The Farm

February 9, 1999

It was a Tuesday

I remember it like it was yesterday

It was one of the worst days of my life

I had talked to her doctor that morning

He said she was doing better

She would probably go home soon but should not be alone

I went to the church

I talked with Ken, and told him I thought I was going to go

down there this weekend and bring them home

I remember Verna coming into the office and telling me she was gone.

The worst part...thinking of Dad down there by himself...

calling my siblings and telling them....

calling Nancy and breaking her heart.

Sunday dinner, February 8, 2009....ten years

Remembering Helen...

We had a grand time yesterday...eating all our favorite foods..

toast and cheese...

bread and beans....

salmon bones...

chocolate cake with caramel frosting..

oatmeal cookies...

red jello and orange with carrots (ok, so those didn't go over so well)

sharing memories...pictures...laughing...

I love our Sunday dinners

Then of course...Nancy's show

I think she wrote the song herself...especially for them

It was perfect...You are amazing Nancy...Thanks for the memories.

But here's what I wanted to say last night..

Since 1999...5 of her grandkids have gotten married and brought

beautiful spouses into our family....she has had 7 more great-grandkids

that will never know her except throught the stories we tell them.

Two more precious bundles on the way...she would have loved them all

I remember her strength...and the pain she endured through

all those years of arthritis...dialysis...

"One day at a time" she would say.

The legacy she has left us will go on

for ten times ten years to come.

Tell them your stories

Love your families

For her

"Our family is a Circle of Strength and Love

With every birth and every union, the circle grows.

Every joy shared adds more love.

Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.”

Our circle got stronger yesterday.

Wish you all could have been here...check out Nancy's blog,

I'm sure she'll post the show.

Love you all...the teller!