After realizing that facebook isn't the greatest tool for archiving my thoughts and such, I decided I needed to get back into my blog. Today I posted on facebook what a wonderful family/friend get together we had yesterday. I don't want that memory to get lost after a few pages of entries, so I'm going to reverse my thinking. I'll post major memorable things here, then highlight them on facebook to share.
Last Sunday, 2011 04 17, we had a picnic at Veteran's Park for brother, Richard's first birthday post transplant. It was a lovely day with a great turnout of family.
Attendees: Richard and Levona
Donnie, Mary, Austin
Bryan, Felicia, Ryan and Sarah
Dad and Brandy
Mandy, Stellie and Eric
Tiffany, Brad, Haydan and Haylee
Tricia, Hunter and Trevor
Beth and me
Absent: Robbie had gone to Amarillo for a training class in his prison ministry and Kim was babysitting his sweet Shelly. Sean was working in Austin so he wasn't there. Of course, Richard's sons Eric and Jayme live out of state so we missed them as well.
Donnie had come off the road to go with Austin and Mary to Ennis for bluebonnets and drag-racing so he was home. Tricia and the boys were late but got to make it after she attended a training class at church.
Tiffany was really responsible for thinking up having a party for Richard. She wanted to be sure he knew we all realized how important this first birthday was. In February it didn't seem that he would have many, if any, more birthdays to celebrate. His health was failing fast. More about that in another post. Tiffany really thought it would be cute to do an all out "1st birthday" but as the time approached so fast we gave up on that. Tiffany and I talked and decided to have a celebration outside was most appropriate because he would have needed a mask if we had it indoors, and as he was the guest of honor he shouldn't have to be accomodating to us. So the picnic was a great solution. We decided on Veteran's Park in White Settlement because there was an air show at the base that day that several family members wanted to attend, and the park was close to the base. We decided sandwiches, hot dogs and pot luck were good choices. Tiffany laid out a great spread, and Bryan and Felicia brought healthy options for Richard's diet. Her fruit salad was great, but the pasta salad was off the hook! I stopped and picked up tacos from El Ranchero that were well received.
Mom used to be so great at doing picnics. {She was so great at everything!} This day reminded me a lot of times with her. Beth reminded me of the stacking pans she had. The park was lush and green and the kids had a great time playing football, going down to the stream to play and climbing on playground equipment. I was so happy Bryan and Felicia could come so the kids could play with Sarah and Ryan. We never get together enough with them.
The highlight of the day for me was when Richard blew out his candles. I realized he had not been able to do that for the last two years, and if not for the amazing doctors at North Hills hospital getting him to St. Pauls in Dallas, we would have had nothing to celebrate this year.
It was a gift to the donor family as well, in my opinion. As he blew the candles out, I wished for their peace and offered a silent thank you to them.
Last Sunday, 2011 04 17, we had a picnic at Veteran's Park for brother, Richard's first birthday post transplant. It was a lovely day with a great turnout of family.
Attendees: Richard and Levona
Donnie, Mary, Austin
Bryan, Felicia, Ryan and Sarah
Dad and Brandy
Mandy, Stellie and Eric
Tiffany, Brad, Haydan and Haylee
Tricia, Hunter and Trevor
Beth and me
Absent: Robbie had gone to Amarillo for a training class in his prison ministry and Kim was babysitting his sweet Shelly. Sean was working in Austin so he wasn't there. Of course, Richard's sons Eric and Jayme live out of state so we missed them as well.
Donnie had come off the road to go with Austin and Mary to Ennis for bluebonnets and drag-racing so he was home. Tricia and the boys were late but got to make it after she attended a training class at church.
Tiffany was really responsible for thinking up having a party for Richard. She wanted to be sure he knew we all realized how important this first birthday was. In February it didn't seem that he would have many, if any, more birthdays to celebrate. His health was failing fast. More about that in another post. Tiffany really thought it would be cute to do an all out "1st birthday" but as the time approached so fast we gave up on that. Tiffany and I talked and decided to have a celebration outside was most appropriate because he would have needed a mask if we had it indoors, and as he was the guest of honor he shouldn't have to be accomodating to us. So the picnic was a great solution. We decided on Veteran's Park in White Settlement because there was an air show at the base that day that several family members wanted to attend, and the park was close to the base. We decided sandwiches, hot dogs and pot luck were good choices. Tiffany laid out a great spread, and Bryan and Felicia brought healthy options for Richard's diet. Her fruit salad was great, but the pasta salad was off the hook! I stopped and picked up tacos from El Ranchero that were well received.
Mom used to be so great at doing picnics. {She was so great at everything!} This day reminded me a lot of times with her. Beth reminded me of the stacking pans she had. The park was lush and green and the kids had a great time playing football, going down to the stream to play and climbing on playground equipment. I was so happy Bryan and Felicia could come so the kids could play with Sarah and Ryan. We never get together enough with them.
The highlight of the day for me was when Richard blew out his candles. I realized he had not been able to do that for the last two years, and if not for the amazing doctors at North Hills hospital getting him to St. Pauls in Dallas, we would have had nothing to celebrate this year.
It was a gift to the donor family as well, in my opinion. As he blew the candles out, I wished for their peace and offered a silent thank you to them.
