Old Pictures, But Fun Memories

Michelle, Grandma, Felicia, and Larry

Grandma, Felicia, and Michelle

Michelle, Grandma, Felicia, and Larry

The last 2 pictures have hung on my Grandma Bessie's walls probably since they were taken.  Right now I'm not sure what year they were taken, but I know it was a long time ago!  At least 28 years ago for the one with the dolls and longer for the others.

Funny thing is, I remember having these pictures taken.

I remember when Michelle and I laughed at Larry's flower shirt!  He reminded me of the episode of the Brady Bunch when the oldest brother Greg and the rest of the bunch were singing as a group on TV.  Not sure why, because Greg doesn't wear a flowered shirt... but Larry sure made me think of him!  I've posted a few links to view old the Brady Bunch episodes that I've mentioned below this post.  Also, if you want to check out the entire show, watch it on www.hulu.com!  I think this picture was taken at one of the hotels on 231 as you are going into Greencastle, I remember riding in Grandma's big car and picking Larry up on the way.

I remember having to take my Cabbage Patch Kid with me for the other picture.  Not sure if it was me or Grandma that wanted the dolls in the picture.  I think the doll that Michelle is holding is one that Grandma made for her.  I'm pretty sure this picture was taken at the Reelsville Fire Dept.

We'll Miss You, Grandma Denny

Norma Denny
(September 2, 1929 - December 20, 2010) 

Norma J. Denny, 81, Reelsville, passed away on December 20, 2010 at Exceptional Living Center in Brazil.

She was born September 2, 1929 in Reelsville, Indiana. She was married to Willard Denny, and he preceded her in death.

She worked at RCA for 16 years and retired from food service supervision at DePauw University’s Longdon, Rector, and Hogate Halls after 34 years.

Survivors include her mother, Kathryn White; one daughter, Sharon Fellows and husband Devin; one son, Raymond Urton and wife Lori; a grandson Brent Urton and wife Kelly; four granddaughters, Melinda Hyde, Felicia Tindal and husband Jonathan; Jerilynn and Annaleah Urton; great grandchildren, Dustin and Erika Hyde, Robbie and Emily Urton, and Riley and Payton Tindal; and two step grandsons, Jeremy and Brandon Templeton.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 23, 2010 at Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle. Burial will follow in Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon until 2:00 p.m. before the service on Thursday.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana. www.mcclainfh.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Diabetes Youth Foundation of Indiana.

A little Photo "catch-up"

I love taking pictures of Grandma's barn.   

Looking towards the bridge from down below the house at Grandma's.

Standing along the tree line behind Grandma's house looking up towards the house and barn.  You can see my mom and dad's house in the upper right of the picture.  Right beside where I am standing is where Scott's deer was on the edge of the field in the tree line.

Payton and Mason wishing this buck was theirs!

Mason was telling us how nice of a buck this was and how nice it's body was!

Scott's daughter, Raylan loves to go deer hunting with her daddy!  She wasn't along for this one, but enjoyed being there when they brought it in.

Scott helping Riley and Payton get through the barb wire fence.

Granny, Riley, and Payton at Uncle Raymond's on Thanksgiving Day.  Can you believe that this was Granny's 96th Thanksgiving?  Wow!  (counting her first one when she was 5 months old)

Jerilynn, Riley, Payton, and Anna on Thanksgiving Day.

Riley and Payton playing a DS game together at Grandma and Grandpa T's house the day after Thanksgiving.

Riley was all ready to watch Ramona and Beezus with me and pooped out about half way through!  However, I finished the movie by myself and cried my eyes out!  It's such a good movie.  Gotta love the nice, feel-good movies!

Not many people believe us when we tell them that Buki and Barkley have a very close relationship... honestly -- they do!  They eat out of the same bowl together, at the same time.  They sleep next to each other.  And they love to play together.  If Barkley isn't starting it, Buki is!  Oh, and if you haven't guessed it, Buki is now an inside cat.  We still aren't exactly sure how this happened, but it has something to do with Riley becoming extremely attached to him!

Jon, the kids, and I stayed at my Mom and Dad's until the Sunday after Grandma's funeral.  It was nice to just be there on the farm and enjoy being with family.  It was hard to look down at her house and think that she wasn't there.  It still just didn't seem real.

Saturday we went to visit Grandma Denny (my Mom's Mom) at the nursing home in Brazil.  She was sleeping and was hard to wake up, so we tried to talk with her a little bit, but our visit was short.

Saturday evening, Jon and I went to dinner together in Greencastle, while the kids went over to Aunt Loretta's to play with Mason, Jocelyn, and the rest of the crew.  Jessica had to learn all the in's and out's of diabetes in record time and she did a great job!  It was awesome to have a chance to have dinner with Jon.  Afterwards, we went back to get the kids and sat out by a fire with Jess, Jeff, Scott, Gwen, and all of the kids.  Just being together brought back so many memories of being kids and running around my Grandma's and Aunt Loretta's together.  I'm sorry that it has been so long since we've seen each other and especially sorry that it took a funeral to make it happen.

Sunday morning is when Scott got his buck and I took the pictures of the barn, house, field, etc.  My kiddos were so excited to be a part of the deer experience... such city kids, I know!  I remember being a kid and laughing at friends who would come down and be mesmerized when the hunters would get a deer... now it's my 2 that are mesmerized -- how funny!

Leaving Her Legacy...

Do not stand over me and weep, only my shell lies beneath this sod.
All that I am or ever will be, has returned to Earth, the Spirit and to God.

I am the wind that blows across your face, I am the sun that warms your back.
I am the stars that point the way when you are lost in thought or in the dark of night.
I am the moon that governs all things, far and near.

Please do not grieve for me, for I am not here. I have returned to roaming this earth as always,
In the moon, the sun, the stars, and the four winds.



These are the words that my Grandma had written and sent to our cousin in California for safe keeping until it was time to share them.  She had requested that this be read at her funeral.

On November 11, 2010, it was read by my Aunt Kaye. 

Grandma really was a neat lady and we miss her dearly.  Just to know that I can't pick up the phone and call Grandma, is painful.  Driving to my Mom and Dad's yesterday and seeing her house just down the road was painful.  My first Thanksgiving without her was painful.  This is the first time that I have lost someone close to me and it stinks.  The hurt, pain, lump in my throat.... all of it just stinks.  It's hard to see my children sad because they miss her, it makes me break down even more.  A memory of my Grandma flashed into my mind the other night and it was so strong that I literally had to just sit down and cry.  Riley came and sat on my lap and just hugged me, words other than "I love you" were not needed, she knew what was wrong.  I just feel "blah" and I don't like it because I know that she wouldn't want me to be this way.  Just yesterday, I caught myself wanting to share the brownies with her that I had made for Thanksgiving.  It was a diabetic recipe that Riley loves and just for a second I knew she wouldn't believe that they were made with splenda instead of sugar.  It's moments like this that hurt the most.