Bittersweet Blessings

I love you Grandma. Thank you for weaving your way into my life so fully and deeply. Seems like every day (sometimes every hour) I come across something you gave me or taught me. 

I took Liam and Anders and went to her funeral. It was more like a family reunion with a tinge of sadness. I got to see cousins I haven't seen in more than 10 years. I got to spend time with my siblings all together for the first time in 10 years. I got to introduce my two youngest to their Bench grandparents. So while it was a sad reason to go, it was also a blessing in so many other ways. Bittersweet and beautiful.  And if Grandma were here she would say, "I'm Grandma Mary and I Love You!"

Liam and Uncle Adam. 

She was helping his little ears. I promise. 

Anders and Grandpa Keller 

Liam, Grandpa and Anders

Just talking around the table. I miss this the most of all some days. 

Anders and Uncle Travis. 

I got to meet this beautiful girl for the first time. LOVE you Naomi!! 

And...while mom was gone the boys built a fireplace and roasted marshmallows. 

Liam, Anders, and Grandma Carrie. 

Love this. 

They also went fishing while mom was away. What a life! 

The whole weekend Liam wasn't too sure about so many new people but he held onto Grandpa Bench's hand...and it was good for my heart to see. I love these people. I love that they are mine now too. 

Snow. This Florida kid got to see snow. and he didn't like that it made his hands cold but he liked to kick in it. 

This picture fills my heart with joy. I love them so. 

My beautiful mama and my baby. 

So many happy memories in this space. 

Aunt Holly curling Naomi's hair. 

Not every day you get to see your parents get engaged. Haha. I'm kidding. Mom got her ring fixed and dad gave it to her. I was standing there and made them ham it up for me. Love that they played along. 

The fireplace they built. 

On the airplane. 

That TV. Kept him awake all but the last 20 min of the 5 hour flight. Haha. He was good though. Even kept the mask on for the most part. I was so worried he wouldn't and I would get kicked off and miss the funeral and and and...brains do funny things sometimes. It was fine. Both flights were great.

He loved cruising in the hallway waiting for the flight. 

Worst part of the flight was the walk out of the airpot in Utah. But we survived. And people are so nice. 

And when you get most of your people from one side of your family in one place...you hire someone to take a beautiful picture in front of the beautiful swing set your dad and brothers made with their new sawmill and then have her photo shop in the rest of them. And then you just stare at it...for a long time...and feel your heart overflow with gratitude and love and sadness and happiness and just... all of it.