Early Saturday

I managed to get some sleep without my sleeping pill....although it's four o'clock in the morning. Still I went to bed at nine.

Today I will take Juanita to Joplin. Then we will eat at Olive Garden....her favorite place to eat.

They still haven't taken Bob's annuity out of my checking account. I got a letter yesterday saying they were going to do that. I wonder when?

I see by reading the newspaper that the City Commission is looking for applicants. A commissioner has resigned. Earlier I had applied for an opening when another commissioner resigned but they chose a different person. I wonder if I should apply again.

More later....

Another Busy Friday

I did my trimming this morning and also weeded another flower bed. Then I went out and cleaned the church. This is my month.

I will mow shortly. It looks like rain again and it is supposed to rain for three days so I'd better get it done.

My doctor is going to prescribe me some more of my sleeping pills. It seems I don't sleep without them.

There is nothing on TV tonight so I will read. I need to get back to my book anyhow.

More later...

I got the lawn mowed again. It looks pretty good. Now I need to trim. I got the back trimmed this morning but now I need to get the front trimmed.

I mailed off a bunch of books to a man in Alabama a little while ago. All I need is the postage to be reimbursed to me.

While there, I stopped at the Dearing Drive In and bought myself a milk shake. Nothing else really sounded good. I am having a time trying to decide what to eat.

I got a letter from Met Life today saying they will be taking back Bob's annuity. I called them right away after he passed away and told them Bob was gone but they said it was already in the process of being deposited. So now they will need to take it back.

Busy Thursday

I watered my hanging plants, cleaned house and did a load of towels in the laundry. I also weeded one of my flowerbeds.

My brother-in-law called and wanted me to come sit with my sister so he could attend a caregiver for Alzheimer's victim's meeting in Independence. I was happy to do that. I took lunch over for my sister and me. He has lost so much sleep over her need to get up numerous times in the night. I hope he gets a nap this afternoon.

My younger son called this morning and he is being deployed to Germany in the next ninety days. That will be good for him. He is bored in his present job. He may come this weekend. I am taking Juanita to Joplin on Saturday and to lunch but I invited him to meet with us and eat at Olive Garden. Then he could drive on to my home and wait for me. He has leave for a week starting Wednesday.

My older son called this afternoon too. The kids are doing well at keeping in touch with me.

I got another five condolence cards today. That makes 99 now.

I will watch TV this evening.

Friday I need to go clean the church.

Sunday I will preside at church and then go to Living the Questions group at Keith and Joyce's home that evening.

Travel Wednesday

I took Keith back to Wichita today to catch his plane for Phoenix. He was great company...very low key and loving. We arrived there early because of rain. I am usually cautious about driving in rain. If there's enough rain, we have to drive slower and it is a 2 1/2 hour drive to Wichita's airport.

He ate a bit of lunch because he will be in route for 7 1/2 hours. We visited while he ate and then he insisted that I go ahead and leave at noon so I would get home early.

The florist in Independence called while I was gone and wanted to deliver some flowers. Too bad they weren't sent in time for our service on Sunday. But they will be appreciated anyhow. I called them back and they will deliver them this afternoon.

I did get my own social security today so I transferred my savings back to my savings account. I think that is safe now. Conoco Phillips still has not retrieved Bob's annuity. I took it out of my check book anyhow.

More later.

I received the flowers from my son's company. They are lovely. I have no idea what they are. But I will take them to church on Sunday and use them for a centerpiece.

Busy Work on Monday

Keith and I stayed home in the morning on Monday and I wrote thank you notes all morning and got the bulletin finished for Sunday. About 11:00 we decided to drive over to Caney. The editor of the Montgomery County Chronicle had written an editorial about Bob's life in his paper and Keith and I decided to go to Caney and buy a paper. It was a great tribute to Bob. On the way home, Keith suggested we stop and eat at Pizza Hut. It had been months, perhaps years, since I had had pizza and so I took him up on it.It was very good.

Later we just messed around all afternoon. The claim form for the insurance finally came and I got that filled out along with one of the copies of the death certificate and sent it in. They say it will be five days after they receive it before I will get the check. Then I can pay the funeral home. That will be good.

I also received the social security death benefit of $255. It had been direct deposited in my checking account. Now I can get Bob's name off my checking account and change the beneficiary on my little IRA.

Later on that evening, we went out to John and Leslie's for cake and punch....left over from the celebration on Sunday. Leslie is going to take the remaining cake to work today.

Keith and I will go up after I get home from my sister's house and I have my board meeting for the Montgomery County Medical Clinic at 11:00. He will drop me off and go out to Four County and wait for Leslie to get off work for lunch. Then they will pick me up after my meeting at 12:00.

Then I will get the oil changed on my car. It is well past due. I need to stop at Wal Mart there and get some contact cleaner and dog food for Slinky too. Tomorrow we drive to Wichita to take Keith to catch his plane.

Then I will be alone again.

I had a huge negative surprise. I went online to pay one of the medical bills and discovered that Social Security had taken Bob's payment back and left me with $168.00 in the account. Luckily, I had a little savings so I transferred $600. over to the checking account. I should get my social security tomorrow with the raise of a difference between his and mine and my bills can be paid.

I will then transfer that money back into my money market account.

What a shock!! I wonder what widows do when they don't have a savings account?

Huge Sunday

This has been a huge day. It started at 9:30 this morning when we all went to church....Keith, Scott, Jerod, Christina and me. Scott and Keith picked up Jerod at Tulsa airport on Saturday night. They didn't get in until 12:30 AM. We were all exhausted. This morning we went to Church School and then church. I had the message. Then afterward we had a basket dinner and then decorated for the Celebration of Life for Bob. Our sanctuary seats 49. We had close to 150. For us,it was huge. All four of us spoke and many from the audience also spoke of what a great guy Bob was. Denise sang "Thank you" and it was wonderful. The service turned out very well.

Friends came that we had not seen for years and years. Our Mission Center President came all the way from Springfield. It was wonderful to see everyone.

After we cleaned up the church (and many of our congregation helped us) we went over to our campgrounds and distributed Bob's ashes just as he wanted. Scott said a fine prayer and Leslie read a poem. We all hugged. It was the end of a perfect day...an exhausting day...but a perfect day. We were all very satisfied that we did exactly what he had wanted.

We got home a little after 9:00. I took a hot bath and am ready to go to bed. Christina will leave in the morning. Keith will leave on Wednesday when I take him to Wichita to catch his plane. Then I will be alone again.