At the Viewing
Jacob, Karissa, Kelsi, Mariah, Juliet, Nicholas
"We're happy just about anywhere!"
(Sam, Gavin)
Travis, Bryan
Bryan, Jacob
Cousins are the Greatest!
(Sam, Gavin, Colin)
These boys just can't get enough of their youngest cousin, Colin.
So precious!
It was a very nice day for December--the sun was shining.
Kelsi, Sam, Jacob, Karissa,
Bryan, Mindy
Karissa wanted to take home her 'snow' friend for a souvenir.
Too bad she couldn't. We made up for it though--listen to this!
My family sent flowers to the viewing, which were brought to the cemetery for the burial. The flowers were beautiful. And I have to tell you the story about the flowers. I just assumed that Bryan would get them and bring them home to our house. But when we got home and I asked him where they were--he said he didn't know what happened to them. He said his mom said something about how she wished we could of kept the flowers from the Blake families. So when Wanda and Aunt Jane came up for dinner Tue. evening, I asked her about the flowers. She said they were taken to the cemetery and left there. I didn't realize they were at the cemetery, or I would have taken them with me. I really wanted to keep them. So I decided to go back to the cemetery and get them. I knew my best chance of them being alive would be to go that night, and I also knew I'd always wonder if I didn't go. So when I picked up Karissa from Young Womens Tue night at about 8:30pm I told her we were going to the cemetery. She looked at me like I was crazy! Then I showed her my flashlight and she knew I was serious. All the way there she was saying, "No, mom we are not going to the cemetery. It's dark! It'll be closed!" But we went anyhow. I have to admit it was pretty scary. But I would have NEVER found the grave sight without Karissa. She knew exactly where it was and led me right to it. I ran out with my flashlight, grabbed the flowers and we were out of there lickety split. Then it hit me what we'd done and I started laughing saying "Karissa I'm so crazy." Of course she agreed. When we got the flowers home we realized that the cold had already gotten to some of them, so I took out the dead ones. And we enjoyed the rest of them. The arrangement has evergreen in it so we have enjoyed the smell of "Christmas evergreen" the last few days. And as I've taken out the dead ones day by day, I've thought a lot of Spence and his life and how his health worsened over time. Spence was truly a good man, and I know he left this life in peace. We really appreciated the flowers and we will always remember our adventure of going to get them from the cemetery in the dark.
Grandma Blake, Grandpa Blake, Grandma Taylor
Grandpa Blake (Keith) dedicated Spencer's grave.
Tiffany, Jacob
Making the best of the snow.
(Kelsi, Mariah, Karissa)
Toby, Bryan, Josh
Bryan, Mindy
I had scheduled to go to Lake view Elderly home, where Spence had been residing, for an activity days activity for a service. Each girl had written a story to read there and we had presents for each of the residents there. The night I had this scheduled for was Wed. night--the day after Spence's funeral. I was having a hard time going, but Karissa and Kelsi both still wanted to go. I'm really glad we went. There was a great spirit there and it brought comfort and peace to me to be there. I think that Spence must have been glad that we still went and served those who had been his home and family for a year and a half. It was a great experience.
Bryan got right to work with the new sewing maching
Bryan sewed some great outfits for
And Jacob got right to work building
We went to Grandma Blake's for Christmas dinner
Alan, Josh, Grandpa Blake, Bryan, Dave, Brad
So happy together!
'The 3 Musketeers'
So fun to see our cousins!
Yeah! Alyssa gets to come to my house!
Our cousins came up for Pizza!
