Thank you

I would like to thank everyone for their sweet,sweet thoughts and prayers. Eli and I did make it home to Iowa as well as my brother before my granddad passed. If you have ever witnessed someone pass then you know it is the most amazing thing to ever witness. I don't normally do recaps but I do need to put my thoughts down on what this past week was like....

Eli and I decided that we would take the red eye Monday night and arrive into Des Moines at 8am. My brother had already booked a flight from Seattle into Des Moines and he was set to arrive by 9am. My dad picks me and E up and takes us straight to the health center where my granddad was living. We arrive and my grandmother, i call her mommal (cross between mom and grandma) was there as was my mom, my uncle mike and pastor Millens. My granddad was in a deep state of sleep--he was doped up on morphine to help with the pain. I went over to him and put my hand on his and kissed his forehead. He twitched a little but I am not sure if it was his reaction to me or the morphine. I proceeded to talk to him in hopes he could hear my voice and told him to hang on just a bit longer for Bryan to get there. His breathes were getting longer a part so we knew it was only a matter of time.

Bryan arrived at 930am. We gave him some private time with granddad and then by 945am we were surrounding his bed holding hands. The Pastor said a prayer for my granddad to go on home and that we were ready for him to go. We all said the Lord's prayer together. I think this is the first time in my life I felt proud that I knew the Lord's Prayer--which is something that I learned from my granddad and mommal. As his breathes were getting longer, the tears were falling, I cried out, I love you Granddad as we all thought this was it...what felt like an eternity of no breathing, he came back with a heavy and deep breathe--this put everyone into a fit of laughter amongst the tears.It was tension breaker. However,after that last deep breathe, it was over. 10am on 12/4 my beloved granddad went home to his maker. This was exactly a week before his 79th birthday.

I left the room shortley there after and took a walk with my husband. I felt complete peace. It was the strangest feeling. Tuesday night, the family gathered at my mommal's. We had an abundance of food--special thanks to my uncle's friends who certainly made sure the grandkids were well fed. The grandkids pick out pictures for the slideshow and the adults tended to the funeral planning. It was so great to look at all these pictures of my granddad--even though I had seen so many of them before. This time around I could actually see my granddad's spirit in these pictures. Jump to Thursday and that is when the sadness started to creep in.

Thursday night was the visitation. Des Moines got hit with a bad snow storm. Despite the snow storm we had an estimated 140 people come to the visitation. It was wonderful to see so many people who came out to pay their respects and share wonderful, heart warming stories about my granddad. I always knew this man was special but hearing these stories really reinforced it. Friday was the funeral. My mommal decided to do an untraditional funeral service. The service was truly a celebration of my granddad's life. My dad did the eulogy. Eli and Bryan did a reading. We had someone playing the alto sax in a jazzy version of amazing grace. I want to find this version and add it my mp3 player. It brought tears to my eyes when I heard this. During the recessional, the family walked out to the song "When the saints go marching in" This song conjuers up a warm memory of my granddad banging on the piano playing this song and singing his heart out.

We went to the cemetery and had a quick grave side service. My granddad was in the military so we had a military person playing taps on the bugle. Oh wow is that the saddest thing I have ever heard. Once the graveside service was completed, I walked past the casket, I put my hand on it and whispered "I love you". Ever since yesterday I have had an empty feeling in my heart. This new feeling of a hole that now resides in my heart. I asked Eli about this and if he experienced the same thing last year when his grandpa died. He said yes, he felt the same way. Over time the feeling will subside but you will never be able replace that hole in your heart for that person.

I am so thankful I made it there on Tuesday. I can't believe I have been gone for a week and missed a whole week of work but after what I experienced with my family. I don't even care that I will most likely have to have last week go unpaid.


FRANCIS W. (JIM) MORRIS

Urbandale

Jim Morris, 78, formerly from West Des Moines died peacefully, surrounded by family, Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at the Deerfield Life Care Retirement Community on Hickman Road in Urbandale, Iowa.

Jim was born December 11, 1928 in McWhorter, West Virginia. On June 27, 1946 he was united in marriage to Phyllis Badgett of Fairmont, West Virginia.

He graduated from Fairmont High School in 1946 and went on to Fairmont State University where he graduated cum laude with a BS in Business Administration. He served two years in the Army at Fort Benning, Georgia from 1950 through 1952. He worked for General Mills for 36 years which took him from Parkersburg, WV, Columbus, OH, Cincinnati, OH, Chicago, IL and then to Des Moines, IA, in 1967 as a district sales manager. Retiring from General Mills in 1988, he then volunteered at the Polk County courthouse as a small claims mediator. He enjoyed worshiping his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by serving on many church boards, singing, directing music, spreading the good news, leading bible study and greeting visitors on Sunday mornings. His favorite bible passages come from Psalms 121 and John 14 with special love of John 14:2, "In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" In his leisure time Jim would garden, and he enjoyed watching football and baseball, especially when it came to the Chicago Cubs, da-Bears, and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Jim is survived by his wife, Phyllis; son, Larry (Diane) Morris of Atlanta, Georgia, son, Mike (Jan) Morris of West Des Moines, Iowa; granddaughter, Heather (Eli) Robbins of San Francisco, California; grandson, Bryan (Amy) Morris of Snoqualmie, Washington; granddaughter, Alexandria Morris of Iowa City, Iowa; granddaughter, Samantha Morris of West Des Moines; sister, Alice Lee (Jim) Rogers of Clarksburg, West Virginia; brother, Buddy (Mary Louise) Morris of Tyrone, Georgia; sister, Jane (Wendell) Beveridge of Niles, Ohio, as well as four nephews and six nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Waitman Wayne and Mable Morris of Fairmont, West Virginia.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 6, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3900 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, IA.

