BIRTHDAY WISHES

On March 14, I turned 47. WOW! It was a very nice day starting with having David stay home from work. We got to get kids off to school and then we (Carissa, Becca, David, and I) went apartment hunting with Carissa. It was so fun to see what was out there and the fun, cute little neighborhoods near the University of Utah. Still, our favorite one is in Sugarhouse. It will be fun to see where they end up. We dropped Carissa off at the U and , while we were in that area, we stopped in at the New Balance store and I got my birthday present--a new pair of walking shoes.
For dinner, I got to choose where we went to dinner, and I chose Red Robin in Layton. It was very yummy and pleasant. We came home and had some birthday cake that Heather made for me. I spent the whole day just doing whatever I wanted and it was great to spend time with the family.

TO THE CUTE GIRL AT THE NEW BALANCE STORE

I went to the New Balance store and got some new shoes for my birthday today. I really, really needed new ones, and I love New Balance, so I am set now. The girl that helped me had just returned from Argentina on a mission for the church, and I told her that Marta had gone there a few times helping orphanages. Well, I guess I got Guatamala and Artentina mixed up. Sorry to my helper who may be checking in. She has only been home a little while and was hopeful to see pictures of the cute children in Artentina, so I gave her the addres of my blog to go to the "The Tyler Two" and check out Marta's pictures, but my geography was a little off. Thanks for helping me get the shoes anyway!

GETTING ORGANIZED

Wow! I have so much to do. I need to get back on track with wedding plans. I need to make some Mexican Wedding Cookies and put them in the freezer and see how they store. Hopefully I will get some made today. If they do well, we can make a bunch ahead of time and get them in the freezer till the wedding day.

I need to make some more dresses. I think we have finalized the pattern and we are ready to go on that. I have had so many friends offer to help, so I am hoping to take them up on the offer. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.

I need to call the cake lady and change the flavor of the bottom tier of the cake. The cake will be so pretty. Carissa has chosen a three-tier cake that is all white with little tiny white flowers on it. She didn't want any ribbon or real flowers on her cake. She knew what she wanted. There are three different flavors: carrot, chocolate, and white.

I need to finalize the guest list for the temple, wedding lunch, and reception.

The Davises (Danny's mom and dad) came over yesterday and we went over to our church where the wedding lunch will be. They checked out the tables, size of the gym, the kitchen, and we discussed how we will do it. They have their menu all planned and are doing a great job. They are such neat people. Carissa is getting a great family.

I will post a few pictures soon.

In the meantime, I am giving a lesson in Relief Society tomorrow, a talk next week, and we have our R.S. Birthday party this Thursday. My Visiting Teaching needs rearranging, and....

I had better get going.

DAD'S FUNERAL

Mom had a busy few days making phone calls, making arrangements, organizing flowers, programs, obituaries and all, but finally, Friday at 9:00 a.m. we had Dad's viewing. It was in the Relief Society room of the Hillcrest Stake Center. So many family from all over, ward members, MTC friends, Paradise friends and missionary friends showed up. He looked peaceful and the mortuary did a good job of making him look like Dad. You couldn't tell that the left side of his face was mishapen.

I was surprised by Bishop Smith, Loralee White, Jacqueline Romney, and Tonya Boswell showing up. It totally suprised me, and made me happy to have that support. We followed his body into the chapel and the meeting began. Kim did the family prayer. David gave the opening prayer. Heather and I did the eulogy. Becca and Anne played a piano and violin duet (Becca on the piano, Anne on the violin). April did a tribute. Matthew gave remarks and then the grandchildren sang "A Child's Prayer." Richard, and Stewart gave remarks, and Mom and Dad's bishop gave a talk. Brad said the closing prayer.

Mom's Relief Society had a lunch afterward. It was a great time to chat with old friends. The Morins, Sherril Stevens, Krysti Wright, the Talls, Sister Crabtree, Sister Standing, The Larsens and Brittans, (I can't even name all the wonderful people from home). So many Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. It was so nice to be surrounded by all these wonderful people.

After all was over, we went back to Mom's where we were going to spend the night and then take off early the next morning for Mesquite, but our plans changed. We heard a storm was coming, so we hurried and got packed up to head to Mesquite that night. We got on the internet and got a motel room and then took off.

We got to St. George around 10:00 and settled in. The next morning, we were able to take our time heading to Mesquite. We got there pretty early, around 11:30, but it was so cold and rainy. We went to the ward building to keep warm and wait. We changed into clothes, set tables and just hung out. Around 1:00 p.m. (Mesquite time), we went to the cemetery. The coach was there, and by the time our family got under the canopy, it was time to start. Nathan, Carson, William, James, Spencer, Brandon, Cameron, and Jared were the poll barers. Uncle Don dedicated the grave.

We went back to the church and Aunt Geri, Maggie, Marta, and Gina had prepared a wonderful buffet. It was very relaxing to be able to visit and mingle. My cousin Christina (from the Hagberg side) had traveled from Las Vegas with two of her kids. Cousin Tony's son and wife, Mike and Ilonca (sp?), were there as well as others you would think would be there. I met my dad's missionary companion "Woody," and it was very nice.

