Christmas 2010, firsts and lasts

Christmas is over and I will post some of the pictures from the family gathering.  This year was different in so many ways.  I have always loved Christmas and I can't wait to get the tree up and I love to buy gifts for everyone.  I love Christmas music and I hate when the season is over.  There is such a wonderful energy everywhere during Christmas time.  This year was a little different.  With my dad dieing on Thanksgiving, this Christmas was the first Christmas that I can remember that I didn't spend at least part of the day with my dad. It is also the first Christmas that I have been my mom's care giver.  I have grown close to her and have grown to love her more and more. I hope my dad is happy with the care I am giving her.  Sometimes I feel so lacking.   It is also the last Christmas in our home.  It is hard to put that feeling into words.  I don't want it to sound like I have to have a big, nice home in order to be happy.  This home was always going to be our home and VerLynn even put the D in the entry as a sign that I would never have to move again.  We put so much of ourselves into this house from the building of it, to planting the citrus trees.  The shop was VerLynn's dream and it was very well used.  As I look outside I get so overwhelmed that we have to move everything we have.  I have also realized that we have way too much.  I don't know that we will ever get it down to where it should be, but we are giving it a good shot.  We are getting ready to move into our new home.  It is about a third the size of this one so there is a lot of down sizing to do.  I know I will be happy there.  No mortgage and it is on over an acre.  It is not a dump and it doesn't stink and it wasn't torn up.  Paint on the walls and new flooring will make it a great place.  Hopefully we can build a shop soon to store some of our "stuff"  I just hope I can get through the move without crying in front of anyone.  I am so grateful for my kids for stepping in and helping VerLynn.  If it wasn't for them, I don't know how we would be able to do it.  Nathanael has put his plans on hold and his potential to earn money just to help his dad.  I feel so bad about that and I know that the Lord will bless him over and over for his sacrifice to help.  I feel so bad that he has to do that.  I have been so overwhelmed with the love and support everyone has given us.  Well, I have spilt my guts like I am writing in my journal or something.  I want everyone to know how much I love you.  I love each one of my kids and their spouses and I am sorry it is something I don't say like I should.  Ok, here are some pictures of our happy day.  All of my kids were home with their kids too except for Tiffani and Micah and their 6 kids, we missed them  Just think how full the house would have been with 8 more people!  :0)

Preston and his family came over in the morning before the night dinner.  This picture is of Preston wearing his dad's boots.  It was amazing how well he walked around in them especially when you consider they are a size 14! 

Nathanael was in rare form.  He is wearing sun glasses he got from Aaron and he is opening a pair of jeans that are kind of from my dad.  In my dad's closet were a brand new pair of jeans he had never worn.  And believe it or not, they were one size too big to fit my boys, so we took them back to walmart and switched them up for a size 34, so they were technically from my dad.  Man, I miss him.   Hard to believe that dad wore a 36, and that was after he lost 10 lbs cuz he used to wear a 38.  My boys have narrow hips and dad had broad hips.  (guess that's where mine came from!) 

Nathanael is wearing 2 of his gifts.  The shirt was from Santa and the belt is from Preston and Melanie, I think Melanie made the belt, it has his name on the back, it is really nice. 

Lori and Trevor came over in the morning too and opened gifts.  This is Kelsie playing with hers

Preston opening his gift.  The gift with the puppets was for Porter. 
Notice that the grandkids all have their clothes on and look really nice.  Just keep that in mind as you look further

Mom missed most of the morning stuff because she slept until about 10, but she got up and joined us.  She is opening one of her gifts here

There are a couple of things to notice in this picture.  Remember my comment on how nicely dressed the grandkids were.  Well, they went out front to play and they all found the only mud puddle in the front and they got boots, new clothes and pants very muddy.  So now they are only partially dressed.  Keslies shoes and socks got the worse and her pants are now rolled up.  She also wrote on her pants with the gift I gave her.  oops.  The other thing about this picture is the fact that Nathanael is wearing his snow board.  The kids all got on it with him. 

Preston wanted to ride the snow board.  It was funny cuz he made Nathanael lock the boots down too.  Nathanael and Kelsie pushed him around the floor.

Kelsie's turn, Preston is helping push her too

Later in the day everyone came back and we had dinner and opened the rest of the gifts.  This is one of the pictures of the mass chaos that ensued. 

