The holiday season for our family gets harder every year. It seems like our family is somewhat jinxed when it comes to this time of the year. It all started when my mom passed away on Christmas Eve in 2005. Our beloved cat Usdi also passed away a few days before that. Since then we usually have some kind of trial right around this time of year.
Well, this year is no different. Tim's grandpa, Don Abbott,  passed away yesterday 11/25/11. He has been sick with Alzheimers and was recently diagnosed with throat cancer. He was 84. I know it was a sweet reunion for him to see his daughter again and his mom and many other loved ones. . He has been a pillar of strength in the lives of his family. A true family patriarch. We will certainly miss him. He was married to his sweetheart for 64 years. I can't imagine how hard this is for her.
I know that the holiday season is hard for a lot of people. I know we aren't alone when it comes to missing those that we love. It just makes it hard to feel any Christmas spirit. I don't want to dread the holidays but I do. I do my best to make it a special time of year for my son. I don't want him to feel the sadness.
Last year, Christmas was only 7 days after Tim's mom passed away and I think we were all kind of still in shock. I barely remember anything about it. This year, the loss will be felt even more I think.

This is a picture of Blake and Tim's grandpa this year on Halloween. That smile just says it all.

I don't think I can even begin to catch up on the months and months that I didn't blog. But for posterity's sake I want to note in my blog that we lost one incredible lady on December 18, 2010. Blake's grandma, Pamela Marie Buerke passed away. She had been sick for many years and her poor little body just couldn't take it anymore. It has been very hard learning to live without her in the last year. She was a HUGE part of our lives and we look forward to the day we will see her again.

I'm baaacckkk....

Well now, I guess it's been a loooooong time. I can't believe I haven't posted in over a year. At some point I will try to catch up with the big things that have happened but for now we'll just start with where we are now.

Blake is now 8 years old and was baptized last December. He will be starting 3rd grade in a few short weeks. This summer zipped by so fast. I can't even believe. I've been in denial I think because just last night, I finally bought all the school supplies.

I have been really busy at work this summer. I've put in a LOT of 50 hour work weeks. I guess that would help explain the summer zipping by to some degree. I have been called into young womens for the first time. I am the second counselor in the presidency. I am over the beehives. I've been in since early April. I'm really enjoying it. The girls are so awesome. (more about that later)

Not much has changed for the hubby. He just turned 40. I'm next so I can't make fun of him too much. We have decided to have a joint birthday party at the end of August. We're having it at his Aunt Kathy's house out in country. It should be a lot of fun.

I am leaving this coming Tuesday to go to Girls Camp with the young women. Laura finally talked me into going. I am going to be a cabin mom. It's the first time I've ever been so I'm excited. I hope it all goes well.

I hope to be able to get things caught up here. There has been happiness and there has been much sorrow but such is life I suppose.

More later.