Halloween Memories

by Kim Brannon

Halloween 1974 - Amy, Janet and Kim

I have fond memories of Halloween!  I remember fun times at school and then getting home, eating and going out trick or treating!  I do remember being frustrated more than once because I had to cover up my totally cool costume with a coat!  But more, I remember going out with Janet, Amy and your pseudo sister, Gaylynne Flandro, on a mission to get as much candy as possible!  Dad would always go with us.

Then, we would get home and sort all our candy.  We always made a few trades.  I also remember that my candy was always gone long before Amy and Janets.  I am sure I snuck into their stash at least a couple of times after mine was gone.

I am not sure exactly what year it was, but I do remember going trick or treating without Janet since she was home with a broken leg.  Amy and I took a bag for her and ensured she still got her stash!

Hawaii 1978 proved a memorable Halloween.  It was raining so hard on Halloween, they officially postponed it for 2-3 days.  But a lot of the kids new how to work that and went trick or treating each day!  We weren't allowed to go until it was official to celebrate after the rain stopped, but I do remember trick or treaters coming for like 3 days!

I have a journal that I had to write in during 2nd grade in Hawaii.  Here is my Halloween entry (sic):

I am going to be a gypsy.  

I am going to put on make-up.

I am going to put on jewelry.

I am going to where a pink mask.

And an entry on Halloween Safety (sic):

Halloween Safety

Check your candy before you eat it.

Be careful of what you where.

I glad that my daddy gose with me.

I feel safer to.

And see where I go.

Sitting With Grandma

By Lauren Hales

Having Grandma need surgery last week was not something that I was comfortable with. I am fully aware of the complications that can arise in "routine" surgery.  To say I was nervous is a very big understatement.

I am so thankful that Drew was willing to take over bedtime so that after dinner I could go and sit with Grandma a couple of nights this week. We talked about everything and nothing. We watched Dancing With The Stars, Castle,  and Agatha Christie. We just were.

That's why Grandma is so wonderful. You can just "be" with her. She loves us all so completely that you don't ever have to try to be something your not, or try to hide anything. You can just be. You can sit in the teeniest hospital room, in your cozies, with no make up on, and just be. You can express your fears and be calmed or your joys and be supported. You can just be.

I am so grateful that everything went as well as can be expected with her procedure. I am thankful for how strong and healthy she is. Grandma takes very good care of herself and Grandpa. That inspires me to take care of myself. I want my great grandchildren to know and love me, as much as hers do.

Thanks for letting me come sit with you Grandma. Thanks for always being the one person I can just be with. I love you so much.

Nene Pooh

by Kim Brannon

Nene Pooh, that is what I always remember Dad calling Stephanie.  And with her birthday being a couple days ago and today being the anniversary of her passing, she has definitely been on my mind a lot lately.  I can't believe she has been gone for 7 years.  There have definitely been times that her being gone leaves a huge void, like when I called everyone to tell them I was pregnant, when I had my kids, Jamie's wedding, when Brooke had McKenna, when Jamie had Steven and Noah, Dutch Christmas, and any family gathering. Mckenna and Gabbie have become such great friends and I know Steph would have loved watching them play.  I  sure miss her!

These are the last pictures of us all together.  They are priceless to me!  I am so grateful for my family and all the crazy, fun, trying times we have had.  

I did a post on my blog on her birthday back in 2008 and thought I would copy to this blog.  

Today would have been my sister Steph's 53'rd Birthday.

I have been thinking about her so much and wanted to share some thoughts and memories in celebration of her life!

Steph loved her family!

They were her top priority and she would have done anything in the world for them. I know that she watches over them and is proud of who they are!

Steph and her family cared so sweetly for little Briana during her short life here on earth. I remember when they found the tumors in Steph's brain, and we knew she wouldn't have too much longer with us, thinking that Briana must need her on the other side. I have no doubt that she is taking great care of Briana now and spending some incredible time with her.

Steph loved her "little Parkerman", and was so excited to be a Grandma. He brought her so much joy and happiness. Oh, how she would have loved to have watched him and Makenna grow up!

Steph was the oldest of the 7 kids. What an example she set for all of us. I miss having here for the big events and the small ones. She was always there, quietly in the background of the chaos that always exists from having so many people in one place.

Steph and my mom had a special bond. She was a lot like my mom in that they both have a great faith, a quiet strength, and an unwavering testimony of what they believed in. Coray always says that Steph is more like our mom than any of us. I can think of no greater compliment. I remember the day of Steph's retirement party, she was not feeling real great and had been running around all day. My mom and I were waiting for her and getting worried as we knew were going to be late. She finally showed up from doing her visiting teaching. She said that the woman she was visiting was having a hard time and she needed to be there with her. I was amazed that even though she was the one who was facing such a huge challenge, she still cared so deeply for those around her.

Some of my greatest memories of Steph are from our Annual Girls Weekend Out! We always had so much fun. It was always a treat to see her loosen up with no cares or worries and just be able to play with her sisters. We have had some crazy times on these weekends! They are memories I will always cherish!

We had one final Girls Weekend with Steph. It wasn't really a weekend, but more an afternoon. We all gathered into her room and spent the afternoon, surrounding her as she lay in bed. We talked and laughed about the fun times! We learned fun facts about each other, like that Steph and Liz got up and left the table when my Mom told them she was pregnant with me. But mostly, we just enjoyed each other's company! Steph still had her quick wit and made us laugh!

Even considering the circumstances, we had to do a goofy picture! It just wouldn't be Girls Weekend without one!

After Steph died, I put a DVD together of her. One thing I learned about her through doing that DVD is that she LOVED this lobster t-shirt. I swear she had it for at least 8 years and wore it on every single vacation she took during that time. I have no less than 50+ pictures of her in this Boston Lobster t-shirt. It is silly, but every time I see it, I still laugh!

Steph had an incredible upbeat attitude and faced the challenges in her life with a positive outlook! When she started loosing her hair, she decided to just accept it and cut it off! Why she had Coray do it is still a mystery to me, but I must admit, he did a great job!

This is one of my favorite pics of Steph. It reminds me of how she was just always there, smiling, and enjoying the company of those she loved.

It will be two years on November 3rd since we lost her to cancer. I think of her often and miss her so much. The day that I called all my family to tell them that Kiley and I were expecting our baby, I felt a huge void in not being able to call my sister Steph. I know she would have been so excited for us! I miss her presence at our family functions. I miss her smile and how she would bite her tongue when she concentrated hard. I miss how she would just give me that look when I was doing or talking about something she didn't approve of. She never judged me, but I knew! I miss her unconditional love she had for me.