Uncle Dick

My grandma is the most amazing person I knew. They always say that you don't know how good you have it until it is gone. I agree with that 100% and I also wish I would have asked her more questions about her family and her life. On a positive note, I did know a couple of my grandmas brothers and one that I was particularly close to was Richard Piper (Uncle Dick). I have many memories of Uncle Dick. When I was 13, my grandma and I went to Seattle for Thanksgiving to see Uncle Dick and we had Thanksgiving dinner at the space needle. Later on in life Uncle Dick moved to Battle Mountain to be closer to his sister, my grandma. We spent many holidays together. Uncle Dick died on December 15, 2014. Through the amazing Internet and Facebook one of my grandma's brothers reached out to me and has been sending me photos. What a blessing! Here are some photos of Uncle Dick.

Here are some photos of my grandma's dad:

My grandma's step mom - Margo. My grandma always talked fondly of Margo.

Here are a couple pictures of my amazing grandma. Love you GG!

March 2015

I don't remember much about March before I was prepping for all the visitors that were about to come to DC. I was so blessed, and you will see, on everyone that came and how much stuff we did. DC is a great place to visit.

Look the Target dog!

I saw this on Facebook - this is the small town's main road where I grew up. While I don't think I will ever go back to Battle Mountain, sometimes I miss the small town feeling and I for sure miss the west.

Ri and Jackson and I Skyping - like we do about every other week. It is something I cherish.

Speaking of Jackson - he turned one in April and I missed his birthday party :( Happy Birthday, little buddy!!

Random, but you know this is what happens in catch-up posts. I really like my new shoes!

While I am pretty hesitant about changing anything out here, i.e., I'm not going to find a new dentist or eye doctor - but rather I will wait until I go to Idaho (hopefully around Labor Day). However, I did have to find someone to cut and color my hair. Mostly because Tuf was taunting me that she could see a color in my hair that I for sure know I don't have! While I am happy with my hair, I will wait to have it done again when I am home. I took this selfie in a metro station and I did have make-up on, 12 hours ago!

In preparation for visitors, Anthony and I cleaned the yard on a Saturday morning. I picked up sticks for hours (not joking) and I raked out flower beds. Tuf and I also picked out some pretty flowers to line our steps into the house.

And lastly photos of my beautiful baby!

And this post would not be complete without photos of the other fur-babies in this house.

Maybe this is why Princess has diabetes?

Next up will be a lot of blog posts about all the visitors that came in March and April and after you see all the fun things we did you will also want to visit - and that is great, because we will be ready for you!

Hay & Eli - March & April

While I start to filter through all the fun photos from the past 2 months, I thought I would share some photos of my adorable niece and nephew from the past two months! 

March 2015

April 2015

Look at the difference two years make for both Hailey and the horse!

Happy Easter! 

 

Year 2

I hate April. I know hate is a strong word, but I do. Once the month ticks to May, relief washes over me and I think, I made it through the 22nd year. I have only enjoyed 12 April's in my entire life. There are good things that have happened in April. But for me personally, April is hard. And harder since my grandma passed away. Today marks the 2 years since my precious grandma left. Year 2 was a lot quieter. I haven't talked to anyone today about my grandma, because if we are honest, only a select few know that today is the 2 year anniversary of her death. That is okay, I admittedly don't remember when my aunt died or when my cousin died, but I know the 9th and 12th of April, because those two dates effect me more than any other days in my life. I sometimes wonder how 2 years has passed so quickly and other times I feel like I just talked to her. I think of my grandma all the time. And I see my grandma everywhere. When I see her car or when I see sunflowers, I instantly think, GG and smile. Sometimes as I am praying, I ask God to let her know I will never forget her. I miss her so much, that it's impossible to describe. I miss having her guidance and I miss feeling loved by her.  As much as I miss her, I know where she is and I know she is the happiest she has ever been. I know that someday, I will see her again and for now, I can continue to remember how amazing she was and how much of her I have in me. GG you loved me from the day I was born and I was always your child. You believed in me when I didn't even have the faith to believe in myself. You loved me enough to make church a priority and for that I am beyond thankful because of you, I have a personal relationship with Christ, I am a child of God, just as you are, GG, and I will see you again. I am blessed to have had my grandma in my life and while she is not present anymore she is with me and always will be. I love you GG and I know you love me.

Enjoy April!

I have blogged every other day for 4 months, that was a lot of blogging! I am all caught up through the month of February. I will be taking the month of April off from blogging. I am going to enjoy the many blessing that April will bring, from cherry blossoms to warmer weather to amazing friends visiting. April is a hard month for me and not that this April will be any different, but while I normally try and just survive through the middle of April, this year I am going to live and have fun while remembering by grandma and my dad.

To the few people that read my blog, please catch up and comment, because soon I am going to turn 2014 into a book and I would love your comments in the book.

As always, I'll be back with some amazing stories on how great DC is in April.

Mere