*****Originally posted on FB on Saturday, August 29, 2009*****
Yesterday (Friday, Aug. 28th) morning my phone rang and it was my Aunt Kay. We are a close family and get together fairly often, but phone calls aren't frequent. We keep in touch on the family website and facebook. I took a deep breath before I answered the phone, thinking she was going to tell me something happened to my Dad. I was one second relieved it wasn't Daddy, and the next scared and upset because it was about my Aunt Jeannie. She was in fact trying to reach my Dad. Aunt Jeannie had suffered a stroke and was being life-flighted from Perry to OKC Mercy. Then I had to make phone calls to my brother, sister and mother. My thoughts were all over the place, who knows, who needs to be called, whose phone numbers do I have, do I get in the car and drive to OKC, do I go be with my Dad, I've got to call my Pastor. All the while feeling a real pain that made me physically ill. I am "just" her niece. My heart was also breaking for her husband and his family, her son and his children and grandchildren. For my Dad and Aunt and Uncles.
I have spoken brief words about my Aunt Jeannie, what I thought of her and how much I loved her. Daddy, Aunt Kay, Uncle Jim, Uncle Jerry and Uncle Bill, I know I can speak for my siblings and cousins that we love you all to an unexplainable degree. She was the one who said "we need to get together" and then really would make it happen. But, without the commitment to our extended family from each of you, her efforts would have been useless. The six of you have to know the value of family that you have instilled in each one of us. Seems like at Grandma's services they said she had 84 direct decendents and each one of us love each other. What a legacy you all have given to us. I pray that I can continue that with my own children. We have so many blended families in our extended family. I can tell you from personal experience, that any child brought into this family in whatever manner, is treated with love and acceptance. ALL SIX OF YOU ARE AMAZING AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW I WOULD NOT TRADE MY FAMILY FOR ANYTHING. I have great pride in each one of you.
It is a little bizarre that today I am sitting at my computer, crying and feeling such heartbreak, when just last Saturday I was sitting on the porch at my Dad's with Aunt Jeannie. Seeing that smile that made you smile and that laugh that you would know anywhere. We had the pleasure of the company of other family members too. The reason we were together? To celebrate my Dad's 70th birthday. We all get so busy and think it's just another birthday, or we will see you soon. How we got together? Aunt Jeannie called my brother and asked him what kind of party we were having for Dad's 70th birthday! The truth is, we weren't planning a party. Sure, there would have been phone calls and cards, but not a party. So, Rob called Rhonda who called me and there was going to be a party. Aunt Jeannie called her siblings and those that could be at the Farm were there. Troy and I were obligated to a youth football function in Sand Springs, but decided that we would have to be late for that, we had to go to Dad's. Robbie had a really neat cake made with a horse on it. Weird as it is, that is the only time in my life I remember having a birthday party OR birthday cake with my dad for his birthday. I appreciate what Rob and Rhonda did, but without her push, we or maybe just I would have let a busy life keep me from this experience. I left the farm that day talking with Troy about how much I love being around our family. It is comfortable, it is loving, maybe loud, but definitely a safe haven. I also talked about how glad I was that we didn't let something else keep us from being there and having that first birthday cake with my Dad. Aunt Jeannie made a comment while we were all on the porch chatting. She said, "people who don't have a close family like us, don't understand what this means to us." Amen to that! I am grateful for the little push to have cake with my Dad (& Edie) and to spend the afternoon with Aunt Jeannie, Uncle Jerry, Aunt Betty, Uncle Bill, Marilyn, Mark and Rhonda & Bobby and Rob & Danette. I assure you I will treasure the memories of that day always.
If you are reading this, do me a favor. Tell your family that you love them. All of them. Don't let petty (now matter how NOT petty it feels at the time) disagreements, etc. keep you from your family. You get one chance at this. Our God is a forgiving God and he expects the same from us. What happened with Aunt Jeannie was not only unexpected, it was so fast. Don't waste time. If you can't "tell" them, "show" them. They will still know and you will know that you shared your heart with them. Our family is far from perfect, but have been so blessed. Blessed with the desire to stay together as a family and the wilingness to say (or show) I love you. Take time to have a birthday cake with your parent or sibling or whatever comes up. Those memories will help you get through the hard times, because you will know that you have loved and been loved.
To my family, I love each and every one of you. Mike, I couldn't harass you and pick on you like I do if I didn't love you. Along with the rest of our family, I am here for you and I love you more than words can express.
