Kyler was laid off from his job at Solar City. There were several things that looked like they were going to change and work out for him,including being transferred to Honolulu, HI. When all was said and done though, he didn't go to HI and was laid off. This was a major blow for him. This job was so good. He was making good money and seemed to almost fit in where he was at. One thing it did do was find him some new fairly good friends. Hopefully this company will be back installing in Nevada again soon. The pic below is the crew he was on just before they all got laid off and went their separate ways.
Kyler now works for Roush, test driving pre production cars. This is pretty much his dream job. Things are hopefully looking up for him.
Megan has been at her job at WinCo for a year and a half and is doing well. She is finally getting pretty close to full time hours.
Aubree graduated from High School at Legacy.
We are so proud of her. She has been working at Capriottis which has been interesting. She is continuously looking for something else but has stuck with it. Matt (AKA Foxtails) lives with us now. They are working toward getting on their own and getting married eventually, etc.
Jake is still involved in everything. He had made a decision to forgo football this year because he has a full honors schedule at school, but after much convincing from friends,teammates, coaches, etc, he has decided he is going to try it. He will be one busy guy. Between football and band and school he is gone around 15 hours a day.
Number 62...
Band.
Second row from the front 5th from the left next to the big bass drum.
Probably the biggest change in our lives came 10 days ago...
A little background. Dan's mom and aunts have a "sisters reunion" every year. We had told them we were not coming. We had just thrown the 60th anniversary for my parents in June and we really just didn't have the time or means to go to this reunion. Dan's dad was having brain surgery on the 11th of July and the reunion was from 8th-10th. On Tuesday the 5th Dan and I were sitting on the patio enjoying the evening and were discussing all of this and that we both just really felt we needed to go. No real reason, just a strong feeling. Every now and then we have had this happen and it always turns out to be a good thing so we pay attention. Long story short, we figured out and finagled things so we could go. Friday at noon we left for Utah. Me,Dan, Megan, and Jake. The kids would be sleeping in a tent and Dan and I in the car. Well, we spent the evening there at the camp with the family. It was nice. During the night, I started feeling uneasy. I sort of passed it off that it was my addiction to my phone and I was having withdrawls with no signal. The feeling continued on throughout the morning. Around noon Dan and I decided to drive down the canyon to where there was signal so we could check in with the kids, etc. When we drove in to signal, my phone just lit up with notifications and was dinging and making all kinds of sounds. Christy, call someone in the family. Christy, please call... I then really got scared. The more messages I read and listened to the more I knew what was coming. We had not told my parents we were coming and had planned to surprise them on Sunday morning. Well, I finally called to see what was going on when I made Lori tell me. She reluctantly told me my dad had died a few minutes earlier. They could not get a hold of me. My brother was driving up the canyon searching all campgrounds looking for us. While I had known this was going to happen sooner than later, I was not prepared to hear that. I don't think I have ever felt that much sorrow before. We immediately turned around and went back to camp and Dan packed everything up and we left for moms. I will never forget the support and love shown to me by the family while we were at the camp and Dan was getting things ready to leave. It was amazing. About that time Travis and Jessica found us as well. I already knew. We knew at that point what are reasons for going were and why it was so important. Even though my dad had not been told we would be there, I believe he knew somehow and that it would be OK to rest because my mom and all of us would be there together to take care of her and each other. While I am deeply sad that my dad is gone, I am thrilled that he is no longer suffering and that my brother is getting the time with him he has waited 48 years for. My intuition has never led me wrong. Sometimes it doesn't give me good instructions, but it always makes me take action. As we went through the next several days, I felt like I was in a really bad nightmare. It couldn't be real. I had moved away and didn't see my parents very often, but how could my dad be gone? I am still 10 days out feeling a little like I'm not really here and pretty lost, but slowly as the days go by I'm returning back to whatever normality is. I honestly don't know what I would have done without Dan. He was right by my side every second and if he wasn't right there he was right by my mothers side. He wrote the obituary. Helped me deliver a life sketch, he made sure the newspaper had the notice in it and that the program for the funeral was in order, and a whole lot of other things. I have thanked God every day for years for him, but this has (if it's even possible) made me love and appreciate him even more. I am so lucky to have him. My dad loved him as well. This experience has been very hard for me, but I'm moving forward and doing my best to make my dad proud. I believe he has been proud of me and us, even when he didn't necessarily agree with our decisions.He loved us anyway. I tell people now that I now have a guardian angel watching over me/us. Here are a few pictures from the services etc.
Jake wearing Dad's suit. We didn't have his dress clothes with us and it just so happened that mom had a suit of dads that was just cleaned (still in the plastic)and she told him to try it on. It fit perfectly. She gave it to him and he wore it proudly. It was something special to him.
The pic above makes me cry every time. Look at all of those boys and men. This is a major part of the legacy my dad has left. All of these are walking in his footsteps proudly.
When Dan and I returned to work yesterday, we were met with cards and gifts and hugs, etc. It has been amazing the support we have received from our jobs and our friends here and in Utah. We are so appreciative of this. It has been wonderful.
What was waiting for me at work upon my return. Dan also received a card. It has really helped us to feel loved and cared about during this time. Special thanks to Meredith and Emily who have just sat and listened to me talk. They have no idea how much it helps me.
OK, so I need to stop writing now so I can compose myself again and go to sleep. Work comes early. I have found though that talking and writing what I feel is really a big help for me. Hopefully the next update will be a whole other experience.
Thanks for reading.
~Christy
Additional note:
Jim's surgery went well and he was home the next day and is doing better than we would have expected. Time will tell if it helps all of the issues he faces, but for now, he is no longer having headaches and things in that regard. It's a good step.
