Just a few updates from the Loser home (sorry there haven't been more - Nichole's been sick and is trying to stay away from Alpine so she doesn't get dad sick).
Last Wednesday, dad was honored with the "Associate Member Service Award" by the Utah Association for Home Care. He was nominated by the directors of this association, and he attended a luncheon with mom and some colleagues from work at the Desert Star Playhouse. I guess the kind woman who heads the association really likes dad, so she made him a blanket along with his "plaque." It was an honor for him to receive the award.
Last Thursday, our family friend Richard Bangerter took me and dad and Uncle Jared up in his 6 seater plane. From the municipal airport in West Jordan, "we flew in a big circle from Salt Lake down right over our house, up over the mountains (barely), then circled through Deer Creek Reservoir and all the way up to Cache Valley. We landed in Jackpot, NV, where we walked to a casino for lunch, then completed the trip home by flying over the Great Salt Lake." It was amazing! Thank you so so so much Richard! We love you.
Thursday evening and a little of Friday, dad had some nausea, but was able to mostly control it and he didn't even puke! Yea! That evening, dad's childhood friend Rick Smith flew in from California and spent a wonderful weekend with dad. They got out the old high school yearbooks (and to mom's dismay), pointed out all the girls who they thought were cute. Saturday, mom couldn't take it anymore (not really, she thought it was pretty funny) and mom, Rachel and I headed up to West Valley to attend two bridal showers for our awesome cousins, then we grabbed Grandma Dickison and headed to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert at the Conference Center. We loved the music - it was great this year! We had some wet moments during some of the beautiful songs.
Speaking of wet moments, mom and dad had some good crying/cuddling moments today. They are hard but special times; even in the face of adversity, there is love and support to be found in the arms of those we love. We are again reminded, on a daily basis, of the love and support we have been given, and we cherish the time we are allowed to spend together. We also cherish the wonderfully cold snow. Isn't it beautiful? (when you're inside with hot chocolate next to the fire)?
All our love,
The Losers
P.S. We got a sweet picture from Cameron today:
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5 comments:
Losers, Love you.
Your family is so incredible and so blessed. I think often of friend, Carter George and his beautiful wife who came to speak at a Relief Society thing Denise did. Carter had ALS and could only feel or move from his neck up and his wife was in the later stages of leukemia. He said "we are having a race to the finish and having all the fun we can". He spoke for over and hour and we cried and laughed almost equal amounts as she held the papers in front of him so he could do so. He read a poem his daughter had written when she was 16 named my daddy's arms. I don't remember the words but her dearest wish was that he would have been able to feel when she patted him and loved him and that he could have put his arms around her and hugged her tight even one more time, but her daddy's arms could only lay there unfeeling and useless.
He said when he passed the gate everything would have to stop and wait for him to take his lovely wife in his arms once again and they would dance. I'm sure they danced and held each other close.
You have the blessing of holding tight to each other and feeling the strength of the love you have in that blessed family, even pukey days can't take that from you.
You have been blessed to be able to be told of the influence you have had on a few of the many your life has touched and that influence will go on and on. We love you all
We check up on you frequently and have wanted to comment on the Beaver award, We were very touched and honored to be there, but things have been so crazy I haven't taken the time and don't have much now - we are off to a sealing at Manti... Any way we love you and are thinking about you always. Maybe later, I can express all that we feel. Just know that you are some of the most fantastic people we know and are honored to call you friends!
Love Ya all, Tracy & Jill
Dear Loser Family,
My family and I have never met you or anyone in your family and as strange as this sounds I check this blog out every morning when I come to work. I work with Ms.Zeann and she shared this inspirational tribute of your fathers life with me. I found it to be so moving that not only do I check in on it but I even started one for my own family. It is people/families like yourselves that motivate and educate others of how to show the love and support that is possible to show our loved ones and others.
I wish you and your family the best. Also thanks for showing me the positive outlook in your families situation that is seen by most as a negative. God bless you and your family!!!
Ok, so we so get the "credit" for the new snow. We have grand daughters coming from LA and the three year old so wanted snow to play in:) That is the power of a Papa and Gran!!!!
Know that we love you, think of you often, and are much better people for being able to walk this path with you all.
Enjoy our snow:)
xoxoxoxoxo
Ned and Barbara
I loved the Essence of a Friend. Very clear and beautiful. I also loved Cameron's contribution. Also, very clear and beautiful. Like father like son.
Ready to make another mini luge run up the canyon? Oh, never mind I don't think Jared's up for it. ;)
Love to you all, Loser's
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