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:

Halloween Numero Dos

It's the second Halloween in Anna's little life. Too bad she didn't get to trick-or-treat this year. Sniff, sniff. An ear infection ruined our fun. (And I was planning on eating all her chocolate. Fail.) 

But don't cry too many tears. She DID get to dress up in her OU cheerleader outfit for music class yesterday. And she doesn't even like sweets so no disappointment there (for HER anyway; I'm still pouting about all the Twix bars I'm forfeiting). Here she is singing a musical tune:

This is really what I saw most of music class, that is, when she wasn't plastered to my shoulder. This was earlier in the day, pre-ear infection diagnosis. Thus, why we decided to skip the festivities tonight. As you can see from the pic, the fun was touch and go. 

Yes, that's my daughter in the back . . . the one picking her nose. Sigh. 

Buddies. Giving each other "the look." "So, your mom dressed you up like a fool too, eh?" 

Yes, don't adjust your glasses, contacts, or your screen. That's me--and Anna--on a horse. You can thank the wonderful Ms. Lisa for this. :-) We joined her at a fall festival; and somehow I got talked into a horse ride with the wee one. It was fun, and I enjoyed entertaining the audience with my graceful on-and-off the horse routine.  

Anna was enthralled with "toss the tennis ball" here. She also played a few rounds of bean-bag toss, go fish, and the pick a duck. She loved it! 

Happy Halloween from the Youree cowgirls! 

More School Shots

No, no, not needles, silly. Pictures.

I actually loaded these pictures weeks ago but never got around to adding text. Better late than never, right? The sandals have been replaced with socks and the sleeveless is not a long-sleeved shirt. But maybe not for long; supposed to have highs in the 80s later this week. 

The girl loves her lunchbox, er bag. And she carries it with her arm up the entire way. This is how she rolls every Friday for school.

Here is her class minus Hannah. 

Her cubby she shares with Gabe from the 2's class.

Friday school has been a big treat for Anna. She loves it more than I want to admit. :-) This last Friday, she was able to glue construction paper onto a paper plate. Time. of. her. life. Yay for Fridays!