The ROYFAM Story

 Sundays are for rest.... Today I took it slow.  I purchased some yellow flowers for the planters in the yard.  Im feeling I need the pop of yellow to pick me up, not my normal go-to.  I'm a really big fan of pink...but today yellow pansies.  I saw Allison and Tracy and chatting with them was great.  I am too social and generally happy to stay home in a ball.  I'm trying to get away from saying I'm "hanging in there" and today I said "I am so grateful for the amazing love I have been shown...almost 40 (combined) years with an amazing man, our grown children handling these last few years with more understanding and support for each other than some adults I know!  I find myself going back to my 19-year-old self and her struggles when my dad died in a plane crash and took our family by shock.  How I processed the situation then and grew to teach my children to speak of death, expect it will come and know they will be okay!  They know they h...

I've had some emotional struggles these last few days.  I was getting ready to call it a day when I noticed my girl had made a post on facebook.  Im copying her words here for those who dont have facebook.  I am so incredibly proud of these kids of mine!!  They are tough!! The past 17 months have changed our family forever. Watching my dad go through ALS and FTD was something I can’t fully put into words. What he carried, physically and emotionally, was more than most people will ever understand, but he did it with so much strength, honesty, and love. As a family, we did everything we could to support him. Being a caregiver for someone you love means wanting to do anything and everything to help and keep them. My mom carried that in every moment, and alongside my siblings and I, we stood by him through every step. But through it all, my dad knew exactly what he wanted. I was always amazed by how strong-willed and certain he was in that. My dad was always clear about ...

You can never imagine the moment...but then it happens...and then its gone.  Today I decided to clean the closet, just to keep my mind occupied.  I've been procrastinating taking care of my side and trying to take over his side for years!  I was fine with pulling his button shirts of hangers and gathering the jeans but when I opened the drawer that held his t-shirts, underwear and keepsakes, my eyes welled up.  But I refuse to wallow...we knew what was coming and we were all pissed about it too!  We were blessed with an extra 14.5 months with him and we did not waste it.  We said what we needed to say, we teased and laughed.  We aren't perfect by any means but the atmosphere here was healthy for all.   I can't believe its already been a week!  I'm sure he's walking with old friends, his parents and hopefully spending time with God.  You know, his mom wanted him to be a priest when he was young!  He attended Catholic school, was...