Dwane had his last toe nail taken off on Monday. He has been plaqued with bad toenails since I met him, and now he's rid of them once and for all. I thought you would all want to know that.

The saga with medical issues in my family continues. My Uncle Ashley was taken to Portland on Wednesday with chest pain. While doctors said he was not having a heart attack, he will be having 2 angioplastys today. He'll hopefully be home tomorrow.

My Aunt Karen had a stress test last week or so, and she flunked that. She's meeting with the local cardiologist next week, and then she'll be going to Maine Med to have the heart catherization done. Because Uncle Rusty died just a year ago (my Dad died just one day shy of the one-year anniversary of Uncle Rusty's death), doctors originally thought that she was just "stressed". They know feel that she has a blockage.

My grandmother had a "spot" on her Mammogram, and she had to go back to have that redone. We found out just a couple of days ago, that the "spot" is nothing out of the ordinary. Thank goodness for that. My poor self can't take anymore right at the moment!

For Dad's funeral, we bought a heart-shaped wreath of pretty pink fresh flowers, with a ribbon that said "Grampy". (We got pink flowers because we knew Julia loved pink.) I picked up the heart form at the cemetery yesterday (which was a lot harder for me than I ever thought it would be), and today I removed the flowers that had gone past their prime. I picked up $15 worth of autumn silk flowers at Wal-Mart and filled in the form. While being far from a floral designer, I have to say I'm quite proud of myself. I think Dad would be impressed. Looks quite nice for $15.

I have had INXS going through my head all summer, because of that CBS show, "Rockstar: INXS", which Dwane and I both watched faithfully. I picked up their Greatest Hits this week, and I've really enjoyed listening to it. Although the music is probably not "authentic" enough for my brother, I kinnda like the beat. I also read up on their former lead singer, Michael Hutchence. Boy. What a death for him. Quite creepy. And now INXS has an equally creepy lead singer. JD Fortune. He was my least favorite of the final 3. (I was hoping for MiG.) Marty Casey was a little weird when he performed, but you knew it was a performance. JD Fortune, on the other hand, is just weird all the way around. He makes me want to take a shower. He needs his teeth fixed, his hair fixed, some un-Dracula-type jewelry, and a clothing stylist. And please, get rid of that wallet chain that hangs down past JD's knee. EEEEWWW!

Yesterday, Mom and I played the organ/piano together for Dad's funeral service. Mom really wanted to do this, but I was very hesitant. I think I wanted to grieve in private, instead of in such a "public display". I knew I would cry, and I didn't want to make everyone else cry from watching me. God came through, though. I never shed a tear until the very last song we played, which was Dad's favorite. I was a little choked up during the congegational hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". I can't explain what a blessing it is to play the piano with hundreds of people singing. It was beautiful and very touching. Dad's hymn was next, though, and of course, that was the toughest. I'm not sure that many people would know the hymn, so I wanted to post the words here. This became Dad's favorite hymn probably 15 years ago or so--long before he was sick.

When the Morning Comes

Trials dark on ev'ry hand,
And we cannot understand
All the ways that God would lead us to that blessed promised land;
But He'll guide us with His eye,
And we'll follow till we die;
We will understand it better by and by.

Chorus:
By and by,
When the morning comes,
When the saints of God are gathered home,
We will tell the story how we've overcome;
We will understand it better by and by.

Oft our cherished plans have failed,
Disappointments have prevailed,
And we've wandered in the darkness,
Heavy-hearted and alone;
But we're trusting in the Lord,
And, according to His Word,
We will understand it better by and by.

Temptations, hidden snares
Often take us unawares
And our hearts are made to bleed
For some thoughtless word or deed,
And we wonder why the test
When we try to do our best,
But we'll understand it better by and by.

Words and Music by Charles A. Tindley.

Well, we all made it through the events of the past week. Hard, true. But we made it. God certainly gave us the strength, and I know that He will continue to do so as the weeks, months, and years pass.

I got a call from my friend, Nikki, last night. I don't think I had spoken with her for about 6 years, and unfortunately, we hadn't even e-mailed each other for almost 2 years. Her husband is in the USCG, and last time I new, they were in Ludington, Michigan. Last night I found out that they had been in Alaska for a year and a half! It was so good to talk to her again. It was like we had never "lost touch". That's the sign of a true friend--you can always catch up where you left off.

I guess this post is going to be really short--Caleb is hanging on me saying, "Please, please, Mama". Not sure what he wants, but guess I'll find out!

I love you, Daddy.
February 10, 1947 - September 7, 2005