Sadness

In the blink of an eye, your whole world can change and come crashing down around you. Last Wednesday I was happily enjoying designing my card for next Card Party in Pullman when my Cell rang. It was my Father. He never calls so I knew it wasn't good. I expected bad news about either my Mother or her brother, Sylvester. No, it wasn't. My double cousin Michael had been found dead. I sort of stopped breathing for a bit. Michael? My Birthday baby born 12 years after me and whose toes I pinched so he would wake up and I could hold him? That Michael?

All I could do is see a happy little boy who wanted to be totally and unconditionally loved by everyone; A little boy whose eyes sparkled when he saw the Christmas presents under the tree the year he and his brother and sister lived with us; The little boy who loved to camp and fish and was always needing his line untangled which I happily did for him; The little boy who held the Crawdad up to his face because he loved them so and it attached itself to his nose (We laughed and helped him.)

Then, I saw the young man saying I do to his lovely Bride who was also the sister of Steven's wife. Then there he was showing me his new baby and then another. I never got to see the third boy.

Michael had been fighting demons since his early 20s. That is when Schizophrenia usually attacks. The voices told him things and he lived inside his head but medication brought Michael back. He always saw the sun unless his medication was off or he didn't take it and then the world was dark and he did things that only his demons understood.

His wife could no longer stay with him and though they divorced she always stayed in very close contact. It was she who had to tell Steven.

Michael is Steven's and Sylvia's brother and Sylvester's son and now he was gone.

Thursday I went to Clarkston to see Mother and then go see Steven. I stopped and talked to Dad awhile and learn more. Whatever happened, pushed or jumped, Michael had fallen from his third floor Apartment balcony.

I went on up to Mom's and she smiled and was glad to see me. As far as she was concerned, I had not been there in a month of Sundays. She said, "Oh, I am so glad to see you. I dreamed you came because Michael died." I had brought her a Thinning Bar (Maple Bar). My brother, Norman, had teasingly called them that. I kinda figured she would need something, after all, Michael was her brother's son and as close to her as a son. I told her that it was so sad that Michael had died and she stopped mid bite. She had truly thought it was all a dream and so it was as if she were hearing it for the first time. I kinda counted on that to begin with and spent the rest of our visit comforting her.

As it turned out, the Care Center was having a BBQ that day. Billy came; Dad came; and Steven and his wife came. I made sure that Sylvester wasn't left alone upstairs before Steven got there and he was sitting with Mom. It was a wonderful BBQ and just what was needed.

Micheal's son, Shane wrote the Obituary. It was very nice. And now, we await Micheal's return from Spokane. Then Steven and Sylvia will make all the arrangements as Sylvester can't.

So, say a prayer for Stevie and Sylvia and Sylvester.

Christy

Family BBQ

On Saturday July 12, my Frye family got together for a BBQ and Picnic at Beachview in Clarkston.
It was a wonderful day.

I went after Pullman's Scrapkit Club. I love Scrapkit and all the wonderful papers, embellishments and challenges. Sometimes the combination of papers and products in itself is a challenge which I enjoy tackeling. Wonder what I and everyone else will come up with this months kit. Shawana always gives us uniques and delightful items to work with. This month we have a skull. Wonder where I will use that one. Just have to wait and see.

When I got to Clarkston, I went and picked up my Aunt Lydia Bly. She is my Mother's older sister. And at 84 she is more active and capable than a lot of 30 somethings. I hope I age like her. She has a garden and many many flowers. She still drives and just a three years ago developed a new lot for her new home next to her old one. She got everything just as she wanted and supervised every minute of it being built making changes where it made the house more comfortable and useable for her.


Her she is admiring her newest Great Great Nephew Mason Frye my Brother Billy's Son's new baby boy born March 8.

Aunt Lydia raised for children and was a teacher. She is a great lady and watches over my Mama and their brother Sylvester and youngest sister Sadie Talley.

She had made a macaroni salad and took a large jar of her own pickled beets. YUM!

When we got their my Nephews Brian and Kirk, Billy's boys, were getting things all set up. Jamie Bjorklund and her new baby Madison were already there. Jamie is Billy's baby girl.

Here is Jamie and Madison and Chris, Jamie and Madison Bjorklund.






















Here my baby brother Bill Frye arrives and Kirk and Brian are in the background cooking or should I say BBQing.


Billy, my sister in law Debbie, niece Erica, nephew Travis and my youngest nephew Morgan all arrived with great aplomb.
They spilled their ice chest all over the ground and had to pick everything up.
Sounds like a Frye trick.





Here is Erica. Yes she did help pick everything up she just stopped long enough for me to take her picture.
