Nathanael bought Spencer this snuggie.  I'm sure he will get many hours of use out of it.  :0)

This is David, Preston and Porter all playing with the same thing.  I don't think they could have gotten any closer if they would have tried. 

Another mass picture

Brandon with the book we gave him.  I'm sure Sally will love this picture with her sleeping through the whole thing.  :0) 

Angie, Addie, Aaron (wearing 2 hats) Briana and Nathanael

The big color/ activity books were a big hit.  Here is Kelsie, Preston and Ashly.  I hope that is Kelsie, her and Addison look enough alike that if you don't get a good look at their faces I get them confused. 

My mom.  I think we wore her clear out.  She got a little confused later in the night.  Wish I knew how she feels about dad being gone.  She doesn't let on too much.  It's got to be hard. 

Our Final Goodby's

We had a funeral for my dad in Arizona on the 2nd of December and in Utah on the 4th.  Both services were really nice and it was so great to see cousins that I haven't seen for awhile.  In Arizona my Aunt Mildred (my dad's only living sibling) came wither her son Ken, my other cousins, Sherrie Tarwater, Martha High, and Angie Damron, and Joe Fisher all flew in for the funeral from Tenessee and Florida.  I love them so much and was so grateful that they came.  Then in Utah I saw cousins on my mom's side that I haven't seen for a long time too as well as my Aunt LoDees and my Aunt JoAnn, both my mom's sisters.  Mom couldn't make the trip to Utah, so she missed that service.  Below are some of the pictures of both Arizona and Utah. 

This is where my dad was buried in the Beaver Dam Cemetery.  The white behind is snow and the cemetery is on the top of a hill.  We were behind the hertz going up the hill and it fish tailed the whole way up. 

Nathanael was able to come home from his training in Virginia.  He looked awesome and I wish he could have made it to Utah where they did the military honors at the grave, but we were grateful to have him in Arizona. 

So glad Tiffani and Micah live close to Beaver Dam so they were able to come.  Thanks for the yummy food you fed us too! 

I love my relatives.  This is a picture of Shawn (Lorraine's son) and Sherrie Fisher Tarwater and Martha Fisher High, I have cut Aunt Mildred out of this one.  I'll keep looking for the one with her in it.  Aunt Mildred and Ken came from Florida and the rest came from Tennessee.  I know that is a great expense and we appreciate it. 

I thought I had a better picture of Aunt Mildred.  If I find it, I'll put it in later.  Aunt Mildred is on the couch and Marti is on the right and my mom is sitting next to her.  You can see someone holding mom's hand and that is Ken, my cousin.  He is such a dear man, he sat there and held her hand for quite awhile.  Did I mention that I love my relatives? 

Marti is in this picture and there is a better shot of my mom and my cousin Ken.  My other cousin Joe Fisher is standing in the back and Terry (Lorraine's husband) is sitting in the chair. 

This is in Beaver Dam, this is Lorraine with our cousin David Richards. 

Warner Douglass Fisher August 17, 1925 to November 25, 2010

My dad passed away in the evening on November 26.  I love my dad so much and I will miss him horribly.  I am very happy for him and I know that he is at rest and is with his family that passed before him.  But the selfish side of me wants my dad here,  I thought he was almost indestructible and I thought we would have him for many more years.  So that part of me grieves and I want to have him here with me again.  He was always doing stuff around the house to keep busy and he took care of my mom with such love and patience.  He is the best man that I have ever known.  I wish I could be just like him.  I will miss you dad,  you are so loved and admired by all who have known you.  I am going to post several pictures as a tribute to my dad. 

Dad in the Navy  WWII

Nathanael and Dad in their uniforms

Nathanael and Dad in their uniforms

Dad and Neal in Tennessee

Mom and Dad while they were dating  1948

Uncle Wayne (died at 102), Dad, and Uncle Russel who passed earlier this year at I believe 97.  They are having a happy reunion with their mom and dad too. 

Mom and Dad

The Warner Fisher Family

Tender mercy,  the whole family was here just last August.  It isn't very often that we are all together in one place and are so grateful that we were together not too long ago.  Angie took this picture of us, the last one we will ever have with my dad. 

I Graduated!

