When Sadie was here for Thanksgiving she reminded us this next birthday coming up in January would be The Big 40! And she just couldn't turn 40 in Elko. We agreed. A St. George/ Las Vegas/ Celine Dion concert was quickly planned, tickets purchased. Done. Say no more!
Paul and Sharon continue to be so gracious with their house! The days leading up to this event were excruciating to wait for! But I had plenty to do to make sure my family would be fed and watered properly before I left them. A thousand hours put in for Primary, lots of grocery shopping, lists for Jon, (ie: the frozen pizza is in the freezer, on the second shelf, to your right. The instructions are on the box....) get caught up on laundry, make sure the house is clean, and then pack myself. Whew! As we pulled away I felt exhausted and a 3 hour drive sounded heavenly. This year Eliza, Ashley and Lindsey were out, due to high maintenance babies. (Is there any other kind???) But mommy decided to come along at the last minute. She was torn if she should stay with Granny, but felt good about coming. So the four of us (Sadie, Abby, Mommy and me) chatted and laughed away until we reached Cedar City for lunch. We did the same thing as last year: "Cafe Rio!"
We arrived in St. George in no time, the weather was beautiful! Warm and sunny! Mommy got a quick update on Granny, she was ok, just sleeping. We had just learned she had pneumonia, so she was being kept comfortable.
We were off to see a movie, "War Horse". If you'd like to ever take an $8 nap, I'd highly recommend that movie.
Friday was the big day! And we were off to make the most of it! Shopping, shopping, shopping, and more shopping! How fun to be able to take our time, go store to store, we didn't care about the time, there were no needs but ours! At one point we sat in some comfy chairs and stared at a rug Abby was pondering and a painting we were all oohing over. I snagged a super cute cake stand and was delighted to see Sadie joining me at the checkout with that painting! Her reasoning, "It's my Birthday!" We lunched (again~ same place as last year~ Applebee's), and shopped some more. We had wanted to fit in a pedicure, but were too late by the time we found a place, so we stopped for some birthday treats at the Sweet Tooth Fairy and had to wipe our tears away from bawling over those cupcakes they were so good. Then we pressed on to the mall! Sometimes we'd stop for a little and get chatting and laughing, then press on. Sadie was on a serious hunt for a purse. She decided on one we were all drooling over. (when it's your birthday calories and money are no object) Seriously, the best time ever!
Saturday we were heading into LV to check into our hotel and see Celine! Mommy wasn't planning on going to the concert, and decided she may as well stay in St. George. Why drive all the way, just to sit in the hotel? So we took her to the grocery store to stock up on plenty of food, left her a phone, and we were off. I must say, all of our thoughts and prayers were with Granny. Her lungs were filling with fluid and each time mommy would check in it would make us sad, yet happy for her that her reunion with Grandpa was getting closer. I know it was heavy on Mommy's mind, as it was on all of ours, yet she was glad she came down with us.
We got in to Las Vegas, found our hotel and got ready for the show. We'd been shopping for lot's of glitter jewelry, clutches and shirts because, ya know, we're in Vegas. Once we were gussied up enough, we set out. We found the exact restaurant we had eaten the year before, because we loved it so, the Grand Luxe Cafe in the Veneition. It didn't disappoint. But Las Vegas is icky.
Off to the Colosseum for Celine! How exciting to find our seats, and as the show started and she came out in her sparkly gown, belting away with that live orchestra, I looked over at my sisters and it brought tears to my eyes! It sounded so beautiful and it was so fun to share it with them! The show was really amazing! As Abby said, our generation was given Celine as a real gift. I've been listening to her since!
After the show we shopped a little, then went and shared a treat at Serendipity, and just took it all in. Then headed back to our hotel. Abby was a real gem again, driving the whole trip and maneuvering that crazy Las Vegas strip. We collapsed on our beds, talking and finally fell asleep around 2.
We awoke first thing to mommy's call, Granny's lungs were spilling fluid out of her mouth and she'd slipped into a coma. We hurried to get back on the road, on our way to St. George to get to mommy. When we arrived, we learned that Granny had passed away around 10:30 am. We expected this, yet it still hit like a ton of bricks. Granny is gone. So surreal!
We made our way back to Provo, and arrived after 6:30 or so. There was Granny, in her bed, surrounded by her loved ones. Ross, Trina, Melinda, JoAnna. Sharon who cared for her. How tender it was to see her, hold her old, worn out hand, tell her I loved her. That house, that bedroom, where I've gone so many times to see her. It was a neat experience. We sat around and talked, laughed, cried, like she was alive listening to us. Then I'd look over and remember she wasn't there. She was white with kiss marks on her cheeks. We stayed until the Mortuary came and took her away, out of that house for the last time where she's spent over 50 years. It was a peaceful feeling. There was a lot of love in that room.
It was bitter-sweet to say good-bye to Abby, Mommy and Sadie. Sadie had a long drive ahead of her, I'm sure mommy exhausted. I came home to a happy reunion to my kids and sweet Jon. They were so happy to see me. I told them about Great Granny Woolf. Adren just cried and cried. They all did, but Adren seemed to understand the most. I told them about the reunion I kept picturing in my mind: Granny and Grandpa finally back together again! And her boys! Oh, my, she's with her boys! Wow! And her sister, her parents, her granny, who she loved so. I laid in bed that night thinking about those reunions. It made me smile. I wonder if one day I can have those re-played for me. I love a good reunion.
