Thoughts on Family & Grandpa's Funeral

Duke and I spent a short weekend in Indianapolis for my Grandpa Bland's funeral. I wrote most of the details in my journal, but wanted to share some thoughts and pictures. When we heard the news I planned on going out and Duke was fully supportive that I should go. Then my parents urged that Duke also come, that it was a time for family to gather together. I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal because Duke had only meant him once, but I am SO SO glad he got to come. I'm so happy he was there to hear the stories of who my grandpa was and who the family I came from is.

My grandpa was 94 years old and it wasn't a huge surprise when he passed, so I didn't think I would cry at the funeral. But I did! I bawled! But it wasn't out of sadness. It was because I felt so much love during the service. My heart was so full. Each of the 6 siblings spoke of their memories of Grandpa which made me laugh and cry. The great grandchildren sang "Families Can be Together Forever".  And really everything that happened that day touched me. I really, TRULY am so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful family. I am grateful that such things as families exist. I mean, what a great idea!! God is smart guys. The older I get, I become just a little bit more grateful for family. And I'm not sure how I was so lucky to be a part of so many good ones. My immediate Bland family, the extended Blands, the Bushmans and now the McCrory's & Stokes. It's almost not fair. But I'm grateful, grateful, grateful.

 

My Grandma & the 6 kids & spouses

unfortunately Duke is actually making fun of my face here.  

cool cousins

 

This was when I first starting crying. Watching my grandma give her last goodbye.

And then this. So sweet. 

I really really liked this quote. And how true!

Duke & Winston

What if I told you this blog post wasn't about the Duke & Winston I live with, but instead a clothing company called Duke & Winston? I discovered this company yesterday and was cracking up. So besides the obvious reason that my husband is named Duke and my bulldog, Winston; there emblem/mascot is an english bulldog. And they sell clothing and pet stuff. Hilarious. I also want this shirt.

Also Winston and I had a photo shoot today. You can see how happy he was about it. 

Obituary

Just posting this for myself, for reference.

Forrest "Frosty" G. Bland

94, Indianapolis, passed away on February 13, 2013. He was born August 30, 1918 at Sugar City, CO, to the late Alisa Shane and Pearl E. Watson Bland. He was a successful businessman and a wonderful husband and father to six children. He served his country well as a member of the 5th Air Force serving in the Pacific during WWII. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Helen Heath on October 10, 1943 in Salt Lake City, UT, she survives him. Other survivors include his sons, Forrest G. (Joan) Bland of North Ogden, UT, Steven C. (Shirleen) Bland of Oregon City, OR, Randall K. (Patricia) Bland of Indianapolis, and Clinton S. (Diane) Bland of Bentonville, AK; daughters, Janet L. (Fred) Suchanski of Newberg, OR and Becky A. (Phil) Thompson of Portland, OR; 25 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Services will be held at Noon on Saturday, February 23 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 910 Wallace Street, Indianapolis, with visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 22 in Singleton Community Mortuary and Memorial Center , and one hour prior to the service in the church on Saturday. Interment will be at Noon on Monday, February 25 in Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Madison, Indiana.

Published in the The Indianapolis Star on February 16, 2013

Frosty My Grandpa

My mom called me tonight to let me know my Grandpa had passed away. We did know it was coming, he was 94 years old and has been battling dementia for several years now. While it is sad to know I won't see him for a while, it is good to know I will see him again. He is my first grandparent to pass away since I've been old enough to really understand (my mom's dad died when I was 5 and I handled that by running in circles around my grandma's living room, singing "grandpa's dead! grandpa's dead!" or so my mom tells me...sorry gramps). I know most of you won't care to read on, but I wanted to write down my memories of my grandpa for myself and my future family and my existing extended family.

I probably don't know my grandpa as well as many of my cousins do, because he lived in the Portland, Oregon area while we were always over here in the midwest. But we were lucky to see them about once a year or every other year. Also I was younger and the memories don't stick as well sometimes.

The coolest thing about my grandpa is that he went by Frosty. I've always wished I had a cool nickname, but that didn't really work out for me. Since he had this cool nickname we would always sing Frosty the Snowman to/with him. It was just what we did. And we would always replace "the snowman" with "Frosty, our grandpa...".

