Hot Texas and Cool Providence

I think this is Kate's first and last time driving in Texas.  She did not go home with a positive experience.  The airport land area is huge - like a small city and with all the construction, detours, etc we could not find the bypass road around Dallas.  No matter which way we went, got help, followed signs we were constantly heading south instead of north.  We felt like a couple of incompetent nincompoops!!!  She got tired of motorists tail gating us so she got into an HOV lane that had a barrier on the right side so we couldn't take the exit to the road I told her about.  Well, to make a long nightmarish story short.  We finally got to the funeral home an hour late (better late than never though).  I broke down and wept when I saw this darling little boy in his tiny coffin.  I talked to Lance yesterday and he said both Cindy and Eric are having a hard time coming to grips with this.  I surely hope they can find a support group to join - they've already been to counseling.  Lance, Becky and Lori (Cindy's) mom are still with them for awhile.  Becky's job is hanging by a thread......

The funeral was beautiful, but very long.  We were escorted to the cemetery by the Dallas county Sheriff's dept (10 vehicles) and they took Atti's casket with them.  At hotel in a.m. by the time Kate and I ate, all the yogurt and fruit were gone so I didn't get much to eat.  But by the time the family meeting, prayer, and long funeral and drive were done I had some candy in purse and water.  It wasn't enough as the temp was about 94 and after standing by the plot waiting for casket to arrive I nearly took head dive on ground.  Sat in chair, Kate got me my water bottle and Cindy's aunt (ER nurse) told me what to do.  I sat there while kids took the blue and coral balloons to let go into sky if desired and Lance tearfully dedicated the grave.

Then the bishop drove me to his home where the RS. had prepared a nice lunch and I  laid on his son's bed until I recovered.  Honestly!!!  I did meet one of Cindy's aunts from Montana who also has Gastro Paresis and we compared eating habits.  We took a tour of Bishop Larsen multimillion dollar home (he lives on 25 acres).  My dad and Brady would have been enchanted with his two story library - absolutely magnificent!  Upstairs there is a rec room and a theater room with lounge seats.  My, my, my.  The company he owns makes all the accordion doors in all the ward buildings around the world.  We drove over to Eric and Cindy's (mattresses, sleeping bags, all over the floors, but it was a gorgeous home in and gated community with lakes here and there.
We had a great trip back with only two hitches in the airport returning the car, but I'm so glad I went to support this sweet Hansen family.

Look at my Japanese maple.  It's gone absolutely crazy this year.  The fellow who trimmed it last fall couldn't believe how much it has grown.




And look at my beautiful climbing roses in front.  I took care of the pruning differently this time.  Instead of cutting them clear down last fall I just cut back about half way.  They've never produced so many branches nor flowers before.






I finally finished the new bedspread for the "eagles nest" and it looks just great down there.  It has denim from dad, grandpa Henry, some of you other family members, and blocks from Holly's and Rebecca's skirts that Sunshine made for them last year.  It was so large and difficult to work with, but it was worth it.


Now I'm going to post this, hopefully!!!!!!