2015 could be summed up in one word for Ron and I… JOY… What a year it has been! Not one we will forget in a long, long time. I decided this year deserved a letter to give you the update!
We began the year with both of our mothers having a health crisis within 5 days of each other. My mom's was minor, but Ron’s mom Shirley was in the hospital for about 2 weeks. She came to stay with us for about a couple weeks and made a miraculous recovery. We were so joyful when she was able to return home to Great Falls. She has continued to do well. We are looking forward to her spending Christmas with us!
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| Ron and his mom Shirley |
Not long after Shirley returned home, my mom, Joy, had two trips to the ER. Her doctor recommended hospice as she was really struggling. She stayed with us and in March decided to move in permanently so we could care for her. We were so fortunate to have my siblings come stay periodically and a home-nursing group as well as hospice give care in our home. We did so well that in May, she JOYously graduated from hospice!
In April, we reJOYced when Miss Bethany Annamarie joined Ike and Kathie’s family on Good Friday! We have so enjoyed her. A week later, I celebrated my 60th birthday holding my first grandchild. What JOY!
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| Celebrating my 60th Birthday! |
Bethany has been a JOY to us all. Grandma Joy loved having her come spend her 3 days a week and helped to rock and feed her. The two had a very special relationship. Ron and I love having her here--We fill her days with a daily walk, music, making bread and just enjoying each other.. Ike and Kathie say she’s a TRICK baby…She will trick them into more babies ... so easy and fun! We hope so, we are looking forward to having a few more grandkids one of these days!
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| Grandma Joy and Bethany |
In July, we made a JOYful trek to Eastern Washington to celebrate the wedding of our niece Kinsey (my sister Susan’s daughter). Grandma Joy reveled in being surrounded by her 5 children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She celebrated her 94th birthday and danced with my brother Joe with her in her wheelchair. We smiled all weekend!
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| Grandma and her family... her comment: "They all came from me!" |
In late August, Grandma Joy went back on hospice. We moved her hospital bed into our living room, and on September 6th, surrounded by family, she “went home” to heaven. Graveside services for her family were held on September 12th at the Western Montana Veteran’s Cemetery in Missoula where she is buried next to Dad. (Joy's Caring Bridge Site for more info)
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| Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning Psalm 30:5 |
A week later on September 13th, Ron and I celebrated our 40th Anniversary at a friend’s cabin, with some rest and rejuvenation and a few tears. We are so full of joy to have each other.
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| 1975 |
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| 2015 |
We honored mom at her memorial on November 1st, the day after we celebrated my brother Joe’s wedding to delightful Lori on Halloween. So fun to again be surrounded by family and friends. Erik was able to come home again from Arizona. Mom would have loved it! She did love a good party! Her memorial was truly a tribute to her life. My sister Jane and I put together a video sharing how she faced adversity in her life. Truly someone we would want to emulate. She is missed!
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| Kathie, Ike, Ron, Erik, Nancy with Bethany, Liz, Chris |
Our year is ending with a special surprise JOYFUL engagement of daughter Liz to her good friend Chris Brault. Liz is going to graduate school at LSU and Chris is going to Law School at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana We are happy to have them home for the holidays.
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| Chris proposing to Liz |
Truly a year full of JOY. We are so blessed to be surrounded by friends and family.
May your new year be joyous!
Ron and Nancy
