Fall in the Volunteer State

It's true, fall in Tennessee is beautiful. The reds, oranges, and yellows cover the rolling landscape, and when the sun shines through the leaves the colors are even more awesome.

Jeff took these pictures right outside our apartment. Doesn't the orange tree look like it's on fire? I love it.

p.s. It's been in the 70s here. Don't be too jealous.

Til we meet again

She was a fiesty woman with a lot of love and a lot of faith.

She had a curiosity towards angels, and now she is one of them.

When I feel sad about not seeing her again on earth, I think about the many family members that greeted her as she entered the spirit world--her husband, son, brothers and sister, parents--and the happiness she would have felt at seeing all of them. I am grateful that she never has to be alone again.

She was very particular about how things were done. This used to really frustrate me, but as I got older I learned to laugh along with her idiosyncrasies and I loved her for them.

This past Christmas was special as our whole family was together. When she grumbled about the salad dressing or something of the sort, Jeff and I would just look at each other and we would start to laugh, and she would start to chuckle too with her characteristic half smile. I think she realized she was being silly at times.

We're grateful that she had a sharp mind her whole life, as well as good health.

I look forward to seeing her again one day and telling my children about their great-grandma Vera.