Thank you all for your prayers and condolences. They meant so much to everyone. Hubby is beginning to really get why I love you all so much!  At first he couldn't see you as real, but over the past couple years, he is learning how real and how wonderful you all are!

So things went as well as could be expected. The boys and I had an uneventful flight down, hubs found us at Orlando airport with no troubles...  the weather in Florida was beautiful and we had a chance to get in the pool twice, which kept 13 out of trouble... The arrangements had all been made by the time we arrived, so it was just marking time for us... My FIL wished to be cremated, so the wake was a little less intimidating for 13...  my MIL was both better and worse than I expected...  they had been married 61 years, and about 40 of them she was looking after his health after a serious pancreatic illness... FIL was not only her husband, but her career in many ways...

The interment was at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. FIL was a Marine in WWII .  The local chapter of the VFW was there in force, about 20 men... there was a 21 gun salute and a very moving ceremony, where they folded the flag and placed shell casings inside. They read a special poem and there was a special prayer... the drive through the cemetery was very moving,  all those headstones....

Hubs is in bad shape... I have to wonder if God didn't take my dad first in order for ma to be able to help hubs more... he even said he didn't realize how bad I must have felt.  I don't think you can know how it feels until you lose a parent.... it is like somehow the whole world changes... and your place in it...  it is going to be hard, because hubs called his folks every day, on his way home from work.... he even almost told his mom to say hi to dad, when on the phone as we were driving home.  I can understand this, as I still almost buy something I think my dad would like when in the stores.  In a lot of ways it is harder than if they lived near, because it is so easy to fall into that frame of mind, that they are just in Florida...

The boys.... 23 can be very internal about things... emotions don't come easy for him.... 13 did pretty well, some tears, but mostly he was very brave for his grandma.  I am grateful to hubs' former boss, for all the years he sent us to FL on vacation, it gave us all the opportunity to be much closer than if we hadn't been able to get down there yearly.  And without him paying our airfare, it would have hard to do it every year...  It is a gift we will not forget.  Since the in laws moved down before 13 was born, he would hardly have known them!

It was good to see the support FIL's friends and their neighbors gave to MIL... I think she will be in good hands. SIL lives a few minutes away, too... she won't be alone....

We rented a minivan to come home. MIL wanted hubs to take home a bunch of FIL's tools and things... My goodness! It is cheaper to fly!  The ride home was uneventful except for traffic from the FL State football game... there were some pretty strange looking people in some of those cars! LOL

We did have the chance to have lunch with Josaju and her hubby John on Friday.  John looked wonderful after his surgery, and Fran looked as beautiful as always!  They were kind enough to bring us some grapefruits and lemons, straight from the tree.... unbelieveable! The lemons are so juicy!  I am making believe I am still in the warm climate, and drinking my ice water with a wedge of that yummy lemon!  I think I may look for a recipe I can use them in...

When we got home, we had to drive the hour+ up to the airport in Hartford to get hubs van out of the longterm parking.... he was supposed to fly home Wednesday.... the ride was almost completely in rainy conditiond. Yuck... and I think I must have seam marks in my butt from sitting in the car so many hours over 3 days... at least USAir is going to give him a credit for the other half of his flight, which we didn't expect, since it was a non refundable flight... thank you Travelocity and USAir!

Well that about does it for now... I am still exhausted and have much to do for Thanksgiving... see you all later.

Well I doubt I will be back on again before I leave, so everyone have a great week... behave yourselves, love each other, and generally be good! LOL  I will 'see' you all next Monday!

Ralph Warren Noel, may you feel the warmth of God's face and the comfort of his embrace.

My FIL passed from this life into his next shortly before 12:30 am this morning.  I feel the pain of my husband and his sister, knowing how his whole life has changed in just a second.   Everything is different.  I am trying to feel the joy my grand daughter displayed when she was told her Gpa was getting ready to live with Jesus, her innocent little face lit up at the prospect of his eternal joy. We will all miss him so.

Hubs called me from the airport in Orlando last night, in tears... he had talked to his sister and Dad had not moved or woken all day, he was so afraid he would not make it on time.  I was in so much pain for him, I know so well how he felt.  By God's grace he got there and Dad had not let go.  He called us so everyone could talk to Dad and say our goodbyes and such.  Dad appeared to sleep through it all. Then after I spoke to him and was talking with hubby, his voice lit up and I heard him say "hi dad!"  Dad woke up and knew hubs was there, and was in and out most of the night, talking about heaven and wanting to go home, at times he was alert, and other times somewhat incoherent.  This is breaking hub's heart.  I want to pray for a quick release now, but fear he has unfinished business he needs to resolve in this waiting period.  But the wait is painful for all of us... So I pray for a peaceful and resolved passage for him...

Hubs Dad is being moved to a hospice facility.  He can no longer be cared for at home...  Please pray that hubby gets there in time...