Grandma's funeral

So many thoughts buzzing around in my head and not enough time to write them down. Well, I knew this is how it would be but I'm still a little disappointed. So, I'll just jot things down and maybe flesh it out later.

I lost my grandma in March. On St. Patrick's Day to be exact. She was 91. She lived a really good, long life, so I wasn't really sad at her passing. She earned her rest. And, from the sounds of it, she had a really holy, beautiful death. My parents, my sister Maria and her hubby, David and my brother John were able to be at her side as she passed. Grandma had had a stroke at breakfast time and never regained consciousness. She died in mid afternoon. Those at her side were praying when she died. So, I'm not really sad at her passing but I am sad for those who were close to her and who will miss her so much. Namely, Maria and John. And my mom, of course, but that's a whole different ball of wax. Grandma moved to Illinois with my parents about 3 1/2 years ago and that was the last time I saw her. So, I think since I've been so distant already, it doesn't seem real to me yet. Even though it's been almost a month. But for John and Maria and their families who live in Illinois, it will be hard for a while. They had been able to visit her and get to know her again. Plus, John and Maria were always really close to her. So I grieved for their pain and loss.

So much good came from the trip to Colorado for Grandma's funeral. We were able to reconnect with cousins we hadn't seen in about 20 years. And friends we hadn't seen in about that long. Good friends we grew up with who offered us places to stay and food and comfort. That was amazing. Our good friend Jessica gave up her house for us. She went and stayed with her parents and just let us have her place. She is a wonderful person. Our families were really close when we lived in CO and it's nice to know that that friendship has survived.

One of the best things that happened out there was the fact that the seven of us Wiesner siblings were able to spend the night of the funeral with each other. Just us. Mom and Dad were at another friend's house and we were at Jessica's. We were able to talk without the usual distractions of our normal lives and on an adult level. We laughed, cried, teased, hugged. It was awesome. I love my siblings so much and am so grateful that we have remained close. I thank my parents for that, especially my mom. She always told us that we were going to be siblings forever, so we should learn to be friends, too. Well, it worked.

Now I must sign off. I need to go see what the kidlets were doing while I was stealing these precious few moments. Sigh. Probably making more work for me. Oh, well. Someday I will get my rest just like Grandma.

Our Neighbors

I received a gift today. The gift of friendship and hospitality. Our neighbors across the street, Tom and Bobbi Nordstrom, or Papa Tom and Miss Bobbi as the kids call them, are truly a gift from God. From the moment we moved in they were there for us. They are a wonderful couple filled with God's love. They love our kids as if they were their own grandkids and take care of Matt and me like they do their own kids. It's a perfect set up because our kids don't have grandparents close by and their own grandkids are far away, too. Today Tom, who is a contractor, came over to fix our leaky shower. We wanted to pay him because he has been having a hard time finding work lately but he wouldn't let us. "It's all under the Lord," he said to me. And as he was saying goodbye to the kids (with lots of hugs and God bless you's), he saw a little pink shoe and said it reminded him of one of his poems. He was working on this book of poems when we first moved in and he finally got it published. He asked if we had a copy yet and when we said no, he said whoever had shoes on should go over to his house and get one. Well, I had shoes on for once. I hate wearing shoes but I happened to have them on today. So I went across the street. We went into the house and Tom told me to sit a while. So I sat on the couch and chatted with Bobbi while Tom got the book and signed it. I immediately looked for the pink sandal poem and read it. It was the sweetest poem ever! They told me to sit back and relax. Stay for a while. Would you like something to drink? Tom brought a foot stool and a blanket for me. They tucked me in and told me to stay as long as I wanted. Bobbi moved a stack of stuff from the couch and said if I wanted to, I could lie down and take a nap. Tom left to do some work and Bobbi continued her housework. I sat on the couch and read Tom's poems. I sat there with no one demanding anything from me. My heart felt so full. These wonderful people are a perfect example of the true Christian spirit. They live to serve others because Christ wants them to. Wants us all to. They are not judgemental, they do not complain. They are having a hard time financially right now and might lose their house. But still they give, give, give. God bless you, Tom and Bobbi. And thank you for your example of how to be a Servant for Christ's sake. We love you!!

My first attempt

So I finally did it. I have been thinking about starting a blog for a while now but never got around to it. And I discovered why. It's not because I have 12 kids and don't have much free time, although that did contribute to it. No, it's because I was afraid and full of pride. In two directions. First, what if no one reads it because no one cares enough? Well, I had to come to the realization that I'm not doing this for others. I'm doing this for me. To help me clear my thoughts, remember the days when my kids are with me, capture moments I know I will forget (probably by next week because my memory is so bad). Second is, what if people DO read this? My inner thoughts will be exposed, people will realize that I'm not clever or funny or wise. God forbid people should know the real old boring, ordinary me! What if people critique me? Well, again, I'm doing this for me. And I could use some lessons on dealing with criticisms. I've always been bad about that.

So, I will blog. It won't be the most fantastic blog out there or the most interesting or the wisest. It will be mostly about my children and my husband because they are my life. And I am ok with that. I love being a mom and a wife. That is what I know, so that is what I will write about. So if anyone is reading this, thank you and welcome to my life!

So, that being said, let the fun begin!