Paul and Sharon continue to be so gracious with their house! The days leading up to this event were excruciating to wait for! But I had plenty to do to make sure my family would be fed and watered properly before I left them. A thousand hours put in for Primary, lots of grocery shopping, lists for Jon, (ie: the frozen pizza is in the freezer, on the second shelf, to your right. The instructions are on the box....) get caught up on laundry, make sure the house is clean, and then pack myself. Whew! As we pulled away I felt exhausted and a 3 hour drive sounded heavenly. This year Eliza, Ashley and Lindsey were out, due to high maintenance babies. (Is there any other kind???) But mommy decided to come along at the last minute. She was torn if she should stay with Granny, but felt good about coming. So the four of us (Sadie, Abby, Mommy and me) chatted and laughed away until we reached Cedar City for lunch. We did the same thing as last year: "Cafe Rio!"
We arrived in St. George in no time, the weather was beautiful! Warm and sunny! Mommy got a quick update on Granny, she was ok, just sleeping. We had just learned she had pneumonia, so she was being kept comfortable.
We were off to see a movie, "War Horse". If you'd like to ever take an $8 nap, I'd highly recommend that movie.
Friday was the big day! And we were off to make the most of it! Shopping, shopping, shopping, and more shopping! How fun to be able to take our time, go store to store, we didn't care about the time, there were no needs but ours! At one point we sat in some comfy chairs and stared at a rug Abby was pondering and a painting we were all oohing over. I snagged a super cute cake stand and was delighted to see Sadie joining me at the checkout with that painting! Her reasoning, "It's my Birthday!" We lunched (again~ same place as last year~ Applebee's), and shopped some more. We had wanted to fit in a pedicure, but were too late by the time we found a place, so we stopped for some birthday treats at the Sweet Tooth Fairy and had to wipe our tears away from bawling over those cupcakes they were so good. Then we pressed on to the mall! Sometimes we'd stop for a little and get chatting and laughing, then press on. Sadie was on a serious hunt for a purse. She decided on one we were all drooling over. (when it's your birthday calories and money are no object) Seriously, the best time ever!
 |
| Sadie is displaying her fabulous sparkly ring. Note the decadent cupcakes~ Had to display them on my new cake stand! |
Saturday we were heading into LV to check into our hotel and see Celine! Mommy wasn't planning on going to the concert, and decided she may as well stay in St. George. Why drive all the way, just to sit in the hotel? So we took her to the grocery store to stock up on plenty of food, left her a phone, and we were off. I must say, all of our thoughts and prayers were with Granny. Her lungs were filling with fluid and each time mommy would check in it would make us sad, yet happy for her that her reunion with Grandpa was getting closer. I know it was heavy on Mommy's mind, as it was on all of ours, yet she was glad she came down with us.
We got in to Las Vegas, found our hotel and got ready for the show. We'd been shopping for lot's of glitter jewelry, clutches and shirts because, ya know, we're in Vegas. Once we were gussied up enough, we set out. We found the exact restaurant we had eaten the year before, because we loved it so, the Grand Luxe Cafe in the Veneition. It didn't disappoint. But Las Vegas is icky.
Off to the Colosseum for Celine! How exciting to find our seats, and as the show started and she came out in her sparkly gown, belting away with that live orchestra, I looked over at my sisters and it brought tears to my eyes! It sounded so beautiful and it was so fun to share it with them! The show was really amazing! As Abby said, our generation was given Celine as a real gift. I've been listening to her since!
 | |
| I didn't even dare turn the camera to the stage~ I don't know why! Those ushers were giving us the stink-eye! |
After the show we shopped a little, then went and shared a treat at Serendipity, and just took it all in. Then headed back to our hotel. Abby was a real gem again, driving the whole trip and maneuvering that crazy Las Vegas strip. We collapsed on our beds, talking and finally fell asleep around 2.
We awoke first thing to mommy's call, Granny's lungs were spilling fluid out of her mouth and she'd slipped into a coma. We hurried to get back on the road, on our way to St. George to get to mommy. When we arrived, we learned that Granny had passed away around 10:30 am. We expected this, yet it still hit like a ton of bricks. Granny is gone. So surreal!
We made our way back to Provo, and arrived after 6:30 or so. There was Granny, in her bed, surrounded by her loved ones. Ross, Trina, Melinda, JoAnna. Sharon who cared for her. How tender it was to see her, hold her old, worn out hand, tell her I loved her. That house, that bedroom, where I've gone so many times to see her. It was a neat experience. We sat around and talked, laughed, cried, like she was alive listening to us. Then I'd look over and remember she wasn't there. She was white with kiss marks on her cheeks. We stayed until the Mortuary came and took her away, out of that house for the last time where she's spent over 50 years. It was a peaceful feeling. There was a lot of love in that room.
It was bitter-sweet to say good-bye to Abby, Mommy and Sadie. Sadie had a long drive ahead of her, I'm sure mommy exhausted. I came home to a happy reunion to my kids and sweet Jon. They were so happy to see me. I told them about Great Granny Woolf. Adren just cried and cried. They all did, but Adren seemed to understand the most. I told them about the reunion I kept picturing in my mind: Granny and Grandpa finally back together again! And her boys! Oh, my, she's with her boys! Wow! And her sister, her parents, her granny, who she loved so. I laid in bed that night thinking about those reunions. It made me smile. I wonder if one day I can have those re-played for me. I love a good reunion.