Funeral services will be at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Friday, December 7, at 10:30 a.m.

The family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions can be made to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3900 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, IA 50265 or the Alzheimer's Association, 1730 28th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266, http: //www.alz.org/greateriowa/in_my_community_donate.asp

One wedding and one funeral

talk about highs and lows....I learned on Friday that my granddad was admitted into the hospital for pneumonia. With his body and mind already detoriated he didn't have the strength to fight off the infection. He was moved into hospice and making him comfortable is the ultimate goal. I had a good cry on Friday and was able to suppress the sadness and turn it into happiness for my best friend and her wedding. The wedding was GOREGOUS and so much fun! She even got her white wedding as it started snowing during the ceremony so as we opened up the church doors you could see the snow blowing like you were in a snow globe.

Today I am back in SF and received a call around lunchtime from my mom telling me I need to get on a plane and come to Des Moines. Eli and I are taking the red eye tonight. I left work this afternoon and managed to finish out the day working from home. I tried to say good bye to him over the phone but just couldn't say the words. I am not sure if he will make it through the night, part of me wonders if he is waiting for his two grandkids to come home. My brother and I arrive tomorrow morning.

Even though I knew this day would come, I was not prepared for the deep sadness I feel. This is the first of my four grandparents to go. I am so very fortunate to had my granddad in my life for this long. He wasn't able to make it my wedding but in his mind he was there and he would tell you that he was there :)

Because you asked...

but don't be mad, I only have a few pictures....



Here is our kitchen. It is all orginial 1949 cabinetry. I am in love with my kitchen. It is so big and roomy. Once I get my dishwasher installed and more electrical outlets I will be more in love with the kitchen. The walls are painted a cool mint green color. I added a splash of cranberry red with the throw rug. I have cranberry red plates from pier 1 and a big bowl that i use as fruit bowl that really compliments the rug well. My goal in the next month or so is to make a valance to hang in the kitchen window that will tie all the colors together.






This has to be one of my favorites in the house. It is the library table that is on loan from my MIL. It sits right near the front door and is the perfect fit for the wall space. I have a little candy dish that we use to put our keys in. For all you chicago lovers, the picture hanging above is the "bean". Now my only question is, does the picture look to small above the table???



our living room. The fireplace is a working fireplace. The chimmy dude coming out next week to make sure it is safe. I am craving a night by the fire and some yummy red wine. The painting above the mantle was painted by his cousin...again, I am concerned that it is too small....I think the cards make the mantle look way too cluttered.



in the corner there is E's pride and joy...the man bar!! that thing opens to twice its size. Drink anyone??

So you can see we are slowly getting the house together..I spent Friday and Sunday last weekend weeding the front yard. Couple things I learned about weeding..it is really good therapy and it is really tiring!

More pics to come....

My Best Friend's Wedding

Thursday I will be making the cross-country flight to OHIO for my best friend C's wedding. She is the last one of the 15 of us that are still friends from college to be married. I could not be happier for her and her soon to be husband. She has truly found her partner in life. C is the closet thing I have to a sister--her sisters are even sisters to me. Care--I can't wait to be by your side as you say "I do" to wonderful, wonderful man. It seems like only yesterday we were in Dana Point on a beautiful sailboat on cool SoCal Feburary day when Sergio proposed to you. I can hardly believe I kept that secret from you :) Cheers to you and sergio!!

A memorable Thanksgiving

What a lovely evening last night was. Surrounded by friends and family for a very delicious thanksgiving meal. Even the turkey came out fantastic--though there was a quick scare but we did figure out the turkey was indeed done.

The conversation was flowing as was the wine. Here is a snippet of one of conversations from last night.

Phyllis-" I work at a non-profit that helps homeless, convicts, etc that helps them back into the workforce.

Me: Do you have any volunteer needs? Because I would certainly love to help the homeless get back on the street.

Charles: Heather, the homeless are already on the street.....

Because I am scared...

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Turkey-Roasting-101/Detail.aspx


My MIL is cooking the Turkey this year. I am reading up on how to cook a turkey so I can make sure all will be safe at thanksgiving dinner this year.

This is why I think all new homeowners should go through training

so when you walk into your house and it smells like paint fumes (for no apparent reason) that you don't freak out and call the gas company thinking it is a gas leak. After speaking with the nice customer service lady who swears up and down that it is not a gas leak. (now, I know that gas smells like rotten eggs) You are still not satisfied in what she is saying to you, that you call 9-1-1 for the fire department, who come with sirens a blazing into your new neighborhood and walk into your house and come out laughing to tell you that it is not gas and that it smells like paint. You proceed to tell them that is THERE IS NO REASON for your house to smell like paint and all they can do is shrug their shoulders while laughing at you and tell you again that it is not gas.

You then call your MIL who was your realtor who then calls the termite guy who was supposed to come to your house to clear the pest report to find out if he came over. You then find out the next morning that it was the termite guy who sprayed some sort of spray that does indeed smell like paint.

I guess this is why I pay taxes for freaks like me to bother the fire deparment.