Trip to Idaho

Last month, June 21 at 11:30pm, in fact, I got news that my grandpa had been in a single-car accident, was in the hospital, and wasn't expected to survive.  A midnight phone call is always scary and I sat and cried with one of my sisters for some time, she in New York and I in Wisconsin.  Through that next day, I stayed in contact with my mom, my siblings and many cousins across the nation.  We shared any news we'd heard, passed comfort to eachother and our parents, who had all gathered at the hospital.  It was heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time.  There was ache that I couldn't be there with my grandpa and many of my relatives.  There was comfort at the support I received from friends and family, and the support I saw shared among my family.  There was a strengthening of faith as I watched, through facebook, many family members find things working out miraculously so that nearly all of my grandpa's 46 (miss anyone?) grandkids could be at his funeral.  I hoped something would work for me, too, and it did.  Aaron told me he'd been setting aside money for a couple months and what we had would be sufficient for me to be with my family.  SO thankful for his foresight, even if he thought it would be going towards something else.  Thankful to my Heavenly Father for the chance I had to say goodbye and be with everyone, and thankful to my husband and many people here who made it easier for me to go away for a few days, and thankful to my Aunt LaNita, who made a place for me in her home for that time.  That's all the background on WHY I was in Idaho, but my thoughts and feelings and pictures from the funeral itself will be in another post.  I can only handle so much crying in one post.  This will be my favorite moments surrounding the funeral, filling the rest of the time I was there.

Many years ago, a little restaurant opened on Kuna's main street.  Happy memories fill this place.  El Gallo Giro is a darling, family owned and operated Mexican place.  My grandparents have spent many meals there.  Every time I go back to Kuna, it's a 'must-visit' place.  Birthdays and anniversaries...Grandpa in a big sombrero while getting sung to and having his picture taken...my siblings and I paying for our parents to have a special dinner there and having flowers delivered while they ate...just a random family get-together.  It was a wonderful thing to be able to meet up here with several cousins - we filled a large corner of the place - and visit and eat.  My brothers and one sister and I were able to be together for a bit.  My younger brother even pulled out his phone and we played Zilch while waiting for our meals to arrive.  This is a favorite tradition and all four of us lamented that we hadn't brought our actual dice, given one year for Christmas.

One morning at Aunt LaNita's, Mom and I woke up a little early with Cole, who got up with the pre-dawn sun.  Both of us spent time working hard to earn his little giggles, smiles and squirms.  I loved watching my mother interact with my son!

Following the funeral service, I pushed for a family picture.  My cousin, Rachel took them for us.  This is my parents with five of their six kids, Calista, Brad, Wes, LaNita and me.

We also asked Rachel to take pictures of just my parents, since it's been some time since we had a recent photo of the two of them.  These are my two favorites.  Mom and Dad laughing - Mom says she had fallen to the ground instead of just sitting and was laughing that at least Dad caught her.

One morning I met up with a friend from High School, JoLynn, who brings her posse of kids and helps lead a Zumba group several times a week at the church.  Zumba scares me - and is so fun!  I can see why so many do it, but for me, I may have to work up to it, because within 3 minutes, I was wheezing and running for my inhaler.  Thanks, Jo, for the awesome fun!

Another afternoon, I met up with my High School bestie, Megan.  We went to a place I used to work, Idaho Pizza Co, then hit up the Hawaiian Ice snow-cone shack.  It was so fun to visit with her, and hard to say goodbye again.  It's been several years since we were together and even though facebook and blogs keep us in touch, I really miss our teenage camaraderie.  Megan was also very supportive and met me at the funeral home for Grandpa's viewing, apologizing that she'd be unable to make it to the funeral itself.  So glad to have a friend like her, when things just pick back up after years apart.  Love you, MeLin!!