I am such a goof

So my wife, daughter, 2 brotherinlaws, father in law and nephew all return from Pheonix today. They will not be bringing Oma's body due to too many delays and red tape. Oma will have to stay in Pheonix until Opa returns. Her wish was to be cremated and have her ashes scattered in the desert. We would have like to have her make the trip but Oh well. There are many things out of our control.

So I decided last night to get all cleaned up. I gave myself a haircut and I shaved off the "goat" I wanted to look good. Imagine my horror as I looked in the mirror this morning and realized that perhaps I had one too many drinks. I had a reverse mohalk. Evidently when I took the spacer off to clean the shears, I neglected to sdet it back at 3. It was set at one. That one last little swipe I took to to finish up evidently was the straw that broke the camels back. tehe. I was really embarrased. There was no way I could go to the airport looking like that!. Here I am trying to impress my love and my family and I end up looking like a 4 year old who found the scissors.

I gave my buddy a call on the way to work. I woke him up out of bed and he opened the door for me. We both laughed at my stupidity. I grabbed his shears and gave myself a number 1. That is the nly way I could hide my mistake. It reminds me oof a stupid saying...I cut this wood 3 times and its still too short!.

Well anyway, hair grows back and my wife loves me for more than my hair...thank goodness!

Monday Morning Update

Sue's brother Peter returned from Arizona late last week, sorted some stuff and left again this morning. He called my place to see if Debbie wanted to go. So, once again, I was at the airport at 6:30 to see another loved one off. Join me in prayer that they all return safely. Now both my ladies are gone and I feel pretty vulnerable.

They still havnt been able to get the body. Sue says its hot down there and people dont work very fast. We hope to get OMA today and then have her cremated. That will take a few days. They will have a small memorial down there and then hopefully everyone will return late this week or weekend.

I was sent pictures of the cars. It took me a day to get the courage to look at them. Needless to say it was horrific. All I can tell you is that one car was red and one car was grey. I showed them to my kids as they are both young drivers and have been deeply hurt by this accident. I want them to really see the results of carelessness.

Thankyou to all the people who have sent condolances. Thankyou Brenda for dropping by and sending your love. I trust all is well with you. I think of you often. Hows school? How was the trip? Keep smilling. We are OK.......just sad.

Oma was an amazing person. So full of love and compassion. I see her in all her grandchildren. When I was going through pictures on the weekend it really sunk in. Oma deeply loved our children. Every picture I have has her holding a baby or a child. All of our kids would run to her for comfort, hugs and love. She taught our little ladies well. Each one of them has a peice of Oma inside them. We were so blessed.

All these jokes about motherinlaws were never true for me. My mother in law was great! I am so blessed.

Anyway, I found everything I lost, but now I lost my paycheck. I am not thinking straight. I am disorgazed at best and throw in a little stress, and take away my glue (Sue) and I am junk. I hate to think what Opa is going through. I think if it was me, I would lose my shoes and go for a long walk up North and lose my way back.

Coping with Grief

Well its been quite a roller coaster ride. During all this, I lost my cell phone and I lost my wallet. I lost my paperwork for my passport and I dont know where I put the papers to transfer my bus. I didnt eat for a couple of days and my feet gave out on my leaving me sprawled on the floor. I didnt sleep for a couple of days either. I toss and turn at night because I cant stand being away from my wife. I have no interest in getting up in the morning and my eyes are sore from crying. On the way home from work yesterday I was trying hear her voice in my head. I could hear the words she often spoke, but it was in my head and in my voice. I strained to remember her voice and when I couldnt I did the only thing I could...I cried. I have a hard time in my car because I spend 3 hours a day there.....alone with my thoughts and memories.

Well I went and bought a new cell phone. I found my wallet behind my dresser. I found my paperwork behind the seat in my car. I am eating even though I dont have an appetite. I am sleeping...kinda. I have decided not to hurt myself anymore trying to remember her voice. Remembering the words she spoke and the love in which she spoke them will have to be good enough. I will just keep crying in my car until all my tears are gone.

We have had an outpouring of love from our family, freinds and church family. People have been sharing their tradgedies with us. We are not alone. We have each other and we have faith. We are happy people and always try to be postive. I am so blessed.

