Snow?
Heard that Loveland ski area was testing their snow making already.
so I thought I would post this fun clip of Pattie
Our Family Chronicle
dealing with children, school and health
Swimming
So both Alex and Melinda did incredibly well swimming in the swim-a-thon. Alex swam 10 laps farther than he did last year and Melinda swam 30 laps more than last year. Alex swam 2 miles in 2 hours and Melinda swam a mile in the same 2 hours.
alex putting in the last few laps
Melinda finishing strong
Melinda’s swimming has improved a great deal this year and she has been placing first or second in almost all of her competitions. Melinda has been training with the older kids this season and her confidence has improved greatly. Alex is obviously doing well again and is placing first in almost all of his races. The only one he has had trouble with is the butterfly stroke but I’m sure he will get it figured out in time. Both Alex and Melinda will be competing in the varsity all city meet and I’m sure they will both do very well.
getting it done
showing off her freestyle
working on that butterflystrong and ready for the race
Strong and ready for the race
It is hard to believe that summer is almost over and school is about to begin.
This is just a test
I wanted to see how this works.
A very nice memorial service for Annie Oleta Shillingburg Adkins – Yota’s Grandmother
Yesterday, Randy and I found a frame for the portrait that is being used for Grandmother’s memorial service in Denver and the funeral in Midland. I spent the day trying to make up a laminated card to give out to all of the relatives and friends. I typed in the King James Version of Psalm 23 and printed it out on heavy stock paper. I glued with the help of my lovely daughter Melinda and my niece Amy a strip of wallets to the stock paper. Amy helped trim each one. Found out that at Mardel’s you can laminate for next to nothing but was not comfortable at the self-use station so went to Copy Max. The young man at Copy Max was wonderful. It shouldn’t have taken so long but… Not bad for a quick memento.
The memorial service was at 7 pm at my mom’s church (Harvey Park Baptist). Reverend Kevin did a wonderful eulogy. My brother, Pete did speak to the congregation about his relationship with Grandmother. I really do feel at peace by all that was done today. I know Grandmother is in heaven with Granddaddy. I will miss her but am joyous she is out of pain and can now rest.
1983 - Grandmother & Granddaddy
Dealing with Death – again..
Panayota's Grandmother
Grandmother – Oleta Adkins – 96 years old when she passed away yesterday – July 6, 2010. God bless her journey to heaven where granddaddy awaited her arrival for almost ten years. A couple to admire who as Grandmother said – “Worked at their marriage every day” and the love they had for each other showed.
Yota believes that death is different for everyone. It is interesting how one significant recent death can collide with another equally significant death.
What the heck do I (yota) mean?
I believe that Grandmother is at peace after several years of deterring health – I get it – she was 96 years old. I will miss her but not angered by her death. Whereas, for those who have not been keeping up, my father-n-law Pat was a death that angered many, including me. Pat was too young to have died – to healthy – too much of an anchor in my families life. We still miss him.
My children saw Grandmother aka Great Grandmother frequently in the past few years. Grandma Mona would bring her over for visits since we live very close to the beauty shop (hair stylist shop) that she frequented almost every Saturday. Melinda is honest and said that she was not comfortable around Grandmother. She would dutifully hug her and briefly chat but… Alex just does not talk much (guy thing). I know my Grandmother differently then they know her. She is still the vital figure who owned a beauty shop in Midland, TX. I can still hear her voice ring out with her Southern drawl calling my Granddaddy – Francis. I have fond memories of her. In the past few years I had prayed often to win the lottery to acquire enough money to send her back to Midland to live in a very expensive assisted living where someone could take her to the beauty shop and where she could visit Granddaddy’s grave. Sadly – that did not happen. I believe she understood at times that at least she was with family – although she did miss her home:) Tomorrow we will have a very small memorial service to say a prayer and reminisce and hopefully receive a bit of comfort allowing us in Denver closure. My siblings and mom will be traveling to Midland, TX for the official send off for Grandmother. I would have love to see my Texas family but…
Melinda decided today to write about death. Of course, I feel it is wonderful, insightful writing – but she is my daughter. Read her words of wisdom as she remembers her Grandpa Pat.
Death
Death is not to be feared.
To some people, it is a friend to put them out of their misery.
Death can be a friend to those people.
The people who are healthy don’t realize that sometimes you have to let people go.
The people, who realize that, don’t like war because healthy people die when they still have lives to live.
But some of those people die protecting or defending their territory.
For that, they are honored by families or citizens.
When you lose a family member you don’t think that maybe it is for the best.
You don’t think that at the time but you start realizing that if they were alive maybe they wouldn’t want to live because they are in too much pain.
Death can be a friend.
By Melinda Stueber – July 7, 2010