I had to take a huge 2 part test today and then I graduated from my Foot zoning School.  I will really miss the classes but I'm excited to keep foot zoning.

This picture did not turn out very clear, but this is my teacher, Brad Noall and his wife Susan.  They are awesome

This is a picture of all that were in our zoning class.  It very accurately depicts the craziness and the fun we had in class.

Camp Pendelton

We took off last Friday to see Nathanael at Camp Pendelton.  He has been there for the past 4 weeks going through combat training.  He says it was very physical and hard, but a lot better emotionally than boot camp.  He will leave for Virginia for specialty training Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m.  Good thing he can sleep anywhere now cuz that is 12:00 Virginia time and it has to be at least a 5 hour flight or more.  So we wanted to see him before he took off for the next two months.  He will be so far away that we won't get to see him.  He had liberty on Saturday and Sunday so he got to spend the night with us.  They didn't start liberty until about 3:00 when we thought it was going to be around noon, so we got a late start.  I think the highlight of the trip was attending church on base with the marines there.  It was a very small group and since no marine has Sunday clothes, they are all in their jeans or their cami's.  But is was awesome to see them all there and the spirit was so strong.  They all had on the best they had, so it didn't matter that it wasn't a white shirt and tie for this group.  I only got a  few pictures, but the ones of Nathanael with me and VerLynn were in front of the little chapel there.  All the denominations use the same building. 

This is Nathanael in our motel room.  We had an awesome motel visit.  We did a priceline thing and we got the Doubletree for $49.00.  They were really cool about letting Nathanael join us without charging extra and even moved us into a room with two beds so that he didn't have to sleep on the floor.  He is doing what he does best on liberty, texting! 

This is Nathanael with his "battle buddy" and his brand new wife Jaimie.  He can't leave the base without being with a battle buddy, so they hung out with us this weekend.  They got married just before he reported for combat training, so they have been apart longer than they have been together.  I was able to get them a priceline motel at the Doubletree with us.  They are really awesome people.  The mountains you see behind them are the mountains they run and hike in and did the mock battles. 

HE'S HOME!!!! At least for a few days

We just got back last night from San Diego bringing Nathanael home from boot camp.  We left Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning was the beginning of family day.  It was awesome.  On Thursday was family day and we got to spend several hours with Nathanael.  On Friday was the graduation and it was awesome.  On Saturday we all went to Sea World.  We had a great 3 days and it is so good to have Nathanael home and not in boot camp any more.  He has lost quit a bit of weight.  Today he wore his dress blues to church.  He looked awesome.  I am going to put a bunch of pictures below.  He goes back on the 21st and we won't see him again until December.  His training will be in San Diego for a month and then off to Virginia to be trained for his speciality.  Does anyone know anyone in Virginia?

This picture is at the beginning of family day.  The first time we saw him was when the whole platoon did a run.  It was great having Aaron there, with his 6'4", he was taller than everyone else so he was able to spot Nathanael in the run and get pictures.  Nathanael is on the closest edge 4th from the right, just before the white hat in the picture.

Another picture Aaron was able to get of him.  This is the first time we saw him since he left 13 weeks ago.

After the run, they changed and got into their uniforms.    I think you can see Nathanael is on the back row.

This was at the luncheon the church put on for the LDS recruits.  See the big smile?  He loved the food and we are so grateful to the church for feeding every graduating class of recruits, which is almost every week.  A lot of work for them.

This is during the graduation ceremony.  That is Nathanael right above his name I typed.  They look so awesome in their uniforms.

All of us that went to the graduation.  Trevor and Lori and their kids, Aaron and Briana and we brought Brandon too.  And of course me and Verlynn

We went to the beach after the graduation and Brandon is actually waiving to his mom and dad in this picture.

Got out of order here, but our really good friends live in San Diego and they came to the graduation.  Rand and Mary Goodsell, and their daughter Rachel and her two kids came to watch the graduation.

On Saturday we spent the day at Sea World.  This is the only picture I am going to post about that.  We are headed in from the parking lot here.  Nathanael's first day in regular clothes.  We had a great time.

 Nathanael wore his dress blues to church today.  He looks so awesome.  This picture was taken next to VerLynn's great granddad's picture of him during world war I. 

My dad got his Navy suit jacket out for a picture with Nathanael.  He served during WWII.