Celebration for Nancy Egbert

It has been a week since mom's memorial service. A great deal has happened, but I wanted to share our celebration with friends and family via the internet. It was a celebration. Mum asked for certain things and they managed to all fall into place. We had the service at the Nikiski Rec Center  (the old elementary school in the library). I think it would have been a good idea if I had asked to have it put on their reader board or community calendar, but I think it turned out well.. It started out POURING, but by late morning it started to clear. Her service was at 11. 

Meg made wrote a sign for us-I'd forgotten to mark where the service would be. She and Randall helped guide people in.

Setting up was a lot of work. Bailey created the power point and was our emcee, Lee was an incredible help in setting up the AV stuff, chairs, and whatnot. 

 Actually, Janet's entire family was a huge help. Jacit and Jaleen and Janet were all there early and pitched in. I had hoped for a large number of people, but due to circumstances, we had about 111 signed in. 

 Julie and Elaine and Sharon and Traci and Nancy and Tim Veal and Jim were also on hand to organise and get every last thing set up and in place. (Julie brought the beverage stuff) The Rec staff was awesome in every way!

Order of Events: 

Reading of the Obituary

 (written by BJ at Peninsula Memorial Chapel and it can be found on their website)

Welcome and Opening Prayer

(those first things were done by Bailey)

We all sang 'This is My Father's World' 

Lee read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

We sang 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'

Kris shared a bit about her mom and read the story by Cece Meng called 'Always Remember' 

Tamara and Bridget and 'not Rhett' (one of the teachers mom worked with and I can't remember his name, other than mom called him Rhett) and Lee and Randall shared thoughts of Nancy.

Lucy read a thought from Mother Teresa 

Meg sang 'My God and I' and brought down the house

Mary did the closing prayer 

We all sang 'Go Ye Now in Peace' 

Rachel played the intro music, the songs for us to sing, and the post music for mom. She and Bailey also found the words and music for 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'. (we only used the first verse)

We let the slide show run before and after the main service.

A bunch of brave souls helped to clean up after it was all over. (I adore the Dura family!!) 

 

  I had gone into Kenai and met Kari who helped unload leftovers for after the church service at mom's church on Sunday- Then, I went over to dad's bench in the Scout Park. Eventually, we''ll add a marker with mom's name and the city will put it on the bench with dad. It had warmed up tremendously and the inlet was calm.

The next day, while we were  opening up cards, we found this incredibly comforting thought in one Kari sent. 

I am sure I missed several who helped, there were so many. Please know mom's community is you. You may or may not have been there in person, but your spirit was there in Nancy's. Thank you so much for being a part of mom's world and ours. 

All Around and Christmas

Skies are stunning this time of year. You only need look up to be amazed by color splashed across the horizon. I think I took these around 930 in the morning the day before Christmas. 

 Rose brought mum and I flowers for Christmas! I found these in the basement after I came in from errands, I knew they were from Rose cuz 'she' was tucked inside the arrangement!

 Christmas Day brought snow to Athena. Alaska didn't get any.

I didn't get many photos from Christmas. I should have taken a picture of this really delicious cinnamon swirl thing Janet made.By the time I thought about it, it was gone! 

Aunt Darlene and Uncle Randy sent a box full of fun surprises, mum thoroughly enjoyed herself. There was even a delightful story tucked inside made with photos by their granddaughter. (most of my pictures were blurry, I took quite a few.....) 

 One of the houses on Holt-Lamplight has an incredible light display. I enjoy it every time I pass and one night decided to stop and take a couple of photos.

 Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

May moves into June

May ended with a couple of rather lovely days. I didn't get out but one of them--I am very thankful I did! 

Ducks!!!! (Goldeneyes)

 Mum was given some raspberry plants by a family near here. I need to plant them.

The second of June we saw babies on the lake!!! I think, but am not entirely positive, they are green winged teals. I decided to walk to the point on our side of the lake and barely got 15 feet on the lake shore before almost stepping on this family! I need to have better reaction time, I forgot how to use my cell phone camera and almost didn't get these shots! 

 Mama duck was VERY put out with me. I was watching where I was going and I totally didn't see them til they exploded almost underfoot!!! Mama played wounded duck for quite a while. I retreated in quick order. Later, I went out in the kayak and didn't see any babies. And it was VERY VERY VERY cold!!! I had on a tank top with the life jacket and should have hand on a sweatshirt!

 I need to dig a channel in the lake. The kayak is mired in muck. I had to scoot it up far enough so I could exit into the goo. Last summer, this would have been water.

 Before I went out on the lake (that was just after 9 pm), I dashed to town to give JaLeen the flowers mum asked me to buy yesterday. Mum was fully intending on attending the dance recital, but felt really horrible at 4 pm when I woke her to see if she wanted to get ready.

I didn't get to see JaLeen, but I did see Janet and Lee and Connie and Connie's mom and Jim and a few others! Janet and Lee took photos after-I thought JaLeen did hip-hop. She does jazz. I can't remember exactly what Janet said hip-hop was like, but I did bring her two tylenol cuz she said she forgot hers! 

December 25th, from Nana's Point of view.

Gifts around the tree (thank you to Loren and Lindsey for the tree!). 

 Jacit sliding a towel across the floor wet from feet and walker wheels!

 JaLeen is so tall!!!! Almost 12-

 Mom made an afghan. Jacit opted to keep it!

 I am not entirely sure what was going on at this point! I do know Lee was looking for the tickets he had purchased for the movie later tonight!

 Mom took some photos while I was taking mine---nice work!

As stated in the post below this one, I am super thankful I got to spend the holiday with the Gattenby family.