It is still February and I feel like this year is just not letting me take off. I guess it is ok though. I am trying to go with the flow, and not stress. My shoulder still isn't quite right and my other is starting to bother me from compensating- so I guess its time for some physical therapy. However, I am creating again a bit, in small batches.
Then, two weekends ago, we lost my uncle, and 24 hours later we lost my grandfather. It was a huge blow to the family to lose them both so close. They were both ready to go, and we know my grandfather went to be with his son, he was not even sick or anything. Still, we miss them. So, last week was just a wash.
My grandfather with my kids over the summer. taking us out to breakfast was a special time we tried to do as often as we could
I took time to spend with family, and we had dinners, and time going through boxes of pictures, and memories and tears. It was all good. I loved spending time with my cousins and aunts and uncles.
I mean, finding pictures of us as bored teens was priceless!!!! I am in the center with the 80's perm I loved
We all lived within 2-5 minutes of each other growing up and saw each other daily- with my grandparents house being the main hub of the family. So many memories. I loved spending time remembering our care free days together.
I got to work on some memorial necklaces for my uncle throughout the week- which also helped.
My uncle with the love of his life- his wife Jean.
Because for me, creating is therapy, and it felt good to think I could do something ......anything.....to help. My cousin wanted something to contain her fathers ashes....so I was explaining ways we could do that. He so loved his weapons, and she said it would be cool if you could make something like a bullet. It was a great idea- because I had a bunch of brass casings! Not everyone wanted ashes though, so, it was something I could make with or without. I will be putting up more detail on the process over at Love my Art Jewerly this week.
Anyhow, here is what they ended up looking like.
And of course, during this time, life threw me lots of curve balls, as if grieving wasn't enough.......like, the hubs was away, and due home Sunday for the memorial service. Sunday morning one of the kids began throwing up, then the hubs broke down and didn't make it home on time. My nerves were shot- but I made it to the memorial thanks to a dear friend (lots of friends offered to sit with my sick kid actually, which was overwhelmingly kind of them).
The memorial service was beautiful. My cousin thought we should make family tree's for the pictures, so we spent Friday making them with the kids. Here they are on the table at the memorial service. (same cousin with the bullet idea- she is so creative!)
:sigh:
They were great men, they were fathers, uncles, brothers, husbands and friends. They will be so very missed.
I am trying to get back into the swing of things.
Yesterday my sickie stayed home a day to recover- and it was nice to just chill out and watch movies with him and the dogs.
We watched Malificent again, oh, how I love that movie!
I made a list of movies to watch on Netflix while I pour myself into some bead making over the next couple days. Then its tax time, and I need to enter my years worth of receipts, but at this point, I may as well REALLY wait till the last minute....lol
I think movies and beads is just what I need. I still have to work on my Bead Dreams entries as well, so I am hoping playing and making beads will bring me inspiration. I have sketches but can't seem to narrow down to exactly what I want to create.
The biggest thank you to my friends and family, for all the support during this difficult time. It is much appreciated. Those personal messages, and the offers of help- all needed. Thank you. I have the best friends. Both online and in person :)
