Our October

Sarah went to the Homecoming dance with some friends on Saturday, October 1st.  She looked beautiful.

Below, Sarah and her friend, Ava, before the dance.  Ava's mom prepared a lot of food for the girls to eat before the dance.

We had a few more weeks of volleyball in October.  Sarah's team had a week of practice where at each practice they dressed funny or did funny things.

Will had soccer games on Saturday mornings in October.  Some of us got to cheer him on at a few of his games.  Below, Ernie, Judy, EP, Will, Karen, Silas, Sarah, Eric, and Phoebe.

After spending two weeks in the hospital, Mom got to come home on Hospice care.  She had several visitors throughout the next week and a half - close family friends and relatives, people that she has been close to for many years, people that loved her as much as she loved them.  It was a time for all of us to talk with mom and make sure that she knew how much we ALL loved her and appreciated her and the things that she did for us throughout our lives.  We looked at pictures with her, talked about trips we had gone on, and discussed other memories that we all shared of a Mom, Wife, Nanee, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Sister-In-Law, and Friend.  I spent most of that week and a half there at the house with Mom, Dad, Lindsee, Matt, Uncle, Ernie, and Aunt Judy.  Eric brought our kids for a couple nights over the weekend and we were all able to be together there with Mom.  A week and a half, after coming home from the hospital, on October 13th, at 8:43 am, Mom went to heaven to be with Jesus and loved ones that had gone before her.  It was a terribly hard few weeks for all of us, and it continues to be hard for us here without her.

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and KINDNESS.  Galatians 5:22-23

When asked, what is one word that you would use to describe your Nanee, Silas replied, "Kind.  She was kind."

Mom had these three bracelets on her arm, that Sarah had made for her a couple years ago, while she was in the hospital those two weeks.  She continued to wear them when she came home, and we made the decision to bury her in them as well.  Mom embodied all of these things, COURAGE, STRONG, and HOPE.  She was a positive example to everyone around her during her four and a half year battle with cancer, and her many years of fighting against MS (Multiple Sclerosis).  I hope that my children will remember her and the strength, courage, hope and positivity that she displayed until her last breath, and try to be like her throughout their lives.

During the weekend while our kids were all there, we captured this precious moment (below) with Aunt Judy.  She was on the couch in the middle of a warm hug with Silas and Phoebe when Will slowly approached them, and said, "Do you think your arms can hold anymore?"  We all laughed and he climbed on up and into the hug.  Ernie and Judy, thank you both for being with us that week and a half.  We all needed you, and you didn't hesitate.  That is what family does for each other.  Thank you!

We had a few friends too, who went above and beyond to help us out while Mom was sick and in the days following her death.  Thank you, friends.

Dad treated us to Sweet Granada one afternoon.  It was Patti's first time to go to the Sweet Granada.

Both of our girls played in volleyball tournaments on Saturday, October 15th.  This was the end of the season for Phoebe.  She had a good season and was a great team player for her team.

During Sarah's tournament, line judges were needed to help out.  Eric was selected to be the judge for the last few games.

Two of my good friends, Jenny, Rachel, and I spent a morning shopping for funeral clothes and got to go eat lunch together.  They listened to me, hugged me, and helped me smile.

Sarah's last volleyball game of the season was on Tuesday, October 18th.  Her team ended the season with an exciting win over Andover.

Silas ran in his school's Fun Run on Wednesday, October 19th.  He ran against all the fourth and fifth graders at his school.  They all ran a half mile race.  Silas was ready and ran hard the entire race.  He started out well, and then began to work his way up picking off the hand-full of kids between him and the leader.  He did it!  He worked his way to second and held on to his position running hard to close the gap between him and the leader.  He ended in second place (running a 3:00 minute half mile), about 3-5 seconds behind the fifth grade leader.

Below, after the race with his friends, Arnez, Silas, Isaac, and Tyson.

We had Mom's visitation on Thursday, October 20th.  Her funeral was the next morning, Friday, October 21st.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like Eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  Romans 8:28

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Psalms 34:18

One day, in late October I went home to help Dad out with some things.  When I arrived, I was greeted by Hulk (Will) sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast.

Phoebe's choir had their fall concert on Thursday, October 27th.  They performed mostly Halloween songs, and could wear their costumes to perform in.  Phoebe, of course, wanted to wear her Winifred (from the movie Hocus Pocus, one of the Sanderson Sisters) costume.  The concert was great!

They even used kazoos in one of the last songs.

Silas participated in Red Ribbon week activities throughout the last week in October.  Below is a picture of him with some of his classmates from pajama day.

Silas's school got to have their Halloween parade at school again this year.  Silas dressed as a Dalmation this year.  His costume went with Sarah's costume.  She was Cruella de Vil from Disney's 101 Dalmations.

Halloween night  the kids got dressed in their costumes.  I threw together a couple costumes for Eric and I as Jase and Uncle Si Robertson, and we enjoyed an evening eating dinner and trick-or-treating with friends.

We had a taco bar that night with friends before hitting the streets to collect candy.

Below, Rachel, Stacee, and Jenny.

The SANDERSON SISTERS were spot on with their facial expressions, their walk, and their voices.

BELOW - Left, Haylee was Mary Sanderson. Middle, Phoebe was Winifred Sanderson.  Right, Rayna was Sarah Sanderson.  These are the witches of Disney's Hocus Pocus.

Below, our Halloween trick-or-treating crew, left to right - Ryan, Silas, Barb, Raylene, Rachel, Jon, Stacee, Eric, Sarah, Jenny, Haylee, Phoebe, Rayna, Ann, and Gavin.