Bread!

Wednesday evening Cadence, my mom and I went up to my Grandma Coslett’s to help her make bread. I love spending time with my Grandma. I am not sure I will ever master "Grandma’s Bread", but I will keep trying!

From start to finish it took us about an hour. The entire hour, Cadie rolled ONE roll And there it is!

***

It has always been our tradition to alternate holiday’s between the Winsors and the Cosletts. This year we were with the Cosletts, however we did go over and spend some time with my Grandma Thursday morning, and to the shed for a little while Thursday. It just felt like we should all be together for a little while this year.

Cadie again got to watch (help) her Great Grandma make bread! I am thankful for these picture of Cadie with my Grandmas!! (p.s. that is not the outfit Cadie wore all day )

It’s beginning to look a lot like...

BABY  

Placing Poinsettias!

I saw that Micheals craft store had 50% off all of their Christmas poinsettias this week, and when you add my teacher discount I got quite a deal!

We picked out some pretty purple ones to take to my Aunt Ruby’s grave today.

And some beautiful blue ones for my Grandpa Coslett

Curtis still had a lot of questions about Aunt Ruby and cancer, but I I think that it is important to take them with me when I go to the cemeteries.My mom used to tell me that she dreaded going to the cemeteries because her mom would always be so sad. I am trying to give my kids a slightly more plesant view of "Honoring" my Grandpa and Aunt Ruby!!

Saying Good-Bye

At first we thought that we would leave Curtis and Cadence here in Wichita with their Grandma Cindy while we went to Oklahoma for my Aunt Ruby’s funeral. However my Grandma Winsor really wanted everyone together, and I felt that it was really important to honor her wishes. So Sunday we all (8 cars full of Winsors) headed down to Edmond Oklahoma for my Aunt Ruby’s viewing. I have to be honest I was nauseous just about all of the way down there. I didn’t really want to see her,but I guess it would have been weird if I had been looking forward to it... It was about 4:00 when we all arrived in Oklahoma. This was super rough, for everyone.. However I was so proud to be a Winsor this day. The way everyone loved and supported one another. All that was missing was Roo ;(

 

Cadie working on her alphabet while driving.. Kylie came to our room after swimming Sunday night, we LOVE being around the twins!!

Curtis and Cadie did really well sleeping. Curt was a little perturbed that his sister kept touching him But this didn’t last long.

This is a picture taken after my Aunt Ruby’s funeral. My children have been blessed with such a large family. This isn’t the best picture, my cousin took it for me with my cell phone, although for a cell phone, it’s not too bad!

After a funeral at 10:00 we left the church at 1:00 and headed straight for Maize, KS where we had another ‘service’ this was just as sad as the first ;( Afterwards our church was so wonderful to provide a meal for everyone at my Aunt Roxanne and Uncle Danny’s shed.

We ended up getting home out ten till nine Monday evening. About 4:00 in the morning, this morning Curtis came down to my room in tears. I thought he was perhaps sleep walking again, however I could tell that he was in fact awake. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that he was sad. That while he was sleeping he saw Grandma Billups and it made his head sad. - I explained that he must have had a dream. I am sure this came from the events of our day.

This still seems very unreal, that she is actually gone. Thanksgiving will be different, Christmas.. everything will be different in the coming years. However I get such a peace knowing that she had a personal relationship with my Jesus! I don’t understand why she had to leave us so young, but I know that His ways are so much higher than my ways. One day it will all make sense.

The Turkey Tango

Friday was Curtis’ Thanksgiving Feast at Preschool!

He class went to a lot of work they set the tables, and even made everyone their own place setting reserved card. When we got there Curtis escorted us to our seats.

After we ate lunch Curt’s class did the Turkey Tango! It was very very cute!

I love the teachers at Westwood Preschool, so does Curt!

Picture Posters

I spent the entire afternoon with my Aunt Roxanne. I love spending time with her, and am thankful for her friendship. After hanging out with her a little yesterday evening, I offered to help her create the picture collages for Ruby’s viewing and funeral. We started at 11:00 and I had to quite (due to tired kids) 4:30. How do you put 47 years of love, laughter, friendship and family on two poster boards?!

I think we did a nice job. Here are a few of what we used.

My Dad and Aunt Ruby

Ruby and Jerry on their wedding day! (these were the hardest for us to go through, we smiled over the memories... we also cried)

Not a very good picture, I took this with my phone. However this is one of the two boards that we made. We wanted to celebrate her life, and let other see who she was. I had forgotten what an incredibly beautiful woman she was, both inside and outside. This has been so consuming over my thoughts and prayer life for so many months now. Last night Curt prayed for Ruby’s body to come alive again. Brett explained to him that once someone goes to live with Jesus, that is where they stay. Curt, "Oh, like dead for real?" Brett explained to him that he was correct. Curtis then replies, "Oh.. did God not hear us?" We had a very sweet conversation with Curtis after this. Explaining that God did in fact hear us, and that his answer was yes, he DID heal her. He just chose to heal her in heaven and not on earth. I know that Monday is going to be incredibly difficult. My Aunt Ruby’s funeral is at 10:00 am in Oklahoma and then a graveside service back here in Maize,KS.

I now hug Brett a little tighter, and take in every small thing that my sweet children do. I am very thankful for them. It’s amazing how much easier a wonderful family makes these times.

It’s not good-bye...

Just see you later!

This past Tuesday my sweet Aunt Ruby Ann went home to live with Jesus. As unreal and sorrowful as this has been, I am thankful that I know she had a personal relationship with our Savior.I have so many wonderful memories of my Aunt Ruby. I know that the next few days (weeks, and probably years) are going to be difficult as my family learns to have a new normal. Even though my Aunt lived in Oklahoma, they were down almost every other weekend. She has been as much a part of my life, as any family who lives in Goddard or Wichita.

Though my heart is heavy and there are a million thoughts funning through my mind... I choose to remember her as she was just a year ago. * HAPPY * SMILING * LOVING *   

(I know this is blurry, but my Dad loves this picture of him and his sister)

Heaven now gets to enjoy what we did for 47 years. I can see her fully restored, and being ‘Mommy’ to my two sweet babies in heaven... until I get there.