Here is my wild child, Morgan Eugene Frye.
How I love this little boy.
He calls me Aunt Kissie and always has hugs, cuddles, kisses, and lots of new news for me.Billy gave him our brother's middle name. Brian is named for our Brother Norman Eugene Frye but goes by his middle name Brian--Norman Brian Frye. Norman passed in 1998 to melenoma cancer. How we all miss him.





I sure think the world of my sister-in-law Debbie. She works for WSU in the French Administration building.

Debbie and Billy admire Madison. Jamie is in the background.













Of course my Father and Mother were there. The Care Center brought Mama on a bus and picked her up. Mom had a wonderful time but did get tired before the bus came back.

Here mama is with my double cousin Sylvia. I don't know what her married name is now but her father is my Mother's brother Sylvester Stubblefield and her mother is my Father's sister Peggy Ann Frye. Peggy passed three years ago due to complications of Diabetes and heart problems caused by childhood Rheumatic Fever.


Steven brought their father, Sylvester. and his beautiful new bride, Chrystal also came. She is so sweet.

Here Steven and Chrystal visit with Brian and Sylvia's husband Butch. Mama and Sylvester in the forefront.













Dad had a good time visiting and just enjoying the sun and fun. Here he is with Billy, Deb, Jamie's husband Chris Bjorklund, and of course Morgan.










Here are Dad and Jamie.










My sister, Cammie Laws, and Dad visited.

Two of Cammie's children also came. Alicia West and Kris Schinider and his wife, Katie. Her youngest son Shane Laws is now in the Marines. I miss him.


This is Kattie and Madison.









Here Alicia and Kris enjoy the wonderful foods everyone brought.






Kris also helped with BBQing.











The only people I haven't introduced you to are Molly (Mason's Mommy and Brian's wife), lovely Laura (Wyatt and Meghan's mama and Kirk's wife), and of course Wyatt and Meghan.

Here are they are Laura and Wyatt. I don't have a good picture of either Molly or Meghan. Next time.


Here Laura holds Madison and Jamie holds Mason.


Oh, and least I forget the Food!
Just as a side note I took the fruit salsa and cinnamon chips that were last week's Recipe of the Month in Pullman. Very good I might add. Some people thought it was a stand alone salad and the chips just good. Others thought it went on the cake with whipped cream. My Aunt Barbara Stubblefield (Uncle Noland's wife who is my Mother's brother. He passed two years ago of Mesothelioma.) loved the chips and asked how to make them. I don't have a picture of her in any form I am ashamed to say.
All the food was delicious. And this isn't all of it.










Dad took Mama to met the bus but stops to tell Sylvia Good bye.













Travis gives Mama a hug and tells her goodbye.





After Mother left, I took Aunt Lydia home and came home to Pullman. It was a lovely day but very long. Hope to do it again before too long.

Hope you enjoyed the visit and come again soon.

Hi Ho

Well, here it is the second week in July and so much has happened.

Went to my son's, Matthew, home for Daniel's 4th Birthday July 6th. Then brought both Marquis and Daniel home with me on Monday. I held my breath as this is Daniel's first stay. Surprise! He didn't pitch a fit which is what I totally expected as his other Grandma has not had good experiences keeping him.

Our visit was wonderful until Wednesday. I took the boys to the Moscow Aquatic Center. We were there about 3 - 31/2 hours in the water. Daniel was having a blast as was Marquis of course. Anyway, I knew Daniel was getting tired and needed to get out and sure enough he asked to go lay in the shade. I told him ok but wait. He didn't hear the wait. I turned to tell Marquis and Daniel was out of sight. I had told him earlier that he couldn't cross the line. Because of this, I figured he went to the land. I searched and searched for him. I even went back in the water and looked around the slide and the buckets. No Daniel. I was scared now. Where was he? I went to the lifeguard station for help. They were just taking me to the announcement center when a lady asked if this was the child I was looking for. She was holding Daniel in a towel and he looked petrified. What she related made my blood run cold.
Daniel had gone to the deepend after all and she found him standing on the bottom of the pool not moving. I had nearly lost my Grandson. I held him close and of course scolded him but once I had done that I held him and held him. We, to say the least, left.

I called his parents and his Mama wanted him, so, ended the visit to Grandma's.
I took him to Spokane to meet Angie and both boys went home. Marquis had to go also as they have a wedding on Saturday. Besides, Marquis must train his goat for the fairs as he is in 4H.

Here I am home alone no little feet, no little voices, and no little hugs and kisses. Daniel is ok thank the good Lord for watching him for me. Thank you for friends and understanding. Angie said that he had gotten away from Grandma Lundquis on the 4th and that he could come again she just needed her own Mama Eyes on him and boy do I understand that.

Well, here is to a better week ahead and fun scrapping. Hope all had a great 4th.