Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Keeping Life in Perspective & a Smile in the Mail

Stitching hasn't happened for a couple of days, so I didn't achieve my goal of finishing all the "Shoo-fly" patterns before the end of the kids' winter vacation. Just have the pesky last yellow one to accomplish and then I get to have fun designing and filling in those little blank squares between each "Shoo-fly".

Priorities
The last couple of days have contained much stress in our household - something every hockey family seems to face at one time or another. No, no one in my family got hurt (something to be grateful for)....no, no one got suspended from a game (another thing to be thankful for). It is the conflict that comes with "intense" travel hockey and family commitments.

As many of you might have read, my maternal grandfather passed away on Christmas Eve and my grandmother is still with us (another thing to be grateful for). The funeral is planned this weekend due to their residents in NC and the plot in MO - and the fact that family is spread all over and will need to travel to MO. While I would have loved to have all 4 member of my family (DH, 2 sons & me) be present - travel was just too expensive and we have a crazy travel schedule the next 2 months because of hockey tournaments and games. So it was decided that Robert (oldest son) and I would go to the funeral and airline tix were purchased.

Well, Sunday it was announced that a hockey weekend in Los Angeles is being planned with 3 exhibition games against some AAA team which will provide a challenge for Robert's team. So for the last 48 hours we have been struggling with the decision. It is really a hard one, because as a mother you want your child to have every opportunity that comes their way; but on the other hand there are so many hockey opportunities come up (so many that the 4 of us will not be home at the same time for about 2 months) and I don't know when the next opportunity will surface where my extended family is all together.

Aside from that, in my heart it was important to me that Robert would be there...my grandparents have influenced my life and given me so much, more than I will ever comprehend. The passing of my grandfather and his funeral are going to be very difficult this weekend and to be able to have Robert with me is so important to me. And to have him there as we all support my grandmother and her loss of a husband and "partner in life" of 69 years, will be appreciated by her.

So the decision was made that we would continue with our plans for us to travel to MO - that Robert will be travelling with me. Like I said, we didn't take this decision lightly, but knew in our hearts what we needed to do.

Smiles in the Mail
So, yesterday, just feeling down...opened the mailbox and found the New Year's Ornament I ordered from Gay Ann Rogers (http://gayannrogers.blogspot.com/). I was so excited to receive it. Having something new to work on is a great way to perk up!

Thank you for reading and I hope all is well with you!

2 comments:

Kendra said...

Decisions like that are tough, but I think you made the right one. We were faced with a similar situation with my Granpa's funeral last month...our 6-year-old had to miss her school Christmas program. We never considered missing the funeral, but at the same time, we felt bad that she had to miss her program.

My husband had to make a similar decision back when he was in high school - his grandfather's funeral vs. FFA State Convention. After talking to his family about what to do, he went to the convention...and to this day regrets it. No one in his family is angry at him, but HE feels bad for missing it.

Have a safe trip. I'm sure it's going to be an emotional few days for you.

valerie said...

Thanks for visiting my blog! Nice to find another local sticher in blogland. NiaH is Needle in a Haystack and I head over there frequently. Plus, if you didn't know, their sale was extended to 1/11.

Sorry to hear about your grandpa. My sympathy to you and your family.