A Grand Loss

Pop Gilbert passed away on December 29th. The surgeon had scheduled surgery for him on the 27th to do a heart valve replacement. He decided not to have the surgery, I think he didn't feel he would live through it. We took him to the Dr. to be sure he understood the consequences, and had the mental ability to make that decision. After our visit with the Dr. we felt we had to respect his wishes. The Dr. said he would have less than a year, but that his heart could just give up at any time. Loving and missing him, but knowing he's in a better place than this. We had a wonderful memorial for him on January 8th which celebrated a life well lived in service to others....RIP Pop!!

I decided that rather than buy the Grand kids a "disposable" toys for Christmas that we would give them a memory instead. So Lee, myself and our good friend Heather took 6 of our grand kids and her son, Nicholas, to Medieval Times on December 21...it was a blast. I think it's the best time I ever had with the Grand kids, and I think it's because their parents weren't there!!LOL.

So I had decorated the inside and outside of the house for Christmas, the inside of the club for Christmas and a Luau on New Years...had all my ducks in a row, all my balls juggling just fine ready for the holidays and I got sick as a dog. Spent the entire holidays sick. Had to cancel the big family get together. Had to cook for and oversee the Christmas party at the Club benefiting the outreach center...sick. Got up Christmas morning and pushed through to finish making Christmas dinner...sick. Then put on a New Years Eve Luau....sick. Life showed me, thought I was on top of things and instead I was sick.

So now we're 5 and Life with the Grands goes on with one less Grand.

Planning a girls cruise in March...Mama is still debating whether she'll go or not. If she does we'll have 4 generations of women on the trip, which would be really special. I just don't know if she's up to the confusion and chaos of a cruise ship and neither is she. So far 16 gals going....mothers, daughters, mother-in-laws and perhaps a Great Great grandmother.

The Grandfather Bob has to have some minor back surgery and has a problem with his remaining thyroid gland, hopefully all will go well with that and we can get him exercising, along with the rest of us.

Lee and I will have our 16th wedding anniversary next week. I believe this move with the Grands has really made out marriage stronger and helped us realize how much we love each other and how lucky we are to be together. So to celebrate we're taking the Grands and going to Shreveport to the casino's and make our donations.LOL

Pray for us in our new year and keep us in your thoughts. My prayer 2011 is that we all see it through to the end and enjoy loving and living together....PEACE!!