What A Day.....

Today has been a heck of a day. I didn't have work (yay!) because I had a funeral (boo). Our family (Anderson by way of Rendel) lost a wonderful man this week. The funeral for Jeff Rendel was beautiful - the music, those involved in the service, the messages. All wonderful. I find it odd to hear myself say a funeral was wonderful, but even more odd was what I said on the way home to Adam. "Jeff's funeral the wonderful, only topped by Allie's." My own son's funeral is the one I consider the best I have attended. This is why - the music was perfect (even if there are songs I now can't hear without tears), the eulogies were perfect (read my Daddy's here), the homily was perfect, the Irish Blessing at the end of mass was perfect, the dove release at the cemetery was perfect (Shelby - I went back and remembered why I wanted a dove. Now I want it more :). The most amazing thing was how many people love us. The church was full, a very long car line to the cemetery, and all the attendants. 5 priests and 2 deacons - plus one "in training". Wow. That is possibly all I will ever have to say about that day. How lucky are we.

Today was the first funeral mass that my father-in-law was a part of as a deacon. How incredibly difficult - but he did a wonderful job, despite very obvious nerves. I told him I could tell how nervous he was and I think he was disappointed. Oops. :) He did the homily, which doubled as a eulogy - he spoke of Jeff as a man of science, God and family. But mostly family. He caused tears and laughs. Just what was needed. While it was amazing to see him in that role, I told him he was no longer allowed to have a part in family funerals - he incensed the casket with tears in eyes and stood in the sprinkling rain with Fr. Banet while the casket was entered into the hearse, again with tears in his eyes. My heart breaks most for 3 things lately - 1. When my daddy cries (thankfully, lately it is tears for the end of Nemo - but it still makes me cry), 2. When my father-in-law cries after being so strong for his sister, and 3. When sweet little Ben was crying, clinging to his mommy because he missed his grandpa. Oiy...just got a little teary writing that. While today was hard, we were together. Every family was accounted for, and we were all strong for each other. As always, we are better together - hoping we can be together under happy circumstances soon.



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After my "Enough" post on Tuesday, I was oh so surprised when tonight was going better than enough, and more like perfect! When we got home from the funeral, Adam and I grabbed Grandma Cooley's car and returned it. (No brakes in Sarah's car = driving Gradma's car that might be older than me, with windows that don't like to go up anymore. Yay.) Then we went to the grocery, picked up the boys, and headed home. "Mommy and Daddy need to just sit down for a minute, so be good." This never works.....ever. Today? It did. They sat at the table and colored, and didn't fight once! Holy moly. We had Hamburger Helper for dinner, but not the kind Tommy likes. I bribed him :) and said if he ate it without fights, I would make the brownies I bought the stuff for almost a week ago. No fights....not even a little whine. What the hell is going on!? So I made dinner, put the brownies in the oven, and that was that! While I was making dinner, Adam helped the boys with homework (which isn't always easy - math, reading packet, read a story, practice spelling words - and there were little disagreements, but no screaming and tears - success. Maybe all the planets are aligned in space tonight.) They even read an extra book together. We ate - Tommy ate everything! Plus peas (all we had...bleck.)

Brownie time - and where my story goes from perfect to my comfortable "enough". Amy told me that she wanted to read a blog where people tell their life stories similar to hers - getting to town and realizing someone forgot shoes...haha - instead of a "practically perfect in every way" (I wrote that line with my best Mary Poppins accent in my head - feel free to join.) life. So Amy, here it is! :)


Brownies were a tiny bit gooey....the package is never right about times. Oh well....good enough. :) I divied them up and shoved a broken one in my mouth on the way to the couch - after being out of the oven for a half hour, those suckers were hottt!! Never rush hot delicious food - tongue won't taste properly for days! We I decided were going to read the Harry Potter books as a family - start with one, and watch the movies after each book! Mama and Will did when he was Tommy's age, I want to do it too!! We were going to start Tuesday, so Thursday it is. On page 2, Nate decided his brownie didn't taste right - had to get up and throw it away. 3 - Tommy needed another brownie. 4 - Nate started wiggling. 6 - Tommy kept letting his brownie roll off his napkin into the couch crack - it got hairy so I told him to throw it away, even though a hairy brownie was perfect for "Harry Potter" :) 8 - Cap started pouncing on his shadow. 10 - Nate was out. 11 - Tommy wanted to know when it was over. We finally got through the 1st chapter and I have never seen Tommy look more relieved. To my surprise, Adam pipes in to quiet the cheers with "We are going to do this every night - they get better, you will like them." I didn't even know he was listening (mostly because he didn't insert his opinion in when they were squirmy and putting pillows in front of the book). Boys - "EEEvery Night?!?! Ooooh man!" Great....how did mom get it to go over so well? VOICES!!! She had a different accent/voice for every character! (I love reading her post about it - here.) I suggested this. "What if I do different voices for each character? Will you like that better?!" They agreed they would.....so I previewed. Mrs. Dursley was a success. So I tried Hagrid - giggles from boys and a severe eyebrow from Adam. Hagrid needs work. Next - Ron. Nope. Snape - nope. Boys wanted Harry. I couldn't find a long enough quote - kept looking. "Errrrr.....book is about Harry, Harry talks in the book! Errrrr......" Boys start cracking up, Tommy literally falls off the couch. What is going on?! They were laughing at me. The best part of the book so far was my failed attempt at Harry Potter voices. Good enough for me!!! :)

I have to go practice my accents before tomorrow night.....must call my mama. She always has good, important life tips! :)

Peace......And Harry Potter!