “out of the hospital setting”. He did get to talk one last time on the phone to his adopted sister, Nancy Tikker and see his nephew “Little Joe” Joseph Wayne Ross. He received his most important wish and that was to spend what time he had left, to live and to die peacefully at home. He left this earth quietly at 3 pm on a cold but sunny day. His wife, children, brothers, sisters and extended family will sorely miss him.

Ben is survived by his wife of 34 years, Illa Louise Blomgren Garcia, Bieber, Ca. born 1954 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado; his daughter, Teresa Louise Huddleston-Garcia, Weed, Ca. born March 16,1980 in Redding, Ca. (and her husband Adam Huddleston); his son, Benjamin Joseph Garcia, Mc Cloud, Ca., born July 29,1983 in Fall River Mills, Ca. (and his wife April Buckley).

Ben also has 9 brothers and sisters; Peter Whitney Rouzaud, Dallas, Ore. (and his wife Karen) ; Glenda Ferrar, San Francisco, Ca.; Bonnie Lange age 58 (and her husband Rick), Johnsbough, Tennessee; Twin sister’s: Alilia Joy Nelson-Lange (Lilisa Felicia Garcia), and her husband Jess) St. Helens, Ore.; Alisia (Alicia) Jo Lange-Davis (Alicia Therese Garcia) age 57, Portland, Ore.; Suzanne Barbara Lange (Susan Barbara Garcia) age 54 (and her husband Darryl Pace) adopted by Emil William Lange & June Ermilia Hooper-Lange), Eugene, Ore.; Charles A. (Chuck) Hooper age 55, Sacramento, Ca.; James (Jim) Hooper age 53, (and his wife Sandi) adopted by Peter & Helen Hooper, Crescent City, Ca.; Richard Lee (Dick) Garcia age 52, Beaverton, Ore.; and adopted sister, Nancy Tikker, Napa, Ca.

He is also survived by grandchildren, Athena Japhia Huddleston-Garcia; Merlin Orion Huddleston; and Step-grandchildren Samantha Buckley and Elizabeth Buckley.

Ben left a host of nieces and nephews and cousins who will miss him and his odd sense of humor. Some of these are Joseph Wayne Ross (Father, Joseph Wayne Ross); Teisha Ferrar, Julie Ferrar, Whitney Ferrar, Lydia Ferrar (Mother, Glenda Ferrar); Lueria Davis Miller (Mother, Alicia Davis); Peter Rouzaud, Nathan Rouzaud (Father, Peter Rouzaud); Richardo Schell, Judith Schell, Michael Schell, Kara Schell (Mother, Suzanne Lange); Randy Hooper, Andrew Hooper (Father, Jim Hooper); Janey Tikker, Blair Tikker, Stacy Tikker, Clay Tikker (Mother Nancy Tikker).

Ben was preceded in passing by his parents Benjamin & Glenna Garcia, adopted parents Wayne & Elizabeth Ross and his adopted brother Joseph Wayne Ross.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service at the Seventh Day Adventist church in Fall River Mills, Ca. on December 20th, 2008 at 2 pm. There will be a Potluck afterwards. There will also be a Private Family Ceremony at a later date.

Services Arranged

Well, it is done. The services are definitely arranged for 12-20-08 at 2 pm. at the SDA church in Fall River Mills. There will be a potluck afterwards.

We went to the Mortuary today. Got all the paperwork started, and got Ben dressed in his clothes. We put him in his Class A's. They have never been worn. They still have the tags on them. We left them on. We also put his new tennis shoes on his feet and his ball cap that he wanted to take on the coast trip that we could not find for that. We placed his rosary that Teresa made for him in his right hand and a twinkie that a friend had gotten him that he couldn't eat in his left hand. I almost forgot, I put his glasses in his inside pocket along with the Key Chit that Little Joe gave him when we saw him at the coast. That was for you Joe as you had given it to Ben and it would mean the most to him. We figured that he can give it to your father when he sees him or at least tell him about it. After we had put him in his uniform he looked more natural to us as that was how we had seen him most of the time. We put the ball cap on and tennis shoes as when he crossed over it was at change of shift. It seemed like he was just going home.

He looked peaceful and at rest. He did not look like the night that he left. His face was relaxed and had a smile on it the way he smiles. It was not a forced or fixed smile.

We were going to get a big Urn and 3 small keepsake ones for the remains but it was almost $900 so we went to several different stores until we found something that we thought that Ben would be happy in. Then on the way home we stopped at a second hand store in Fall River Mills called "Hidden Treasures" and lo and behold we all found Keepsake Urns for us that just "called to us" as being the right ones for us and each was different. It was awesome as they were just getting ready to close up for the night. Everything just seemed to work out right. I am tired but not the exhausted tired. There were a lot of strange things that has happened in the last three days that just can't be explained.

