Mood: special
Now Playing: Day 2908-Chapter 3... Happiness~My Silver Lining
Guess what's getting ready to make it's way here in the country? Of course... besides Santa... silly!
Rain, rain and more rain.
UGGGGG!
So much for the beautiful white snow that was once forecasted in hopes of having a white Christmas. Mother Nature must had a funny moment with another grand end of year teaser! I can do without the rain, especially when we continue to deal with a foundation, once again, shifting down the wooded hillside. You know what that means for our near future? More repairs, more money and more unnecessary time spent on a house of many hidden lemon gems. This gal is done with repairing, repainting and redecorating. The remainder of this year and through the winter season, I am on official hibernation. Hahahahaha! Actually... I am pretty gosh darn serious. I plan on honoring my body a much needed break. Time for some serious downtime!
With days constantly filled with issues that need our urgent attention. We both had our blonde moment. One assumed that on Christmas Eve we would finally be able to attend Candlelight church service. We went an entire two weeks assuming that Christmas Eve fell on Eric's rotating off-days from the Sheriff's Department. HA! Boy... were we wrong! Those weekend rotating off-days are not until the following weekend. Needless to say, thankfully we are pros when it comes to constant change.
So... we began the quick changes today by finishing up our visits with loved ones who are celebrating Christmas in heaven.
It's going to be a far different kind of Christmas this year for our little family. But no complaints, because so far this has been one of the most peaceful, joyful and fun-filled festive Christmas seasons yet! After our quite magical visit to place the remaining cute snowman figurines with loved ones. Christmas to me... has already been celebrated. I am content with once-in-a-lifetime moments that we have gotten to experience during this holiday season.
Our visit to the final cemetery in order to visit loved ones was one filled with a few of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. That ability to connect has only gotten stronger. It always feels good to have a really good day and be able to spend some time visiting loved ones. I most definitely believe that our loved ones can still hear us in a very spiritual sense. The energy was beyond thick and so was the prediction of Eric knowing an individual in the distance who was getting ready to honor a veteran during a memorial service. Eric who is also a veteran waved while we drove past the three gentleman. Only to hear someone yell, "Hey Dieck!" It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Eric to reconnect with his prior Sergeant First Class. How amazing is that! It was nice to see a really huge smile come over Eric's face. It was as if time stood still while they reminisced about time in the Army as the highly decorated Sergeant First Class brought to our attention about his upcoming retirement. What a rewarding job, honoring those who have proudly served our great country by providing a most respectful kind of service. A veteran's memorial service with a 21 gun salute.
That wasn't just one, but one of many really good moments out of our visit with loved ones who are celebrating Christmas in heaven.
It appears that a low tractor blade caused damage to the corners of not just my grandfathers memorial marker. But also to a dear couple next to my grandfather. After making a few calls, both will be repaired or replaced by the cemetery. I assume that maybe they figured since their passing was in the 1980's. And that no memorial or holiday trinkets were placed on the name markers. No one would notice. But we did. I think this goes to show that if you see something like this on any respected memorial marker. Make sure to call the cemetery office. They have insurance for a reason. I wouldn't have it any other way nor could I have left without reporting the damage as we placed a few remaining snowman figurine with my grandparents.
I remember years ago feeding huge catfish, possibly even some goldfish under this really pretty bridge that connects two sides of the cemetery. Ironically, I didn't forget the bread today and although we didn't see any fish. We did end up feeding a few feathered friends. It was nice to reminisce while spending time visiting loved ones on a most picture perfect, beautiful start of the winter season. I sure do miss how we all used to celebrate the holidays. But I know that their spirits still remain with me to this very day.
While we were at the cemetery, I envisioned a smiling grey haired older gentleman. He nudged me towards what appeared to be a funeral procession. I looked at Eric and said, "That's odd. He is so happy that his wife wore red. He really likes that she remembered to wear his favorite color." These are the times... that I really can't explain. But I know what I see and it can't be mistaken for what was about to happen next. As we stopped the car for the funeral procession. An elderly woman quickly jumped out of the car to greet the young gentleman taking the casket out of the silver hearse. The smiling woman hugged the young gentleman as she followed the casket right down to the burial site. Not only did I know this was his wife. But there she was... wearing his favorite color. Eric just sat there completely dumbfounded, pointing over to the elderly woman and said, "She's wearing red pants."
All I could do... was smile.