Raising money for the Port

Today is the Azalea Festival of Arts. Dom had her fundraiser in it and had a booth set up with over 26 pieces of art made by the intermediate and advanced arts students and the Brookings Harbor High School. She actually should of have about 60 pieces but it sounds like quite a few students didn't take it seriously and didn't make anything.

All the money made at this fundraiser goes to the port to help pay for damages caused by the recent tsunami. This is part of her Sr. Project for school. Originally she wanted to do something like this for the school but decided it would be better for the port.

It started out cloudy and grey but no rain, so her and her helpers hung most of the art work from the canopy and placed a few on tables. About an hour or so into it, it started to rain and the art work started getting wet! They quickly rushed to take down all the pictures so not to let them get ruined. There was an empty canopy next to us so they began hanging some up along the edges of THAT canopy, but as it kept raining it just dripped all over and continued to get the art work wet so once again they all rushed to take them down, leaving only a few hanging that were totally covered and would not get wet.

I could only stay for a short while, I think I was there a few hours. But with 2 young children and a baby I knew it wouldn't last long. So about 1pm I had to pack up my kids and go, leaving her there with her helpers to tend to everything. I pretty much let her do everything anyway and didn't get involved much except to lend a few ideas...which they actually liked and used!  After I left the sun came out and the clouds went away.

Below is some of the art that was there. A LOT of it was really good!!

This one directly below is the art that Dominique did. These were taken with my phone so they aren't the best quality pictures but you can get the idea. I wish I was able to get all the art work, but this is what I got.

Dom and her "crew" a few more showed up later

Ashlee's Birthday...random thoughts

I cannot belive Ashlee will be for the 29th! Time has gone by so fast. My sister is planning to come down for that weekend and stay with us. We finally got a hide-a-bed so she will have something to sleep on besides the couch! My girls are looking forward to it, they love thier auntie! Of course I am too! I do not get so see my family much anymore because we live further away now and our last visit there was a sad one, due to the death of my grandfather, I'm still having a hard time with that.
I am not sure what to get Ashlee for her birthday. Both my girls already have so many toys! She has plently of clothes...I was thinking about some sandles, but other than that and maybe dress shoes, she has tons of shoes and doesn't need any. I think outdoor toys, beach toys, things like that would be good.

I have been doing a lot of cleaning (except for yesteray lol) I did a TON of cleaning Monday and didn't even eat anything till about 5pm...I wasn't hungry so I didn't even notice! Its nice to have the house all clean but sometimes it doesn't even look like I did anything! I HATE that! Monday, I did all the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen, did several loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom, swept all the floors, changed the sheets and pillow cases on our bed (I don't think that gets done enough lol), washed the blankets on our bed, I even organized the garage a little!

I am SO looking forward to getting our phone upgrade! James was told they were going to do it 6mos early, so next month we should be getting new cell phones! Ours seem to have a mind of thier own...they shut off and turn on by themselves, mine likes to move lines up when I am texting, the call quality isn't that great....ugh! I've had this phone almost 2 years...its time to upgrade. I've been doing research online...I was originally thinking about a Blackberry...or some kind of smartphone with the qwerty key pad, I do NOT want a touch screen only phone. It sucks that AT&T has SO many touch screen only phones, and they have SO many smart phones! James wants a simple flip phone, he doesn't care about much, he doesn't really like the qwerty keypad. Me personally, I love it. I miss my ENV3 from Verizon, I wish I could use it with AT&T.
We also need a new keyboard for our computer! This one is crappin out on us. They keys don't always want to work...this blog is taking me WAY too long to finish because I cannot type very fast. Letters do not show up the space bar doesn't always work...UGH! Its a USB keyboard and I love it! I don't wanna look for another one, this one just needs to work right! lol!

Gone but never forgotten

My grandfather's funeral was this last Friday, May 20th 2011.

There was a viewing the day before, I took my girls to see him. Before we left I explained to them what it would be like. I explained that its only his body that is here, his spirit has gone to heave and he is there with Mattie, throwing balls and playing with her. He loved dogs. He loved a lot of things. He enjoyed music, camping, fishing, anything to do with the outdoors. He loved baking, especially at Christmas time. He loved and cared dearly for his family.

Lillian did very well at the viewing, Ashlee was a mess. Even though we did not spend much time with him, she knew that he loved her and she was so broken up to see him there. She did much better the day of the funeral. After the service was over they opened his casket for those that wanted to see him one last time. Ashlee could not seem to get enough of seeing him. She touched his cheek, stroked his beard and she even kissed her fingers and placed them on his forehead. She talked to him and told him that she loved him. I wish I had a picture of Ashlee and him together while he was alive! Lillian placed a picture of her, Ashlee and Mia on his chest so he would have something to always remember them. All the grandkids signed a t-shirt for him. Ashlee drew a little picture, the shirt was also passed around for others to write on as well and it was placed next to him before they closed the casket for the last time.

