I couldn't let the month of July leave
without posting something so thought I'd start a journal for my family
and friends that have asked me to do so.
It doesn't seem possible that it's been over two weeks since Cees has
gone home. It's really true when they say, "Life Goes On". It
does do that and still so quickly.
Cees' service was beautiful and so in keeping with the wonderful person
he was and his legacy that will live on. The Teamster's tractor-trailer
rig that his local Teamster Union provided was the most tremendous show
of love they could have offered. I was told that it had never
been brought out for a service before and to have them offer that in a
show of love for him will forever be etched in my heart. The
amount of friends and loved ones that attended completely astonished
me, there was probably over 500 people in attendance! So many that late
comers had to stand outside the chapel for lack of room. He
would have been so humbled to know that so many loved him and came to
say goodbye.
We, as a family are doing as well as we can. I know it's
difficult for folks to find the words to express their hurt and pain as
well as their concern for the family that has lost a loved
one. I, myself, have been where my friends are at with this
type of loss and can only tell you that the knowledge of you just all
being there for us when we need you is a tremendous strength in itself.
This has been a difficult two weeks, we've been trying to finish the
small projects that needed to be done. The paperwork was mountainous
but we've gotten it whittled down to a small hill. The most
difficult chore I'm going to have is to clean out his 1 ton dually and
get it ready to sell along with our trailer we just bought last
year. It's truly too big for just myself and after all, he
was the truck driver...I don't think I'd be a safe one to have on the
road pulling that big of rig. The girls (Mercy, Spirit, Ruby &
Faith) will do just fine in our "Eskie Van", our conversion van...it's
a better fit I think.
Our family is so looking forward to my son's upcoming wedding on the
19th of August... I know many of you have been invited and we hope
you'll still be able to make it... Cees told the kids that this is very
important to him and he wanted to make sure they kept their date...I
think he'll still be with us anyway, we want to make it a special day
for this beautiful couple.
We are tentatively scheduling the committal service for Cees for the
8th of September. It will be a wonderful military service and
a time for the family to finally say goodbye. The Tahoma
National Cemetery is in Kent, WA...a very new and beautiful
place. Cees was in the United States Air force in his younger
days. I think he would like this beautiful, peaceful place...
Most of you know we have a new puppy, her name is Crystal-AH's A
Measure of Faith and we will call her "Faith". Mostly because
that's what we've gone on this past 15 months and will most certainly
need to hang on to going forward. Faith is a fitting name for
her and every time I call her name it will help remind me to keep
focused on God's plan for me and our family.... There really is a plan
in all of this. That's why we've named the girls what we
have, Mercy, Spirit, Faith & Ruby....a word that means "From
The Heart" and that is truly where the other three words come
from....the heart!
I'll try to update this page as I
can. We love you all and hope you'll stay in touch.
You are never far from my heart.