Grandpa was also known for his jig. As he got older he didn't do it as much, but I know we have footage of it somewhere from my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. And sometimes we'd convince him to do it when he came out to visit us.

When I think of Frosty my grandpa, I almost immediately think of his laugh. Especially since he did this probably up until yesterday. He'd kinda "haha hoo" almost under his breath all the time.

He was always doing stretches and always active. Always talking about how important it was to stretch and swinging his arms around and what not. I remember him coming out to visit us when he was 80 and he'd bring his basketball shoes and shoot some hoops.

He'd always tell us what "good kids" we were. And ask if everything was copacetic. Thanks for expanding my vocab grandpa! And I remember combing his hair when he came to visit...haha I don't know why, but we'd take him comb and just comb his white hair!

My gramps was also a hard worker. He just worked, worked, worked. And when he came and visited he would work some more!!

He served in the Air Force in WWII. I can't remember what he did, but I'm pretty sure he was in the pacific theatre. And I do remember asking him about his experiences and him going on and me realizing I wasn't as interested as I thought I was ;).

I remember when I was super young showing him our garden. There were all these bees flying around and he told me not to put my hand on this timber or they would sting me, well apparently I forgot and put my hand there, and I got stung. And that is the story of my first bee sting. :)

I'm trying to remember him before his dementia sat in, but I think it has been maybe 7 years now? And unfortunately my memory isn't as good as I wish. I'll probably add to my memories as I recall them. But I do know that even in his dementia he was a hoot! And honestly, I will miss hearing all the funny things he has said or done without realizing it. The only thing I can remember off the top of my head is someone asking him how old he was and him seriously replying "600". And also for the record, he totally was playing basketball and made a shot! Even at 94 (maybe 93 at the time?) years old. What a sport. I hope I can be like that when I'm old! (maybe minus the dementia).

Love you Granda! And we'll see you soon! Everything is Copacetic!

Calendars & Short Film

Soo I have this strange love for calendars. I really love calendars. Pretty ones that is. Last year and this year I got the NPR calendar for my kitchen bc they are cool and cheap and the money goes to NPR. (which I saw is also 50% off). However, I looove paper Source's calendar. And I just saw that they were 50% off. So I'm thinking about getting another one and thought I would share the good news in case you haven't gotten a calendar!

http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/new/calendars/default/all.html

Also, I saw this on A Cup of Jo's blog and thought it was the cutest thing I have ever seen. It's a 6-minute short film by Disney that is up for an Oscar for Best Animated Short. It's called Paperman. And it is adorable.

What we are up to these days...

What we are up to these days...

So i'm a sucker for any kind of personality test. Duke thinks personality tests fall in the same category with horoscopes and claims that girls are the only ones who really care about them. This may be true. And I am a sucker for them. You've probably seen this one floating around Instagram. If you are a sucker like me, its a quick and fun test! https://www.archetypeme.com/

We are selling my car! It has been the BIGGEST pain. And we are sick and tired of being sick and tired of pouring $$ into that thing. Duke's car is a really crappy 95 honda civic with over 300K miles on it that he bought for $1000 a few years ago. And guess what, it is wayyy more reliable (except has a/c issues) and gas-friendly than my car. I will never buy an infinti again. It would be nice to have a nice car, but more than that, it would be nice to have one that works, right? Plus driving his crappy car around has made me care less about what other people think about me and that is always a good thing. Also, we're gonna be getting rid of the cars to go to Japan anyways, so we're just starting early.

We started re-watching LOST! It has been fun. Duke somehow never finished the last season, but it was a show we watched while we were dating in Provo. And it reminds of my roommates bc we were all obsessed with it and it makes me miss them! Plus it's really fun to both chant "one more! one more" after every episode. Akin to this scene in Portlandia

We're enjoying the downtown/waterfront part of Corpus. On Saturday we took Winston down there and wandered around. It's nice.

Oh and we got callings in our new ward- Nursey leaders. woo. Thats taking care of kids 18 months-3 years for you non-mormons. We've only done it this last Sunday and there is another couple in there too. It wasn't too bad. Duke was cracking me up. He swears little kids are germ-fests, so he brought along lysol spray and lysoled everything and made them use hand santizer as much as possible.