March 12, 2015

As the anniversary of Patrick's passing approaches I realized I never came back and posted about his celebration.  We had it the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend so not very many people showed up.  The ones that cared the most did and that's all that matters.  There were others that told us they would be there but then decided to go and fish or camp or just hang out and drink and grill that day away and that's okay because I figure that way Patrick went to a whole bunch of celebrations.  We had a BBQ dinner with brisket and a potato bar and cake for dessert along with other stuff he liked.  We had a good time and I got a few good pictures out of it.

R.I.P. Patrick

After 14 years of on and off illness my brother Patrick on April 4, 2014 at 1:02 p.m. slipped the surly bonds of earth to pass into heaven.  I know he had a wonderful greeting.  I can hear my Daddy hollering "What took ya so long son?"  "Time to get fishin' now that you finally made it here."  My Aunt Tricia would be asking if he wanted coffee and Grandma Ruby would be telling him lets go to Walmart.  Granny and Granddaddy Phillips would have him over to drink Dr. Peppers with him and Aunt Shirley would be asking if he saw all the beautiful blluebonnets blooming on his way up.  Grandpa Ivy would be setting up the dominoes for a moon tournament.  Horseshoes would be played in the cool of the evening and Patrick will be in his glory and not be hurting anymore.

Thank you God for your tender mercies and for your glorious heaven.  I look forward to the best family reunion when I finally get there with them all.

My Daddy passed away on December 22, 2013 at about 7 p.m.  He had been going down throughout the proceeding week but no one notified us so we had no idea until we got to the VA on that Sunday morning.  He looked bad but not so bad that we thought he would pass that day.  I'm just glad I got to see him that one last time.  Something came over me on Saturday night to go and see him.  I called my sister and told her I'd take her and Mom on Sunday and that my brother Terry could just stay home then and get some rest or run errands or whatever he needed to do.  I'm so glad I listened to that inner voice but so sad that we didn't know he was on his last day.  We would have stayed to the end if we would have known.  We went up there after he died and spent some time with him.  My Mama was very upset of course and kept beating herself up for not staying and being with him through the end.  She kept on saying how Grandpa passed after she left and how Grandma passed after she left and now Dad passed after she left.  I told her maybe that was Gods way of not putting her through seeing someone she loved so dearly pass in front of her.  She still kept beating herself up over it.  She's holding up pretty good, not great, but there's nothing wrong with being just OK when sad things happen.  He always wanted to be cremated so we arranged that, had a nice funeral for him, and brought him home to sit on the mantel and be with family.  He was in the VA for 4 years and one month.  After being away from family and my Mom there was no way she was going to bury him.  After the funeral we brought him home. He'll be there until Mom joins him and then I hope that we will pass them on to children and grandchildren through forever.  I'm sure one day we might find somewhere sweet that reminds us of them and spread their ashes together there.  After 53 years of marriage and 54 years of loving each other I can't imagine them not being together after forever.

and again its been too long

since I last posted.

I got the settlement money.  It wasn't much but it was what I needed which was my medical bills paid for and a little bit left over to get caught up on bills with.  That was in mid January. February and March were quiet months for us.  I was still playing catch up but finally Chris got a dedicated run at work and the paychecks were being around the same each payday.  Its so nice to sort of know what to expect each payday for sure. We didn't do anything for Spring break in March.  Just stayed home and vegged out with the kids. April, May and June were nice months too.  We had our family reunion on August 3rd and had to pay for the bbq we ordered at the end of July.  Wouldn't you know we almost get all the money saved for that and our water heater went out.  Just our luck but if only it would have waited.  The reunion turned out really well.  I wish more of the family would have attended but oh well, they missed out on some good food, good fun and lots of fun family time.  That brings us up to date.

Update on my Dad.  He's still the same.  We celebrated his 75th birthday and he seemed to really enjoy it.  I know we did.  It was everyone up there except for my brother Patrick.  He doesn't want my Dad to see him in a wheel chair and unable to do anything for himself.  He really should see Dad.  Dad wouldn't remember after that Patrick is really, really ill but it would make for an uncomfortable visit so I understand why Patrick doesn't want Dad to see him that way.  Patrick had a stroke on his right side on March 17 2012 and has gotten no better.  In fact he is worse than the few days after he had the stroke.  He's blind on the right sides of his eyes, he can't really walk and speech is slow and slurred.  He's alive but not a happy person so much anymore.  He has good days and bad.  Actually Patrick is in worse shape than Dad and is at home with my Mom and them.  He really should be in a home but because he only has disability no one will take him.  Its a harsh fact but he doesn't get the care he needs but he won't let himself get the help he needs either.  He has nurses and therapists coming and working with him but he lies and says he does the work outs and stuff when they aren't there.  He lies and says he's capable of doing things for himself too.  Anyway, that's for him to live with.

That's our year brought up to date.  God bless you everyone.  Count your blessings and let the bad roll away.

Christmas turned out better than what I expected.  The lawyer came through with some PIP money and I was able to buy groceries, put aside $50 each for the kids presents and had enough left over for gas money to and from Mother in Laws house in Marshall.  It wasn't the Christmas we wanted nor expected but it was the Chrismas we needed.  Thank God for small reminders and huge blessings.  Here's to a great 2013!

Merry Christmas!!!  I hope this Christmas season finds you all well and happy.  We've been having a hard time financially since about June.  It's just been one thing after another after another.  I'm waiting for a settlement from a major insurance company and they keep delaying paying me every chance they get.  We've had several things break that I had to pull from bill money to pay because I didn't have that money yet.  I got a lawyer in July and was told it was a simple case, six to eight weeks.  Yeah its going on 5 months now.  The release was signed but then I was told that the insurance company didn't know I was married and now want my husband to sign the release.  They said its because Texas is a community state.  Whatever!  But because we've had such a hard time financially my kids aren't going to have a Christmas.  I've always managed before to get them things but since I was strung along by the lawyer as well as the insurance company and had to pull money from bill money its just not going to happen this year.  They never ask for anything huge either.  It seemed this year that every time we'd be recovering and able to be caught up with bills and maybe get to save  Chris's driving partner would be out for a month and then we'd have to start all over again.  As you all know his partner passed away out of the blue in October.  I thought that since I should be getting the settlement by Christmas that we wouldn't have to worry.  Uh, no......I know better than to count my chickens before they hatch but I had hope and was continually reassured that I'd have the settlement by Thanksgiving, then it was the next week, oh somebody must have gone on vacation and the last one was you'll have it for Christmas.  I don't think we will.  I'm proud of my children and the way they are handling the news that there's no gifts for Christmas.  We raised them that way but never ever have we not had anything for them.  I know Christmas isn't about the gifts and my children have never been about gifts for any season be it their birthdays or as in this case Christmas but just being strung along for 5 months has worn me to a frazzle.  I wanted to give them what they each wanted this year.  They never go for big ticket items.  Jessi just wants a couple of anime drawing books and Nick is always happy with video games even if they're cheap ones.  I never thought there'd be a Christmas where I have to choose to be able to feed us or give presents.  This post is mostly just a vent.  A place for me to get it off of my chest.  Chris doesn't really get it.  He thinks I should be able to call the insurance company and tell them give me my money but unfortunately it doesn't work that way.  I'd hate to see how they would have dragged it out if I hadn't have gotten a lawyer. 

Merry Christmas dear friends and followers.  May God bless and keep you this holiday season and bring you joy and blessings in the next year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you and yours will be having a wonderful day.  We're expecting mother in law to come in tomorrow.  She'll be here until Saturday probably.  Not long enough at all since we only get to see her 2 other times during the year but it'll have to do.