He looked very nice, he was not dressed up all fancy like, he was not that kind of man. He wore what you see in the picture above. His favorite hat, shirt and a pair of jeans. He was buried with his fishing pole and favorite cooking fork that he, himself formed to the bowl that he used every time he baked something. He will be able to fish for big trout and bake goodies for all those in heaven and I know they will enjoy it!

He looked very peaceful, just like he was sleeping and it even seemed he had a slight smile. He is no longer in any pain, he isn't suffering from Cancer any longer. He is happy and healthy and enjoying heaven.

It was weird that as soon as his casket was laid in the ground and they were placing dirt over it, a slight, cool breeze came along as if it was him saying, "I'm still with you"

He had told his grandkids that when they see butterflies to know that was him.

There were many kind words said of him at the service. He was well loved by everyone and he in turn loved everyone. I only regret that I did not make it over to visit him more so that my children could see the love he had for them and kindness he would show.

He requested this to be read at his funeral. It sounds very much like him:

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, not minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasures or forgotten will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed to important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what your bought, but what you built, not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by who and for what. Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but choice. Chose to live a life that matters.

How true is that!?  It makes so much sense!

I love you grandpa and even tho I am sad you are gone, I know you are happy and you are healthy. I know you will be waiting on the other side for me with open arms!

"I'm Free"

Don't grieve for me, now I'm free. I am following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and I left it all

I could not stay another day, to laugh to love to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way. I found my peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy, A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, oh yes, these things I too, will miss

Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish for you the joys of tomorrow. My life's been full, I've savored much. Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief. Don't lengthen it with undue grief. Lift up your heats and share with me, God loved me so; he set me free

Grandpa would have wanted us to feel this way. It is only fitting that this was quoted at the service.

Here is the link to the Chapel of the Roses web page for him.

http://www.wilsonschapeloftherosesfh.com/index.cfm

Millard Kincaid

April 2nd 1931-May 14th 2011

Rest in peace Grandpa Millard. I love you

Saturday May 14th 2011 at about 7:30am I received a phone call from my sister, who was supposed to be coming to visit us for the weekend. She had terrible news that our grandpa had passed away at 3am that morning. He battled several cancers and was going thru strong chemo. He had stopped breathing and the ambulance was called, he was resesitated at home and taken to the hospital, but didn't make it much longer. He had been thru so much over the last few years, I think he was just tired and ready to go home to God. I know he is not in any pain now and is happy and healthy.

This is the last picture I have of him. This was over Spring Break this year just before we left from our visit to go home. I am SO glad James made sure that we got over to see him, we almost didn't go, but James told me that we needed to go because he was sick and we didn't know the next time we would get up that way and what might happen between that time. This was his first time seeing Mia.

Grandpa loved to camp and fish. He enjoyed bowling and baking. He made the BEST peanut butter fudge, banana, zucchini and wine breads, cookies and all kind of other yummy treats. He always made a bunch of goodies around Christmas time. He was never judgmental, always kind.

I wish I had spent more time with him and gotten to know him better. I wish I had more memories with him as a child AND an adult. I have a few camping memories and I remember the sweet smell of his pipe. I remember several Christmases with him, but other than that, I don't remember much. I am so sad my children will not get to have any memories with their grandpa. They have been camping with him one or two times, but they are too young to remember.

I remember one of the last things he said to James and I was to make sure we take care of our kids, and that they were beautiful. The last email I received from him, he thanked me for Mia's birth announcement and told me he was proud. I emailed him back telling him I would send him pictures of all the kids when I was able to get to it...I never did, I feel so awful!!! I could have found the time, just a few minutes to email him some pictures! I should have made more of an effort! I should have made sure that when we visited family up there that we were able to get over there at least for a short visit. I feel so guilty. I am so sorry grandpa! I will not make the same mistake with my other grandparents. My grandpa Jack also has cancer and my grandma Donna has diabetes. This had made me realize that time IS short, we hear it all the time from people but I never really thought that much about it. You never know what might happen and we have to take advantage of the time we have here on earth because we don't know when its going to be over.

 I feel bad because I cannot be there for my family and friends and help them. I live too far away to just make a drive. Gas is expensive and it is a long trip, not so long that its impossible to make, but long enough that its not easy with 4 kids. To my family and friends, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers all day!

Grandpa I love you and I will miss you.

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day was great. I got to sleep in till about 10:30am, which never happens lol. Dominique made me breakfast, well...maybe brunch, it was about 11-11:30 when she brought it to me, I was still sitting in bed with Mia nursing her and talking to the girls. James got me the last bead for my Zable braclet (Mia's birth stone)

Dom got be some marble roses and a VERY sweet card. Lillian made me a couple things at school and wrote out a sweet little card...I'll be keeping that one, she wrote it all herself, mind you, the words are not spelled write but she took the time to write it all out in her own spelling and bring it to me. So cute!

James also got me a beautiful card and a necklace that I hinted about to him a few weeks prior lol. Its a beautiful Mother of Pearl flower with Blue Topaz in the center. He also got me an Orchid, which I've been wanting for a few years now lol.

I did not have to make dinner or cook, even the day AFTER Mother's Day! I got spoiled! hehehe