I owe my mother in law a debt of gratitude. She was everything I hope and pray that my daughter might become. She made my wife especially for me and she poured into her great love, knowledge and compassion. She was special. She was the glue that not only kept her family together, but all of ours as well. She always knew the right things to do. She had a cure for everything. She was an amazing woman and I have to repeat how blessed I was to be her son in law.

I heard from Sue yesterday and it looks like she will stay at least another week. I cant wait to hold her again.

Sue's Mom Died Last Night - Death of a Matriarch

It brings me great sorrow to tell you that Sues mom died last night in a very bad car accident. I loved my mother in law and this picture is how I will remember her.

Sue and her brothers Peter and Gord were on the first flight out and should be arriving in Phoenix very soon. They will rent a car and drive to see their dad at the trailer park where they have wintered for the last 10 years. We are not sure how long they will stay.

Horst and Cecilia Wiesner left for Phoenix on Sunday Morning.The accident occurred on Monday night. The sun was setting and blinded the driver of the on coming vehicle and he failed to negotiate the turn, hitting Sues mom. Horst in the meantime was waiting back at camp and was worried because she was late. Word quickly traveled about a bad accident just down the road. Sues dad hopped on the ATV and went to the site to find the horrible news. He phoned us from someones cell phone to tell us that things didn’t look very good And that she had just been airlifted out. She was trapped in the vehicle for 1 hour. Opa drove to Phoenix 2 hours away and then called us with the news. Oma died in the air ambulance. Her injuries were too great.

We drove to Gord and Elaines and gathered at midnight and cried and hugged. We came home and I went through the photo album, while Sue bathed and packed. We got An hour of shuteye and then left for the airport.

Sorry for all the ugly details, but its nice for me also to share our tragedy with others.
There is peace and calm amidst our deep sorrow.

I thankyou for your prayers and support. Please pray specifically for Sues dad as he tries to adjust to life without his beloved wife of 52 years. Please pray for Sue and her brothers for strength, courage and compassion. Please pray for the person who was responsible for this.
If they are a decent person, they will carry a guilt and sorrow for the rest of their lives.
I pray that God might heal their wounds as well. If they are not a decent person, I pray that this accident opens their eyes and cause them to call out to God. I pray that He might be there when they call.

I refuse to say that “God brought her home to be with Him” She was a victim of our highways and our way of life. I believe rather, that God grieves with us.
I am reminded of the shortest verse in the bible.....“Jesus wept”
….and I find Him in my tears.

This picture was taken on Sunday Morning. Peter works for Air Canada and he got this great photo. This is the last photo we have. It is a fitting photo.......I love you Oma

dw

You Bought What??????

Thats right. I think I just bought a school bus. I was at a little party on Saturday night and a freind of Rons has 2. He wants to get one of them home to B.C. but cant afford the gas. He offered me the other bus for $500.00. Evidently it runs and can be certified. It has had all the school bus stuff taken off, and it has been registered as a RV recreational vehicle. So I thought COOL!!! and I went and told my wife. She said "are you crazy?" I guess that means NO.

So anyway, I got a call this morning form the guy and he is desparate. He now offered the bus for $300.00. It is sitting in Brantford, which is about 1.5 hours away. I told him that if he would drive it from Brantford to my driveway, I would give him the $300.00 plus a ride home.

So I need to rush home and get there before my wife and the bus because.......

I HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Visit From a Dear Friend

Sue and I had an unexpected visit from 2 childhood friends....good friends. It was so great to see them. Susan Walton was visiting from the Yukon. She went there for a summer job and basicallly never returned. They say that about the Yukon. Susan is my buddy Brians sister. I spent some of the best years of my life with them. Debbie Olsen drove Sue up. Debbie has a chocolat shop in Oakville. I LOVE CHOCOLAT!. ..and I love Debbie too! We used to sing in a band together. We shared some pretty excellent times. She and Sue are best freinds.

We had tea together and laughed and joked about life. Susan taught me 2 really cool things.........

ONE: hold your camera to the ground facing uo and you look down over the camera. The you shake your head wildly and take a picture.

TWO: take a mouthful of chocolat pudding and smush it on your front teeth. Then smile and take a poicture.