Only the beginning

I've kind of dreaded this post, but I feel like I can't keep on blogging past my dad's obituary without some feelings expressed by me.  So, here goes!

This last three weeks has been a little bit insane.  It started right after Christmas.  My dad was having noticable declines daily.  Kendall, me and the kiddos stayed at my parents house from the 26th through the 1st of January.  I had my dr.s appointment that was going to decide my bedridden fate on Tuesday so my thought this would be a good week to have have us come and stay so Kendall could get our bathroom all torn out and remodeled.  I'm really glad I got the chance to spend so much time with Dad that week because everything happened so fast.  On Thursday the 30th Ivan (the hospice caregiver) had trouble getting him too and from the bathroom to his chair and had to lay him down in the hallway until my mom could bring him the wheel chair.  They got him settled back into his bed and he wasn't able to get out of it again.  That night we had what was going to be a girl party at mom's with Jeanette, Becky Laura, me and mom, but it ended up being a looking through pictures party.  Thursday night was pretty crazy...Jeanette and I were talking in the family room when we heard noises coming from dad's room.  It was around 12:30 am when we went in and dad was trying to communicate, but couldn't get his words to come out clear, but his eyes were racing around the room and then he lifted up his hand and started pointing.  Jeanette and I looked at each other and new that he was speaking with and seeing people that we couldn't see, but could feel.  I asked dad if there were people there with him and he gave a small nod yes.  It was a pretty special experience and from then on almost every time went into his room I could feel the pressence of family.  On Friday the nurse came  and checked him and ended up putting a catheter in. Dad didn't want to eat at all after Thursday but was still drinking water at this point.  We rallied the family together to let them know that they probably needed to come pretty quickly to visit dad.  Everyone was able to come within the next two days.  It was really neat to me to see how unified our family can be.  I really love my brothers and sisters (including in-laws) so much and they are a huge strength to me.  On Sunday night we all got together again and the boys gave dad a blessing.  I'm so thankful for the Priesthood in my life, and I'm so glad to alway have had a Father who was willing and anxious to excercise his Priesthood.  It was a great blessing and afterwards we sang some primary songs.  Although dad was pretty out of it I think he really liked that we were all there together. 

From Monday on he just kept declining and looking worse and finally on Friday the 7th at 7:45 in the morning he passed.  All of the siblings got together and we were able to begin truly mourning.

The viewing was on Monday night and then the funeral was on Tuesday.  It ended up being a great tribute to my dad and I am so glad it turned out the way it did. 

I wanted to give a thank you to all of you who have been praying for us and thinking about us.  It has meant a lot.