Crisp fall weather

Hello From Rockville

Yesterday was a day filled with emotions.  I felt it was my last "Good-bye" to Harlan.  I went to the memorial service at the VA, it was good, very nice.  Special music "Love Remains" .. beautiful and several songs were sung, "O God Our Help in Ages Past" and the last one "Amazing Grace" was sung at both the committal and Memorial service for Harlan and yesterday at the VA.  Each Veteran's name was read and a bell rang in memory.

The following is a poem that was read -

I STOOD BY YOUR BED  Author Unkown

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep,
I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep.


I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."


I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour your tea, you were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.


I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore.  I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.


I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care. I want to reassure you that I'm not lying there.


I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key. I gently put my hand on you, I smiled and said "It's me."


You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair,  I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.


It's possible for me to be so near you every day, to say to you with certainty, "I never went away."


You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew ... in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.


The day is over ... I smile and watch you yawning and say "Goodnight, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."


And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand there side by side.


I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.  Be patient, live your journey out ... then come home to be with me.


Yesterday was hard but I'm so glad I went.  After the service I stopped at the Park Dinner and had an Orange float, when Harlan had a Root Beer float I had an Orange float.
Today is our Social pot luck and I'm using some of the many apples I have for Apple Crisp.  Following the Social will be a meeting to put our fire drill safety into use so everyone will know what to do if a fire should happen. 
Will write again soon.........Fran

It was a cool day

Hello From Rockville

I woke up to a very cool day and it was that way all day.  I needed to gas up the van but chose not to as I didn't wear a coat will have to do that tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be the Memorial at the VA and that may be hard for me but I am looking forward to going as that will be my final "Good Bye."

I did my "job" listening to the children read this morning, they are such a joy, then I picked up my wedding ring.  It broke a short time after Harlan passed away and it's so good to have it back on my finger, I am just not ready to remove it and I don't think I'll ever be able to.  

I was going to do a little grocery shopping but forgot my coupons at home so it will give me something to do tomorrow afternoon.

I had a nice surprise today, while watching TV my cell phone rang with DeeAnn at the other end, "Where are you? Are you home?"  Me, "Yes."  "We are in your driveway, can we come in?"  If someone wants to visit me I never turn them away, Linda was with her they came in we had a little chat and lots of laughs, she wanted to show Linda where I live, good seeing both of them. 

I see my blog writing has really slowed down just not a lot to write about, I'll let you know how tomorrow goes............Fran

Weather is Beautiful for October

Hello From Rockville

A week since writing but nothing exciting to write about.  

Denese went to spent time with Jenny and Megan and she dropped me off at DeeAnn's for the afternoon.  We had fun cooking, I helped her make a meat loaf, apple crisp and two kinds of soup we also did some shopping.  Denese and I had supper with Rick and DeeAnn, meat loaf, sweet potatoes, green beans and apple crisp with whipped cream, all very good and with satisfied tummies we headed home.  I have a lot going on this coming week but not a lot of exciting things, I do keep busy.  

I'm still doing well but I miss Harlan......Fran     

Beautiful Fall

Hello From Rockville 

It has several days since writing.  Sue has returned to Georgia and back to work.  Friday we made a stop at the cemetery, this was my first time back, we had to make sure Harlan's dates were correct on his part of the marker.  While there we also found Baby James grave, he was our first Grandbaby.  The cemetery has a lot of maple trees and they were dressed in their best fall wardrobe just beautiful!!!  We all had a great day.  

Before leaving Minnesota we had dinner with the gang - Me, Denese, Rick, Sue, Becky and Luke, we never tire of visiting.  Sue hopes to come home for Christmas and the way time moves that will be here before we know it, less then three months.

I have a new e mail address as we have a new server for phone, internet and cable, there are several things to "iron out", in fact I was without internet service for several days, as of now I am back on and everything seems to be going okay. 

I will write again soon just keep checking..........Fran 

Minnesota Vacation Part 2

Hello From Rockville 
The past six days have been fast moving and oh so much fun!

As I told you earlier I spent my birthday with my sisters, and I don't know how long it has been since that has happened, and back home on Monday.

Sue and I spent Tuesday here unpacking suit cases and doing laundry so we'd be ready to take off again on Wednesday morning this time heading north and west with first our first stop at Lowry near Alexandria to spend time with Joyce and Jim. We had not seen their Minnesota home, they are on a lake and are in the process of remodeling, a project that is keeping both of them very busy and I dare say out of mischief.  It was so good to be able to visit with them, after chatting we headed into town for lunch, a Chinese buffet was chosen and Sue and I both left filled to the "brim."  After "Good Byes" and a stop to fill the car we headed to North Dakota then noticed the temperature on the car thermometer registered 91 but as we got nearer to our destination it did cool down to mid 80's and by evening it was very comfortable.  We spent the night with my cousin Dan and Bonnie and really enjoyed their hospitality, had good food a nice place to sleep and lots of fun looking at old pictures and talking about our childhood etc. with lots of memories and laughs to last a long time.  Wednesday morning after a great breakfast they took us into town as Sue wanted to pick up something from Edinberg North Dakota to take back home we then headed east toward Minnesota.  Oh yes, Dan's dad and my dad were brothers.

Our third stop was to Oslo Minnesota in the Red River Valley (this area of Minnesota floods every spring) to visit relatives on Mom's side of the family.  Again we had a wonderful dinner and again we ate more then we needed but it's hard to know when to stop when it tastes so good.  We talked about family and looked at many pictures some I knew and others I did not but again we had a very fun afternoon.  Before leaving we were treated to a fresh raspberry dessert and coffee and we were back on the road by mid afternoon and got home a bit after 7:00.  

I am so thankful to Sue and the time she took to drive me around Minnesota it's been a fun "Minnesota Vacation."........Fran

Vacation part one

Hello From Rockville

Sue came in on Friday, Jenny picked her up at the airport and did some fun things to her hair and Denese brought me to Jenny's house.  From Jenny's I spent the afternoon with Doris and Bob, I spent several hours with them then I was picked up and Sue and I headed down to Owatonna to be with Lucille and Harold, enjoyed dinner with them then Cheryl joined us for cake and I received several packages (it was my birthday)  each one contained goodies for our trip, candy and nuts we'll snack on the way.  Our last stop today was time with Becky, Walt, Luke, Kristen and Kate.  We had dinner with them then headed home to Rockville.  We'll do a few things here then head out west and I'll fill you in on more activities when i get back.....Fran.

Another busy day

Hello From Rockville 

Denese woke me up before leaving for work she leaves at 6:30 on Friday, I had an 8:15 Dr. appointment in St. Cloud and I needed to leave here by 7:30.  I did stop for breakfast @ McD then on for the appointment and that went well I don't need to go back unless I have a problem.

The appointment behind me I did a little grocery shopping at the Aldi store and Cash Wise, then home to put stuff away and on to church for our YAH'S outing.  We went for lunch at Bonanzas then a tour of a granite mining area called Quarry Park.  This was so much fun, we were able to ride through, we had a guide on board to tell us about it, just too far for Seniors to walk, they no longer take granite from there, some very deep holes that are filled with water over 100 feet deep, you can fish for rainbow trout, there is rock climbing, and swimming.  There are many walking trails for summer and winter recreation and ski and snowmobile trails for the winter time also. 

I hadn't been home very long when Denese called to see if I wanted to go out to eat she took me out for my birthday we went to an all you can eat fish place, it was okay but I don't think we'll go back again.

It is now time to get ready for bed as a busy day is coming up tomorrow........Fran