The Final Goodbye and Family Coming Together

 

   This past weekend, family started to come into town for the final goodbye service for my husband's parents and also to scatter the ashes of his Aunt Helen, whom we were so blessed to have in our lives for the last chapter of her life.  Jeff's cousin Mike, his wife Felica and their son Jacob, along with their foster baby girl got her first.  Jeff and I had dinner and then went back to their hotel to visit on Saturday night.  We had a wonderful time with them and I got lots of baby snuggle time. :)  Sunday late afternoon, Josh arrived at our son Chris' home where he spent the night.  We did not see him until the following day because we were really encouraging him to spend time with his brothers.  We had seen him down in Utah a couple of months ago, but it had been awhile since he saw his brothers.  He spent that Monday night with Jaysn and Rachel.  All of the grandboys loved being able to play with their "funcle" (fun uncle) again. ;)  Then early Tuesday, he was off again on a 10-hour motorcycle ride back down to Utah.  Jeff's Aunt Jane and cousin Steve arrived Monday morning for the services.  It was lovely to see them again and we were able to catch up. We had breakfast with them Tuesday before they left to return to the coast and it was very nice.

   Monday's service for Jeff's parents, a later his aunt, was a hot one.  The temperatures were in the low to mid 90's and a lot of us ended up getting sunburned.  Jeff's sister planned the service and luckily her hubby Matt put up a nice shade tent for us.  There were so many of us there though that not everyone fit under it.  Our boys made sure that Jeff and I, along with Bradley and Isaiah and the baby were under the tent.  Bradley and Isaiah took turns holding the baby at the service and I think it helped distract them a bit.  Our niece Ella was there, and we had a really nice visit with her and with Matt.  Jeff's Aunt Jane was having a rough time since she was the last survivor out of her siblings.  Monday she was saying the final goodbye to both her sisters and to her brother-in-law. Jeff's older brother did not come down for either service.  He had his own reasons, and we will just leave it at that. Jeff's parents' ashes were buried in the Gilbertson family plot.  The service itself was short and all of us, with the exception of Jeff's sister, BIL and our niece Ella, headed up the mountain to spread Aunt Helen's ashes, as she has wanted done.

   Jeff's maternal grandparents had their ashes spread years ago up on Moscow Mountain overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of the Palouse.  Aunt Helen had told us that is where she wanted her ashes to be also.  Chris picked out a place that had a gorgeous vista of the Palouse, including being able to see our little town off in the distance.  Chris scattered the ashes as Felica documented the exact spot where Helen's ashes were. Aunt Jane wanted her ashes scattered in the same spot, so she could be with her baby sister and her parents, up on the mountain. Jeff was not able to scatter the ashes because he had knee surgery 2 1/2 weeks prior and is still in a brace holding his knee in place.  After we were done, we headed back down the mountain and to Jaysn and Rachel's home.  Jeff and I bought pizza for everyone and Jaysn and Rachel provided sodas and seltzers.  We all had some much needed family time and Aunt Jane loved seeing our boys and being able to visit with them.  Us girls had a great time visiting and so did the guys.  Bradley, Isaiah, Steven and Jacob played video games and it was so nice to see the younger cousins all together and becoming friends.  As everyone started leaving, we hugged each other tight, said I love You's and even made some future plans together.  The hardest goodbye was hugging Josh and knowing that it could be the last shared hug if he has to deploy early.  With the way that things are going in the Middle East, that could come soon, and my momma's heart is not handling it well.  He has been there before, but not in the direct danger zone.  This time he very well might be.

   Jeff and I still remain exhausted from it all.  Emotionally, it was hard in some ways, but then wonderful in others.  Spending time with Jeff's Aunt Jane, cousins Mike and Felica, and Steve, along with Jacob and the baby, and off course all our kids and the three oldest grandkids, was very sweet.  I think Jeff really needs his cousins, whom he has a good relationship with, as do I.  He and his siblings are not in each other's lives and that seems to be a mutual agreement at this point.  Jeff is very much loved by his aunt, cousins, our kids, grandkids and my side of the family.  My brothers love their "big brother", and my parents consider him their own son.  My aunts, uncles and cousins all love him too.  What can I say, my husband is a very kind, compassionate, caring and loving man who would do anything for those he loves.  I think I will keep him. ;)