So now most everything is paid for. It had to be paid for up front. Thank God that in a couple of weeks the last of the money in the savings account will come in to pay the bills that won't be covered with having to do this up front. God works in mysterious ways and I have no fear on how the rest of this will work out. I am afraid of facing the future without the Rock somewhere around. I know that I will survive but I am still scared.

So, all in all, with everything, today was a good day. I am more at peace and I know that Teresa is too and I just hope that BJ is also as he seemed more relaxed tonight when he left to go to his new home and family.

With Love from All of US.

Illa

holiday

I hope that all make this holiday time special with your families and friends. Knowing how busy life can be to spend time creating wonderful memories and treasure you family. It is not the gifts but the time spent as family. God shared His Son, with us. This was His gift, to have time on this Earth, sharing time with Jesus, how wonderful when we will have the time to share time with God and Jesus, knowing we can share the birth with God, when His Son was born. With those that were their at Jesus birth, with this special family of God. All of our families in the new world. Such a special Christmas on the date of Christ true BIRTH with united families.

Dad's Service

The time for dad's service is set.

December 20, 2008 at 2 PM. The location is the S.D.A. church in Fall River. You can't miss it, the church is right across from Mayers Memorial Hospital right there on 299. Big building... brown if I remember, really stands out.

Mom says if you come, wear bright colors. This service will be the public one. Family service will be at a later date.

~Teresa

Bonnie

My dear brothers and sisters,
Losing one of us is like losing a link in a chain. Ben made that chain complete, now there is such a feeling of lose.
We have been so blessed to have reconnected after years of being separate and being forced to grow up so scattered.
There have been words said that have hurt feeling and separated a few of us again. I know I was responsible for hurting you Suzy. We should know by now that what is said is said in love not in any spirit of putting someone down. I have my own faults that I have to work on daily.
We have a chance to continue to grow closer but we have to make the effort and making a effort literally mean, it does not come easy, it is work.
I know also that Ben loved each and every one of us and he would want us to make that chain even stronger. He was a strong person and a stubborn person fighting for life. We need to take some of those qualities and use them to fight for our relationships. We do matter to each other. We have so much that we can learn from each other and so much that we can do to hold each other up when we are going through tough times, and these are tough time we are living in both with Ben dying and the conditions of this world right now. I believe we are in the last days and we are going to have to draw strength more than ever from God. But we also have to let go of any pride and bitterness and learn what REAL LOVE means. I don't know about some of you but getting to know my brothers and sisters more has really opened my eyes to who I am and why I do some of the things I do.
I can be very prideful and take things wrong so easy and then I run and hide and try to tell myself I am better off without that person, I have other people and (things) to keep my busy. But everyone is important in our lives and losing just one of us makes that so clear to me. I LOVE YOU ALL

Dad's gone Home

Dad's time came today. Today felt like a weird day on waking up, I was writing in my journal wondering what was going on and about the "odd" things I'd been noticing. God talks, the problem is noticing and remembering it's not always like one expects... the little things... Anyway, when mom called me to come in, I went in, and I'm glad she let me know.

I held mom and dad for a while, then crawled up onto the bed onto the opposite side as mom... laid there next to him and held his hand like he'd held mine when I was birthing little Merlin... Dad sobbed after I told him that it was his decision to stay or go, he'd been holding back and holding on...

He left after that, after I promised him that we'd be ok...

I came out and made a note of the time... 3:00 PM. The nurse and the Sheriff arrived VERY quickly for way out here in the boonies... 40 minutes later... and made the official call. Then we had to wait for the morgue to come pick him up, and the nurses and the Sheriff stayed with us.

Meanwhile, I attempted to cook dinner and attempted to get people to drink coffee... slipping into the Hostess role and also making sure that there would be something for mom to eat for dinner... even though my concentration resulted in EPICALLY TERRIBLE COOKING. Over cooked meat, mushy zucchini, and undercooked rice... Yup 0 for 3. I struck out on meal prep.

Interesting... When dad was wheeled out, my computer played Sonorus Sanctum by Beltana... The song mentions having the night moon in our hearts until the return... Looking up following dad out, there was the moon. You could see not only the crescent, but the light purple of the less lighted part... and two planets below to 5 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions.

I don't know when the services will be, but he will be cremated.
~Teresa

Ben

I got the call from illa at 3:00 this afternoon.
She let me know that our brother has gone to be with the Lord.
I tried to call all the Brothers and sisters and let them know. i couldnt get ahold of lili and lisi, i dont have their number.
please give illa a call later and let her know your praying for her and the kids.

Jesus, be with Illa and all their children at this time. give them supernatural comfort and peace as they go thru this time of grieving. Cover them with your mercy and grace and give them peace to know that you love them.
As we all grieve in our own way, be with us in letting our sister know that we are there for her.