We booked tickets to BC way back in the fall. Turns out that my Opa Friesen passed away just a few days before we flew out. We got to be there for the funeral, which was really good. It was nice to see the whole family together and get some time to hang out with cousins and aunts and uncles.
My Opa had apparently been stashing his change in a special account for the grandkids, so that when he passed away we would all get a chunk of money so that we could buy something to remember him by. He had a conversation with Oma one day, where he said that us grandkids would all have something to remember her by, something that she had made, a cross stitched wall hanging, a crocheted table cloth, hand knit socks and dish cloths, but he didn't make stuff, so how would his grandkids remember him. That's where the stashing change for his grandkids began.
I had to think for a while about what I would buy to remember Opa by, something permanent, not temporal. I couldn't really think of anything off the top of my head, but Michael had a great idea. Michael suggested buying artwork for the walls of our house. I thought this was brilliant, it's one of those things that I have always wanted to do, but just wasn't in our budget. Opa had a passion for photography, so it made sense to me. I did a little shopping in Mission and found this piece.
For some reason, it grabbed me. I think Opa would've liked it, the title is 'learning' which is something he loved. I haven't spent all of the remember me money yet, I'm still looking for something else to grab me, or possibly I'll frame a picture or two of my own.
We stayed with friends for this trip to BC, which was really really nice. It meant a little more driving, but that was nice too, it gave Michael and I some alone time to chat about things that happened during the day. This is Michael reading in bed...he got a head lamp for me for Christmas, and he's taken to using it to read when I'm trying to sleep. (seems like one of those gifts he bought for me because he actually really wanted to use it himself!)
While we were in Abbotsford we got to see Dan & Jenn, our former tenants and current friends. It was great to see them again and even more awesome that we could do it at Afterthoughts, that is something about Abbotsford that I miss from time to time.
This is my Mom and Oma. We had a little mini Christmas with my family, even though it was January and my Oma joined us. Beautiful ladies, eh?
well the gift of a head lamp might not be for you, and it's not that bad. Randy bought me a riffle for christmas, that I've used once, and well he has used it plenty. oh ya he also bought me bushell bonuculars for my birthday. They are quite heavy, so they are hard to carry. they have been sitting at the end of the bed for 3 years stright.
ReplyDeleteMichelle