Love always, Randi
Aunt Jeannie with her sister Donna Kay and brothers Bobby,Jim, Jerry and Billy. Sept. 07
Yesterday (Friday, Aug. 28th) morning my phone rang and it was my Aunt Kay. We are a close family and get together fairly often, but phone calls aren't frequent. We keep in touch on the family website and facebook. I took a deep breath before I answered the phone, thinking she was going to tell me something happened to my Dad. I was one second relieved it wasn't Daddy, and the next scared and upset because it was about my Aunt Jeannie. She was in fact trying to reach my Dad. Aunt Jeannie had suffered a stroke and was being life-flighted from Perry to OKC Mercy. Then I had to make phone calls to my brother, sister and mother. My thoughts were all over the place, who knows, who needs to be called, whose phone numbers do I have, do I get in the car and drive to OKC, do I go be with my Dad, I've got to call my Pastor. All the while feeling a real pain that made me physically ill. I am "just" her niece. My heart was also breaking for her husband and his family, her son and his children and grandchildren. For my Dad and Aunt and Uncles.
I have spoken brief words about my Aunt Jeannie, what I thought of her and how much I loved her. Daddy, Aunt Kay, Uncle Jim, Uncle Jerry and Uncle Bill, I know I can speak for my siblings and cousins that we love you all to an unexplainable degree. She was the one who said "we need to get together" and then really would make it happen. But, without the commitment to our extended family from each of you, her efforts would have been useless. The six of you have to know the value of family that you have instilled in each one of us. Seems like at Grandma's services they said she had 84 direct decendents and each one of us love each other. What a legacy you all have given to us. I pray that I can continue that with my own children. We have so many blended families in our extended family. I can tell you from personal experience, that any child brought into this family in whatever manner, is treated with love and acceptance. ALL SIX OF YOU ARE AMAZING AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW I WOULD NOT TRADE MY FAMILY FOR ANYTHING. I have great pride in each one of you.
It is a little bizarre that today I am sitting at my computer, crying and feeling such heartbreak, when just last Saturday I was sitting on the porch at my Dad's with Aunt Jeannie. Seeing that smile that made you smile and that laugh that you would know anywhere. We had the pleasure of the company of other family members too. The reason we were together? To celebrate my Dad's 70th birthday. We all get so busy and think it's just another birthday, or we will see you soon. How we got together? Aunt Jeannie called my brother and asked him what kind of party we were having for Dad's 70th birthday! The truth is, we weren't planning a party. Sure, there would have been phone calls and cards, but not a party. So, Rob called Rhonda who called me and there was going to be a party. Aunt Jeannie called her siblings and those that could be at the Farm were there. Troy and I were obligated to a youth football function in Sand Springs, but decided that we would have to be late for that, we had to go to Dad's. Robbie had a really neat cake made with a horse on it. Weird as it is, that is the only time in my life I remember having a birthday party OR birthday cake with my dad for his birthday. I appreciate what Rob and Rhonda did, but without her push, we or maybe just I would have let a busy life keep me from this experience. I left the farm that day talking with Troy about how much I love being around our family. It is comfortable, it is loving, maybe loud, but definitely a safe haven. I also talked about how glad I was that we didn't let something else keep us from being there and having that first birthday cake with my Dad. Aunt Jeannie made a comment while we were all on the porch chatting. She said, "people who don't have a close family like us, don't understand what this means to us." Amen to that! I am grateful for the little push to have cake with my Dad (& Edie) and to spend the afternoon with Aunt Jeannie, Uncle Jerry, Aunt Betty, Uncle Bill, Marilyn, Mark and Rhonda & Bobby and Rob & Danette. I assure you I will treasure the memories of that day always.
If you are reading this, do me a favor. Tell your family that you love them. All of them. Don't let petty (now matter how NOT petty it feels at the time) disagreements, etc. keep you from your family. You get one chance at this. Our God is a forgiving God and he expects the same from us. What happened with Aunt Jeannie was not only unexpected, it was so fast. Don't waste time. If you can't "tell" them, "show" them. They will still know and you will know that you shared your heart with them. Our family is far from perfect, but have been so blessed. Blessed with the desire to stay together as a family and the wilingness to say (or show) I love you. Take time to have a birthday cake with your parent or sibling or whatever comes up. Those memories will help you get through the hard times, because you will know that you have loved and been loved.
To my family, I love each and every one of you. Mike, I couldn't harass you and pick on you like I do if I didn't love you. Along with the rest of our family, I am here for you and I love you more than words can express.
Love always, Randi
Aunt Jeannie with her sister Donna Kay and brothers Bobby,Jim, Jerry and Billy. Sept. 07
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