The 1:30 Phone Call

Santa (a.k.a. my in-laws) bought me the complete Harry Potter movie set for Christmas. So, the hubs and I have been watching that when we can. We're up to movie five now. And last night we had a date to see The Hobbit. 

My mind's been in a world of orks, wizards, dementors, dwarfs, Gollum, and Voldemort. So you can see why a phone call at 1:30 a.m. from our home security company completely scared me silly. The patio door monitor was no longer "under supervision" for some harmless reason. However, it didn't seem so harmless then. To say I'm drowsy today is a total understatement. One eye open all night . . . . 

To change the subject, below are pics from Thanksgiving week. Yes, Thanksgiving. Our niece Baylee visited, and then we all visited the Gaylord Texas to see the sights. It's no Opryland Hotel, but it was really fun, especially the Tex Mex. I guarantee the Opryland can't beat that!

For Sale!

With remodeling and moving, one is always compelled to purge. A garage sale is definitely in the Youree's future, but here are a couple items too big for my garage (that is, if I want my cars to fit).

Interested in a couch? $50. The catch? You have to pick it up. There's a coffee table for sale too (scroll down).

Or a nice coffee table? $25.

Radio Silent No More

While I wonder sometimes if anyone actually listens to the radio anymore, the best term I can muster to explain the recent absence of posts is "radio silent." However, as hectic as the holidays are for everyone, I'm guessing you didn't even notice. :-)

In summary, the previous 30 days found me "packing" in as many activities as possible. And I ain't kiddin' about the packing. We moved back into our house (confusing?) on December 14. I'm now somewhere between barely unpacked and insane. For the last seven months, we've called an apartment home; so even with boxes galore, it feels so.good.to.be.home. Along with the moving, we threw in a family trip or two and that small, teeny tiny holiday you might have heard of--Christmas.

The year 2012 will not go down in history as the end of the world, but, for us, as the year of the remodel.  With that tremendous excitement and hope of a new home for our family also came the usual stress and overwhelming nature of the project. But all in all, it was manageable and we feel no worse for the wear. Miracle? I think so.

Sadly, this year too will also forever be the year I lost my mom. In the midst of the joy and bliss and "new" and festive, grief and sadness still linger. Ah, grief is a beast you cannot tame.

So, here's to 2013! May it be boring, bland, and completely uneventful. Who's with me?

Watch This!

The clip below is hysterical! Why? Like most funnies, it's humorous because it's TRUE. While I haven't been the recipient of all of these comments (the international adoption comments actually), I have encountered the majority of them. And yes, like you, I think, "What in the world?" But hey, don't we all say stuff we regret? Sometimes it's just better to chuckle.

Arkansas Memorial

Next Friday, November 30, my family will host a memorial reception in honor of my mother, who passed away on October 10. This will be at Community Church at Chaffee Crossing, 1900 Church Street, Barling, Arkansas 72923. Please join us and feel free to come and go any time between 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Mom's obituary will run in this Sunday's Southwest Times Record.

Autopsy

In terms of uplifting and day-brightening blog post titles, I'm not sure this one is a winner.

But a fact.

And who do you know that carries around death certificates in her work bag for a week? That'd be me.

For those of you who don't already know, the coroner officially deemed "smoke and soot inhalation" as the cause of my mother's death. Contributing to her death, the coroner listed "congestive heart failure" and "hypertensive arteriosclerotic vascular disease." Now that may not sound like good news to you; in fact, it was a surprise to me because our family didn't know mom struggled with these health issues. But this revelation coupled with the what we already knew of her declining health--multiple diabetic maladies and recovery from a broken hip earlier this year--brings comfort to me.

It explains why my mother only made it about six feet before collapsing once the grease fire broke out. She was apparently cooking chicken on the stovetop. Her walker was fourish feet away at the sink. She made it to the dining table, trying for the back door. It also comforts me to know she did not suffer long. Her body with those health struggles could not sustain life very long at all.

The complete autopsy--as far as I know--is not yet released. I suppose some of the testing takes a bit.

But some closure is better than no closure. For that, I'm thankful.

Family from the Funeral

On October 17--my mother's birthday, no less--my family gathered to pay respects to my mother's memory. Sadly, it seems, only major events like funerals, weddings, and births get us together anymore. But something is better than nothing. I absolutely treasured the time spent. Here are a few (well, a ton) snapshots to share: