I do hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas week!

Ours was bittersweet.  If you remember, the name of this blog came from my dear sweet Grandpa.  You can read about that here.  Well, he has been getting tired.  Exhausted.  He's been ready for quite some time now..

Last week sometime, I had a dream that my family and I were all sitting around him, holding his hand and just feeling the love.  Then I turned around and my Grandma was there, too.  (She passed away about 6 years ago)  I could see her clear as day and even smell her.  It was so vivid.  She told me that she wanted to be with the family and invite him to come with her.  She also said that Heaven is very real, and that there are still Sundays. (side note: I have no clue what that would've meant?!  Chase says its' because it's the Sabbath, I think it's because it's my favorite day of the week, so maybe my subconscious just wanted to hear that, and my aunt seems to think it's her telling us to start going to church! haha).  Anyways, that was very interesting. I've had a few very intuitive dreams like that of people who have passed in my life.  I like it.  I like seeing their face, hearing their voice again.  It's magical!

 So, my family flew in from Seattle, and on Sunday we all went to my Grandpa's  assisted living apartment where he's been going through his hospice.  We all hung out and ate food. He knew we were all there, but was very weak and tired.  Slept most of the time.  We all started singing Christmas Carols and he tried singing along with us!  He was always in his church choir and just loves singing.  After his stroke, when he couldn't speak very well, he joined a choir for stroke victims, and everyone said that when he would sing you could hear him clear as day!  Isn't that neat?!

Anyways, the day was beautiful.  The following day I stopped by and saw him again after work.  At about 12:30 am on Christmas Eve he took his last breath with three of his kids there holding his hands.

Herbert Basil DeVaan

Obituary Guest Book "I have many good memories of working with Herb at both..." - Denis Bertrand View Sign DeVaan, Herbert Basil Loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather and friend, high tech executive, technician, farmer, lifelong Democrat, veteran, singer and tinkerer. Herb, age 81, of Minnetonka, passed away peacefully in the company of family. Herb was longtime member of the Chanhassen American Legion Post #580, The Chanhassen Civic Theater, The Minnetonka Clippers Chorus, St. Hubert's and St. Therese Catholic Parishes. Born in 1932, and raised in Graceville, MN, Herb gave up farming in 1958 to expand on his Navy training as radio technician. In 1960, moving his small family to Chanhassen he started with a burgeoning Control Data Corporation, where he expanded his interest in cutting edge computer technology. Herb became an executive with CDC and Control Systems selling power plant computer control systems around the world.

I'm must say, it's effecting me more than I thought it would.  I know he's in a better place.  He's able to walk, talk, sing and dance with my Grandma and his oldest son again.  I'm just going to miss him.

This whole chapter of our family has really made me realize how fortunate we are and what family is for.  In a way, my Grandpa brought everyone so much closer again.  After my Grandma passed away, we all had to work together to make things work, and we did!  He had some great times in the last 7 years since his stroke.  I'm so happy for all of the memories and time I've been able to have with him.

Hashtag #Blessed haha.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE:  The rest of my Christmas was wonderful.  I spent time with my mom, and brothers, dad, step sibs, reminisced about Thailand with one of them who did pretty much the same trip right after us, opened presents, ate food, and we were MERRY!

It is the 5th of July and because I'm the newbie here at the Melrose Institute, I get to be here at 6:30 on this beautiful day! I can't complain, I suppose..  But, it's going to be a quiet and dragging type of day.. watching the minutes pass.  Luckily, this gives me the opportunity to catch up here a little bit!

My fourth was very nice!  It basically looked like this:

Where has time gone?  It's been over a week, and I haven't even had a chance to post a few pictures of my trip.  We've just been so busy since we got back!

Well, it was a wonderful time.  It's funny because I started thinking that 11 days for Mexico was a little too long.. I was wrong!  If only Rocko was down there with us, I don't think we would've come home!

Casa Rosa (The Pink One) <3

 Bros.  I'm so glad that Erik was able to make it.  For the first few nights, he just spend the evenings in the Hammock up on our rooftop!  It's easy to make yourself feel right at home there..  And I told him, you'll be coming down here many more times!