That night, our family, along with Heather's, went to St. George and stayed in Aunt Joan's beautiful Condo. Our kids had a great time and we all reseted very well. We cooked hamburgers on the grill and watched some movies we had rented. The next morning we went to church, cleaned up the condo, and then headed home in beautiful weather. We got home around 6:00 and readied ourselves to get back into the daily grind.

Today was almost normal, but Chelsie did stay home from school. She slept most of the day, so I don't know if she really wasn't feeling well, or if she was just worn out from travel and maybe some emotional stress from losing grandpa. I am not sure.

Thanks to all the kind words, plants, notes, and meals. I have been overwhelmed by facebook remarks and kind deeds and people's concern for me and my family. I hope I remember to do the same for others in the same situation.

P.S. Maggie, how did I do?

DAD IS GONE

(This picture was taken on 1-22-11)

Dad passed away on Sunday at 3:02 a.m. I had gone down to Orem to help mom because she had been taking care of Dad all by herself (not completely, but at night she was there with Dad alone). We had started teaming up so that there would be a daughter and a son there each night to spell Mom off. Dad needed someone there constantly to give him his medications and keep him calm. He was really struggling the last day. He couldn't really sleep well because he would struggle to breath. He hadn't really slept for days. It wore me out just watching him. It was really hard to watch him. He must have been exhausted. He couldn't talk to us, and if he tried, we had no idea what he was saying.

I came down to be with Mom and Dad on Friday night along with Matthew. I hadn't slept well the night before, so Matthew took the first watch and I went to bed around 10:30. At 3:00 I took over and stayed with him till around 7:30 when Mom woke up and the day began. I think every day was a little different (as was reported by my siblings). Saturday was a day of restlessness. Dad just couldn't get comfortable and could not sleep. We had a hospice nurse come in and try to adjust his medications to help him. We tried it for a few hours, but Dad seemed just as miserable or even worse. We called Hospice again and a different nurse came over. She seemed to know exactly what was going on and explained that these were the signs of death and that dad only had hours to a day. This was around 10:00 p.m. We called Stewart and Matthew who were the only siblings who weren't there. They quickly came over and we started a new routine of medications. We sat in the living room and visited (Richard mostly stayed with Dad in the bedroom). Finally, around 2:45 we decided to get some rest. Matthew headed for home and Stewart and Richard were watching over Dad. April walked to her house behind Mom's.

At about 3:08 a.m., Stewart came into Mom's bedroom where Heather, Mom and I were sleeping, and tenderly said, "Mom, he's gone." It was a shock. We had been waiting, wanting, and praying for this, but when it really happened, I don't think we were ready.

I keep having to remind myself how miserable Dad was and how much better he is now. He is there with his Mom and Dad, Grandpas and Grandmas, brother, nephew and wonderful friends who have passed on before.

Wow! It seems so unreal. We have a funeral on Friday, and we will bury him in Mesquite on Saturday. People have been so wonderful and loving. I appreciate all the kind comments, offerings of help, and outpouring of love. Thank you to all of you.

VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Valentines Day! It has been fun reading different posts about this special day and how people have already done fun things for other people. I have no plans, except I want to do something nice for everyone. Poor planning may sabotage the whole idea. My life is so crazy. I am lucky to get the basics done. I know that I am not alone. Everyone is busy. There was a time when I vowed I would never complain or even let people know how busy I am (because I got tired of everyone always complaining about how busy they were), but I guess it is no secret. We are all so blessed to have such full lives. I wouldn't change a thing, except to maybe hire a made to clean my house, a personal shopper to buy things for me, a chef to cook wonderful meals, and maybe even a nanny. Then, what would I do? I have no idea, but those seem to be the things I don't have time for. Do you ever get to the end of the day and wonder, "what did I do today that made me so busy?" I do.

FEELING SAD

I am feeling sad right now. I just got done fixing some typos on my mom's (Dad's) blog The Robin's Nest (robinhagbergathome.blogspot.com). It made me sad reading the events that have taken place in the last couple of months. How could it all happen so quickly? I never imagined that my dad would get cancer and be bed-ridden so quickly. I really thought we would have a chance to do something together, have more pictures taken, have more "quality" time.

Dad has been a trooper. We were able to spend Christmas together, but since that day, he has been pretty much confined to the house, to his bed or chair, and not doing anything else.

A couple of weeks ago, we gathered together as a family for one last photo. My sister-in-law, Jen, had set up an appointment with a photographer, but just the day before, it was decided that Dad couldn't even get out of the house. We ended up have a sister-in-law of a sister-in-law come to the house and squeeze us all in (I think 35 of us). It will be very nice to have those pictures, but, I don't know, I guess I just want more. I want it my way. I want my dad a little longer. I have tried to be brave, to remember how blessed I have been, to be grateful, but today is just not that day.