Jeffrey's Heaven Date, Today, February 18, 2010

It was time to go to the accident site and replace the old cross with silk flowers, with a new cross with silk flowers. This year I chose Sunflowers. They were beautiful. After attaching the flowers to the last couple of crosses, I got smart this time, and got some sunflower sways! That was SO MUCH EASIER TO ATTACH - just entwine them around the cross!!
Each time I tell my family/friends that I am going alone to replace the cross and throw some flowers into the creek, they put up a fuss, and don't allow me to go alone. So, someone has gone with me each year; either one of my dear friends FW or Becky. It is a busy and dangerous road, but I'm not afraid. I've been there before and done much more there, so standing on the top of the bridge and affixing the new cross and tossing fresh flowers into the creek doesn't scare me.
This year, my dear friend Becky (Bex), decided to spend the day with me. It seems only right, and poignant that Bex went with me yesterday, as it was Bex that drove me around that day to find Jeffrey, and we found him.

So, yesterday morning, Bex came over, and we fixed the cross together, stopped to pick up some wild flowers and some roses, then headed out to the accident site. We put the cross up, and then tossed the flowers in the creek, while talking to Jeffrey.









When we drove up, we saw a city maintenance truck there with some guys working on the guard rail. I was concerned that they might have something to say about us being there, so I went to talk to them. Turns out that there was an accident there, someone ran into the guard rail where Jeffrey did. This time, the car was not able to penetrate the now stronger guard rail and the thick posts restraining the guard rail.

I mentioned to Bex that it was because of Jeffrey that those stronger and thicker guard rail and posts were there. That it was because of Jeffrey that those people's lives were saved. Bex had another take on it. She said that maybe it was Jeffrey that held those people back. Hmm...... something to think about.

Jeffrey's 4th Year Anniversary Heaven Date Here

~~~~Today is not a good day. I'm trying to get together the invitations for Jeffrey's birthday party. Still making decisions. Need to order them today. I wanted to hand make them, but it looks like I'm going to personalize them with pictures instead and order them online.
~~~~I am also trying to figure out what kind of "party favors" I want to give out at the party. Usually, it is a picture of Jeffrey, or us as a family. One year I gave "the kids" (Jeffrey's friends), a CD, made from an old cassette tape, in which the case was broken, and I was able to find someone to create CDs for me. They loved it! I'm hoping I can figure out exactly what it is I want to do for this party.
~~~~~~Today is the monthly Compassionate Friends meeting. I missed last month's meeting because I was out of town, but I will go to this one. This month is Jeffrey's 4th year anniversary since he left us on this earth. Compassionate Friends call the 'anniversary dates' Heaven Date. Which I think is appropriate. Special recognition is given to the children when their Heaven Date arrives, as well as their Birthday date.
~~~~~Well, this month, February, is both Jeffrey's Heaven Date - February 18, 2006 - AND this month is ALSO Jeffrey's Birthday - February 24, 1983.
Am feeling kinda wimpy right now. I hope that I can get J to go with me tonight. He doesn't go any more. Maybe he will tonight.

Piper, Piper, Piper.....!

This lil gal (50lbs), is SUPER-HYPERACTIVE!! Since her being "fixed", last Wednesday, we were to keep her from getting exercise for 7 days! That girl was ready to jump around in 2 days!! I gave her lots of treats the first few days to keep her calm. If it wasn't raining all day every day, she would get a walk!
~~~~No pictures yet, but this morning, I caught Piper gnawing on a rocking chair that I bought to rock Alexis in when she was a baby. The chair is 32 yrs old, and not a mark on it until today. I threw Piper outside, and found MORE plants she had chewed off at the middle. This palm was one of the plants that was sent to us for Jeffrey 4 years ago. We had kept it alive through many dos and donts. We didn't have any plants, so we didn't know how to take care of them. Once we learned what each plant liked, water/sun/shade, our plants were finally thriving. Since Piper has chewed on them, we've lost quite a few. After a while, we thought we didn't have to watch Piper every second, cuz we had been disciplining her about the plants. Wrong.
~~~~ I know there are supposed to be all kinds of "remedies" out there to spray on the plants & furniture, but hadn't picked anything up from the pet store. So, this morning, I remembered some of the home remedies. Pepper was one, we were told sprinkle that on the plants/dirt, and dog will sneeze and sneeze and stay away. Piper licked it right up and wouldn't stop. Then I remembered 'vinegar', so I put some in a spray bottle with water. When she attacked the plants again, I sprayed her in the face, PLUS, sprayed the plants. She lapped it up. Turns out she likes salad with salad dressing. I'd be laughing right now, if I wasn't so upset..
More than not, I wish we had never gotten this dog.