Denver Part 2: The Memorial

Without a doubt, I’ve been seriously neglecting my blog. This summer has been ridiculously busy. (You’d that that would mean I’d want to document everything and actually keep up with my blog. It seems, my friends, that that’s not the case…) For fear of getting totally overwhelmed at covering everything going on my life right now, I’ll stick with the big stuff…

Last weekend I travelled, once again, to Denver. This time, instead of spending a care-free week there with Dan, I met my parents, sister and nephew at the airport. We were all convening for the Memorial Service of my grandpa. (Long story short – he passed away on June 9, but my aunt and uncle [who’d been his primary care givers] had a commitment to be in Sierra Leone, Africa until July 20. He was to be cremated, and because of the situation, my mom and aunts decided it would be best to postpone a Memorial until they arrived home from Africa.) So. The date was decided as August 11 and thankfully, we were all able to go. (Except Kristen, obviously. Although, Amanda can attest to this, multiple times during the weekend I kept saying, “I really wish Kristen was here.”)

Ice crystals on the airplane window

In the air, where I belong :)

 I got to the airport first, and headed to Amanda's gate to meet her and see Bennet, my newest nephew for the first time ever! Let me tell you - this little guy is the sweetest, calmest, quietest, most laid back baby in the history of the world. I heard him cry once the entire time - and that was right before we left when Amanda had to wake him up from a nap. He's cuddly, smiley and totally content 99% of the time. I already love him to death! Just look at those chubby cheeks! 

Me & Bennet, at our first meeting

From there, me, Amanda and Bennet waited on my parents' plane to arrive. In the mean time, Bennet discovered my umbrella and I was shocked to see him nomming on the WHOLE HANDLE. This kid...he cracks me up!

Look at those eyes! :)

Me & Bennet, watching my mom & dad's flight pull into the gate

After we all gathered, we got a rental car, and of course, headed directly to Chick-Fil-A in Superior.

Amanda and her first-born...on his first Chick-Fil-A trip

Amanda got ice cream and Bennet fell asleep in the car, holding the spoon. Poor little guy...such a big day for him!

Unfortunately, my camera decided to stop working for the bulk of the trip, so I had to settle for tablet/borrowed pictures. In the mean time...

Friday after lunch we headed over to the church to help do some pre set up for the service on Saturday afternoon. It was HOT since the church had no a.c. :( With so many people running around, willing to help, it was hard to know exactly what to do. But me, Amanda and my parents did what we could.

After a few hours there, we got checked into our hotel. Funny story. My dad. So hilarious. He thought he'd made reservations as a Comfort Inn. So we pulled up while he and my mom went into get our room key, etc. So they were in there a while and my dad came out, shaking his head, looking irritated. He said they had no record of our name or reservation. Uh-oh. So he dug around for some confirmation numbers, which he couldn't fine. So he went back in to try to get to the bottom of it. Luckily, he'd saved Comfort Inn's phone number into his cell phone. So he pulled it up, and said to the hotel employee, "Is this your phone number?" The employee said, "Noooo....?" So, he called the number on his phone saved under Comfort Inn, and some answered with, "Thank you for calling Holiday Inn Express, how can I help you?" Hahahahaha!!!! So he'd reserved a room with a crib across the street at H.I. Express, but thought it was Comfort Inn. We gave him some pretty good teasing for that one :)

Once we were settled, we headed up the mountain to Aunt Hope & Uncle Les's house for some burger, brats, grazing, and general togetherness. It was a wonderful evening and I'll never, ever forget it. 

Saturday morning we got up and headed back up the mountain for breakfast. Amanda and I spent some time preparing what we'd share at the service later that day. Kristen had sent us a little write-up and Amanda was going to read it on her behalf. By the time we got to the church, there was a little time to help with set-up and things, but then we got changed and ready for the service.

Eventually, I'll get Amanda to type her final draft that she shared (it was kind of scribbled out... :) ) and post it. But it was such a special time of sharing. My Uncle read the highlights of history from my grandpa's life - including that he proposed to my grandma after two weeks :) Me and Amanda stood at the front together, and it's a good thing too, because we both started crying and it was nice that we had each other. Each of the three daughters shared something too. After the service, there was a reception and fellowship time. I told Dan it was comprised largely of snacky food that my grandpa loved and he said, "Hm. Snacks? I always wondered where your love of snacks and grazing came from..." :) Me and Amanda mostly sat in a quiet/dark room together and ate while Bennet slept.

Let me just say...the service lasted two hours and it was, again, HOT. And Bennet kind of cooed and made some noises, but NEVER fussed. It was a little squirmy so Amanda laid down his blanket and let him just lay on the floor. He didn't even have to leave the room once. SUCH a good baby!!

After the service, we went back up to Aunt Hope & Uncle Les's house to visit more, eat leftovers and just relax. 

(Side story: the crib the hotel provided for Bennet looked, as my dad said, "like something you'd see in a Ukranian orphanage." It was kind of sad looking - just low to the ground, white bars...kind of depressing. But, apparently, that didn't stop Bennet from enjoying it. Poor guy was tuckered out after a big day on Saturday!)

Surrendering to sleep

Sunday morning we got up leisurely and me, Amanda, Bennet and my parents went to Panera together. It was nice to be with lots of family, but having that quiet togetherness with just the four of us was really nice. After Panera, of course, we stopped at Dairy Queen. I think Amanda's on a blizzard kick right now :)

This picture doesn't accurately describe what was happening, I don't think. Bennet was REALLY trying to get ahold of my blizzard! His little hands were so cold, but he just wouldn't give up! I gave him the spoon and he settled for that, though.

We went up to the mountain again that afternoon and just lounged, went through some of my grandpa's old belongings that me and Amanda were lucky enough to choose from and rested. 

Nana and Bennet, on a restful Sunday afternoon on the mountain

Amanda and Bennet, taking a picture of themselves to send to Jason :)

 Aunt Hope gave me and Amanda the privilege of taking some of both my grandparents' ashes and spreading them around the mountain house. We used some of their big glass mugs that they always used to use and wandered the yard and the hill below the house. It was truly an unforgettable time. I found a nice spot on the hillside and just stood there for a minute, taking in what was happening and looking out at the view. Like my dad said - it's kind of the end of an era. Omie & Papa don't live in Colorado anymore, and it's kind of difficult for me to wrap my mind around that. This was one of those times when I really wish Kristen could've been there to be with me and Amanda.

Walking up the hill after spreading ashes

Sisters in the front yard :)

 Sunday morning we got up at the crack of dawn (well...before that, really) and headed to the airport. I helped Amanda get checked in and through security while my parents returned our rental car. Bennet, the angel, slept all the way passed security.

Southwest Airlines says it's Go Time, Buddy! Bennet, on his second flight ever, mellow as can be.

We saw Amanda off, then I left, and my parents headed out a few hours later. It was kind of sad, seeing everyone go, one by one, in different direction. Ah, the life of a scattered family. BUT, the blow was lessened, as we'll all be together in again in a mere two and a half weeks for a full week of family bliss in the Pacific Northwest :)

It was such a special weekend and so many personal things happened - realizations, conversation, stories shared - that I can't share everything. But it was a time I'm SO thankful I was a part of and I'm grateful I was able to honor and remember my grandparents. Two special people who touched the lives of so many.