Keira Turns Four!!!

Living up here means I miss out on most everything so I live for seeing pictures of everything that happens.

Keira looks like she had a grand 4th birthday with parties at school, friend party and party at Grandma's--

Although I do not know all the dates of when these things happened, I do know Keira turned four on February 11th so that is the date I am putting all the pictures, even if they did not exactly all happen on that day!!

A picture is worth a thousand words, it is almost like I am there!!!

 

 

 

Jacob Turns 16!

Jacob turned 16 on February 3rd!!! Where has the time gone?  So he is driving and a good looking teenager.  He is also good at whatever he decides he wants to do and such a sweetheart.  Everyone loves Jacob!  Scuba diving with his Dad and in to Lacrosse this year.

 

 

 

Frenchie Pulsipher is Laid to Rest

 

Kristi gave a review of the funeral of Frenchie Pulsipher, Gary's Dad and Kristi's Grandfather.  Since I was not there I want a memory in my book for this year and so will quote from Kristi Stewart.  The pictures are from the burial.

 

"My Grandpa Frenchie died on Jan 26th. Two days after I left San Diego. His funeral was on Jan 30th. During the viewing I had not planned on letting my kids in the room to see him. Somehow Kate and Ryan both ended up in there. I think they were both having a really hard time. I felt bad that they are going to remember him like that. Mike and I were able to sit down with both of them and have a conversation about the plan of salvation.   And remind them that Grandpa is in heaven now."

 

 

"I did not  go up to the casket because I felt I had already gotten the opportunity to say goodbye. I did not want to remember him like that. Mike said the family prayer and did a great job. He felt like he could have done a lot better but I thought it was perfect. Everyone from the family was able to make it except for Tanner. It was such a beautiful service. There were a lot of tears and a lot of laughs."

 

 

" The Grandkids sang "Families can be Together Forever". First of all, none of us are very good singers. But then when you add in tears and emotions the song went from bad to worse. Everyone was sobbing by the second verse. The compliments that we got were "very touching" and "heart felt". I am glad we did it but the vocals could have been a lot better."

 

 

" Joan, Jeff, and Dad spoke. They all did a great job. One thing that Joan did that was cool was ask Grandpa a few questions and tape recorded his answers before he passed. She played them back during her talk. To hear his voice at the funeral was awesome. The boys told many stories I had never heard before."

 

 

 

 "It was crazy to me how much my Grandpa and I have in common. Maybe thats why I am his favorite. At the grave side we were able to have soldiers come to honor Grandpa's military service. They played a song on the horn and folded a flag over the casket and presented it to Grandma. It was such a cool experience."

 

 

" I am so grateful for the wonderful family I was blessed to be sent to. It will be hard to go on without Grandpa but he will always be with us. I am grateful for the knowledge that although he is gone from this life I will be with him again. It makes me happy to think that he is on the other side happy and healthy with his extended family." 

                                                                                   Kristi Stewart

This is an especially touching picture of Kristi's family viewing the casket of their Great Grandpa and talking about him.

Thanks, Kristi, for the beautiful review.

Lea on Thursday and then Honoring John on Saturday

We just had time to go see Lea with her Cheer Team at Torrey Pines High.

 

It is hard to believe that little Lea now towers above and is a beautiful highschooler doing intricate routines.  We really enjoyed watching her.

Thursday night was the first time Matt and I found ourselves on our own and took a simple choice, Carl's Jr,, and then watched some TV before turning in.  We were exhausted.

Friday morning I went to the Temple with Linda, had a nice lunch and then home again to Jacuzzi and eat with Matt again.  We were so hungry for good fish and chips we drove up to the one in Oceanside and it was delicious.

On Saturday morning many of us met at Torrey Pines Beach.  Meagan had decided that after 11 years we should find a resting place for John.  Maria knew that Bathtub Rock was his favorite surfing place and so Meagan and all of us agreed that would be a great spot.

However, the tide was higher Saturday morning than I had ever seen the tide at Torrey Pines and so we gathered around a picnic table at the top of the beach and shared stories about John's love for surfing and hiking, etc.  I read the letter that John's friend Matt wrote as to why Bathtub Rock was such a favorite.  James shared many funny and poignant stories about John as the older brother and their experiences with him in learning to surf and hike.  Meagan and Maria and maybe others also shared.  It was a lovely time talking about him for about an hour.

We then went to get Brunch at a local Mexican eatery and agreed to meet again at 4 pm.

When we came back we found out we would have to be back to pick up our cars from the parking lot by 5 PM when the park closed.  Maria urged Keira and I to get an early start on the walk as it took about 30 minutes.  I so enjoyed walking that beautiful beach with Keira.

When we got to Bathrub Rock I needed help getting up but others quickly gathered and we garnered the left hand corner as our own.  A movie about our gathering together and honoring John is on You Tube at  http://youtu.be/WqKRA7DsgPo
I was so joyful to be there with Meagan, Keira, Eden, Matt and and all my children and other family.  It was a tender remembrance of John all day.

After everyone came to the condo Matt and I were staying in and had a birthday party for me.  My cup runneth over.

 Sunday morning Matt V and I drove home to Lake Almanor.  We had had a wonderful birthday week in Carlsbad and San Diego area!!

Honoring Richard and Frenchie

Thursday morning I walked on the beach and enjoyed the Jacuzzi again.  Then I left for Linda's.  Gary's Dad Frenchie is at home and not expected to live much longer.  Hospice and Amy have been caring for him.  We decided this was a good morning to visit him and Marilyn in El Cajon.  Frenchie and Marilyn are still a beautiful couple.

This is a very caring way to say a slow goodbye to your loved one.  There is so much love surrounding Frenchie.  It is beautiful to see.  Still it is so sad that Marilyn will now be a widow, too.  We have some good sharing moments as we pay our respects to Frenchie and talk to Marilyn.  Amy said that caring for her Grandpa made her look at her job as a nurse in a whole new way.

I don't think I had noticed Marilyn's beautiful garden in the front, it is mostly all succulents.  I have always wanted to have that kind of garden.  Several of the homes around Linda' house have the succulents mixed in with other plants and it is really lovely.

Linda and Maria had invited me to go to lunch after visiting and tending to the grave of Richard at El Camino.  I was overwhelmed to see so many join us.  We had a lovely time sharing stories about Richard.  So many of the grandchildren did not know him at all.  I really appreciated everyone coming.  In attendance Linda, Amy, Kelly, Sarah, James, Camber, Jacob, Lea,  Maria, Matt, Meagan, Keira, Eden, Kristi, Brynn, Molly,

Meagan's Keira and Kristi's Brynn

Meagan's Eden and Kristi's Molly

Then we all went to a Crepe place nearby.  We were the only ones in to store but it overwhelmed the attendant.  Actually she did a great job getting everyone served.  Some of the youth wondered to other near by vendors and brought food back.  It was such a great time to be with so much family.

It was an emotionally packed day as we shared time at Frenchie's and then with Richard and with so many of the family there.