What I haven’t done…

1. Updated this blog, after I told everybody to start checking it out…

2.  Organized the blood drive we said we’d arrange in honor of my grandpa (who donated more than 11 gallons in his lifetime!)…

3.  Laundry…(well, I’ve done a little)…

4.  Finished my thank you notes from our wedding…10 months ago!  (I just found our list and there were a few that didn’t get done when we worked to finish them over the summer…I thought it was bad enough that we had so many still to do by the time summer came around)…

5.  Sold the pathetic little Toyota Corolla, that is basically worth pennies…gotta do that asap, since we have to buy tags for it this month…

6.  Dusted my house…

7.  Vacuumed my house…

8.  Called some people I said I would call…

9.  Written an actual snail mail letter or note for no reason at all to any of my good friends…(I used to actually send correspondence!  Now I barely send emails!)…

10.  Gone on a bike ride (in 2 1/2 months)…even though I now have a fancy-schmancy bike…

But somehow, I’m still tired…even with all the things I HAVEN’T done.

BUT, one thing is true:  I’m happy.  Happier than I’ve ever been.  I didn’t know I could be any happier than I’ve been in the past…because I’ve had some pretty happy times.  I’m not just happy: I’m joyful.

Why am I joyful?

1.  My God is amazing, and He loves me so much…

2.  My husband is my favorite person ever.  He makes me laugh every day…

3.  We have everything we need, and nothing to complain about…

4.  I know more than ever before, that my family is uber-wonderful…losing my grandpa has definitely brought new awareness of this…including my NEW family…

5.  It’s fall.  Enough said.

6.  Christmas is coming…my husband and his mom and sisters are already listening to Christmas music…so trust me on this one: it’s coming…

7.  Did I mention that God is amazing?  He’s truly the ultimate of ultimates.  Without Him there is no joy…

8.  I’d make this an even 10…but I’m really tired.  You get the point…

I apologize if my procrastination has affected you.  But I spend too much time worrying about what I HAVEN’T done, verses the joys in my life.  So I’ll eventually get around the the todo list.  I promise.  In the meantime, I hope you find the joy that I’ve found!

NO MERCY!

That’s my Grandpa’s motto. Well, for playing cards anyway. But, he had that motto for himself, I think. As my mom described him when discussing his ancestry (Scotch-English) to the funeral associate the other day, he (as well as his Scotch-English wife) was “stubborn as a mule!”

My grandfather, David “Rip” Henderson passed away Thursday morning. It’s been a tiring few days, and we still have a few more before it’s all over (though, really, it’s just the beginning…for now it becomes a family effort to care for my grandmother and keep her from being lonely). The first few hours were roughest. Then it was mostly reminiscing. Planning a funeral is not easy! There is so much to do in a short amount of time…barely time to grieve. But you do anyway. My grandma keeps saying that she’s “walking dumb”. Still pretty shocked, and amazed at how quick everything happens the moment your loved one is gone.

I’ve stayed with her the last couple nights, and for the most part the two of us have just hung out in the kitchen, looking through pictures or talking. I’m supposed to be helping her grocery shop. We’ll get to that soon. As for now, she keeps noticing housework to do…and I let her, since she needs to do something to help her process this. This morning she’s been out sweeping the leaves and picking up the fall clutter in the lawn…and she’s about to dust the whole place. She’s keeping me on my toes. First thing yesterday morning, she was taking Grandpa’s adaptive equipment out of the front bathroom so it wouldn’t be in the way when company comes…so I had to jump ahead of her and get the bath bench downstairs before she attempted that herself! Always worried about others, she frequently asks if I want hot chocolate, tells me to help myself to the towels, and repeatedly conveys her concern that she doesn’t have enough food on hand to make sure I’m well-fed. She forgets that I lived with them for more than a year, less than a year ago… That’s my grandma!

Family will start coming in from out of town today. Tomorrow is the visitation, and the funeral is Monday morning. It’s crazy how suddenly a life can end…even at 89 years of age, it still feels short when you love someone so much. We miss you, Grandpa. You’ve finally snoozed off where your snores won’t wake yourself back up. Fitting that you went in your sleep…one last thing for us to smile about. Love you.