That's the gist of it.  These are with my new camera, which is big so I wasn't able to bring it everywhere.  I might post some more later though that my friend Jenny took.  It was a blast and I already can't wait until next year!

That's about all that's new with me though.  We still have a lot of "nesting" to do at the house..  But, it'll all come together in time!

I decided to join a blog hop called Thankful Thursday, which coincidentally starts today, on Thanksgiving Day.

Today I am especially thankful for my Family.  In this last year, Chase and I have been through a lot, and we couldn't have done any of it without these people helping us.  We have had a lot happen in the last year.. MANY ups and downs.  I've watched our families pull together in times of need as well as celebrate wonderful moments together.  We are incredibly fortunate to be a part of the families that we are, and to have become a part of each other's families. 

For that, and these amazing people, we are THANKFUL.

GUILTY!

I just got news that Chase and I will be new Auntie and Uncle  of a baby BOY later this spring!  Of course, we knew Chase's brother and his wife were expecting, but today we found out it's a baby boy, and I can officially start browsing clearance racks!  It's perfect, because Christmas shopping is right around the corner, and tons of adorable summer clothes are on sale!  By the time July rolls around, the baby will be about 4 months old, so it'll be perfect for some 3-6 mos. clothes!  I'm so excited for them!

And a little jealous.  They are a bit younger than us, and quite a bit.. less established.  Which is fine, people have certainly raised wonderful children on less, but I guess when Chase and I found out about them, it was a little weird, because I think we thought we'd have children first.  Of course, the world doesn't work the way you think it would.  And truly, I couldn't be happier for the two of them.  It just makes me want a little peanut of our own!  Someday..  I do have to wait.. I'm in a wedding in a year, and a trip this spring..  And when I start to think about that, I don't know when we'll be "ready".  Our bucket lists are endless..
But are you ever really ready?

Either way, i'll be counting down to be a fresh Auntie to Brayden Michael, mid March!

In other news, I am joining Fit Friends!  It's a fun and healthy pen pal exchange!  You get buddied up with another member each month, and mail each other a healthy treat, inspirational material, and anything else healthy and fun!  I can't wait to see what will come of it.  Check it out, and join for yourself!

Hey Y'all!  I just wanted to introduce my dear friends to my "step" mom.. (We aren't a fan of the title, but it is what it is.)  Her name is Peggy and her and my dad are going to save the world!

Ok, maybe not..  but they sure are contributing! 

They have an online store called Ourgreenhome.co where they sell all sorts of eco friendly products, energy saving items for the home, and even some free recipes for household cleaning products!
She has also begun making some of the products, like the soy candles, at her very own house, reusing containers and adding amazing fragrances..  They would make some great Holiday gifts (wink, wink).  They even just got new Holiday wrapping paper printed in the US on 90% recycled paper!
Peggy just started blogging a little bit as well, and you can follow her here.
They certainly are doing their part to make our world a better place, and they have loads of ideas on how YOU can help!  So check it out..
Thanks!

A friend of mine from high school was in a car accident that took his life last night.  His name was Mark, and he was everything wonderful.  Friends with everyone, he was fun, such a sweetie to everyone, very smart, outgoing, a strong believer, and always funny! 

In high school, we were buds!  Since then we would still run it into each other here and again.  He was just always such a nice guy and fun to catch up with.  I believe it was last Halloween I hung out with him.  No matter how close you were with someone, when something like this happens to someone you know, someone your age, so suddenly, you can't help but to ponder things a bit. 
It makes me reflect on my life, and the people in it, and remmeber to take advantage of each memory, each person, and each experience.  Situations like this make you wonder if He has a plan for everyone..  if that was supposed to happen like that, or if it was purely a mistake.  I am personally open to spiritual beliefs, however, I know that Mark was a strong believer in Christ. 
You just never know what this life has in store for each of us, our family, and our friends.  It can be taken away in the blink of an eye.

If you remember a while ago, asked about my biggest fears, car accidents were on there.  They happen SO FAST.  So PLEASE, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.  DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE.  DON'T SPEED.  BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELT.  And TEACH your children to drive responsibly as well.  I'm not sure exactly what went wrong in this accident, but it took a life of a wonderful man.