Stuff to Do

Not much happening here today. My family is getting ready for Dad's memorial service on Saturday, and I so wish I could be there. If I'm not taking care of everyone else's needs, I don't know how to cope with my own grief, really. That's just the way I am. I thought that today I would include a portion of what I wrote for my sister to read at the service, as well as a photo of our little cheeky monkey, who so looks like her PoPo sometimes... ================ The thing about someone dying is that we think about what kind of legacy they leave behind, or what we can learn from their life. Here is a short list of what I have learned from my Dad's life. Some funny, some serious, but all important.   - It's okay to cry, and not just for sadness. It's okay to cry when you watch Extreme Home Makeover, any Hallmark movie, commercial, or anything else that stirs your soul.   - Laughter is essential in many situations, but may not be as appreciated a...

Arthur Boudman Carter    LEWISBURG - Art Carter left this world today to begin his new life with the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was Art's firm and steadfast belief that this world is not our final destination in this journey we call life, but rather just the beginning and that we will all end up to spend eternity somewhere else. He believed that this world was just simply a place where we get to chose where that eternity will be. Arthur Boudman Carter, 59, of 3010 Buffalo Rd. , died Thursday, March 6, 2008, at his home. He was born May 26, 1948, in Danville , a son of Alice Louise (Boudman) Carter of Milton and the late Walter Eugene Carter. He was married for over 11 years to the former Josephine "Josie" Fox who survives. Art graduated from Milton High School in 1966. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the Navy on riverboat patrols in Vietnam . He was employed as a welder and band saw operator at AC&F Industries in Milton fo...

Dad went home last night (this morning for the Americans). I don't know any details yet, other than, as my Mom puts it, "he was ornery to the end". He is in Heaven now, and beyond all the suffering. I may end up taking some time off from blogging, or I may end up finding it cathartic. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. Now off to get up the munchkin for breakfast.

Ah, I see. It's because Charlotte found it in her baby memory box, pulled it out, and brought it into the bathroom, but had to drop it to pick up the yellow fish bath toy that clearly belonged in Mum & Dad's room, where she then found my bedroom slipper which (I can't believe I didn't catch on to this sooner) obviously goes in the room where the toilet is. I am thankful that she hasn't discovered yet the joys of unrolling the toilet paper, or throwing things in the actual toilet. I talked to my Dad today, for what will likely be the last time. We made sure to cover the important things, and then I rambled on for 10 minutes about everyday stuff, so we wouldn't have to talk about him dying. Mom says that it's day to day now, and that she'll call me when he passes. Honestly, I am so glad to not see him like this. He doesn't even sound like my Daddy. He sounds all confused, and small. That's not how I want to remember him. I'm so glad I had a...

A while ago, I posted about my dad. He's just received a terminal diagnosis, and I'm finding it very hard to deal with that. Even though I was preparing myself for this news, even though when I left to come back home I knew, in the deepest corners of my heart, that he was not going to get well on this earth, I am in shock.I want to withdraw from everything and everyone (literally, not metaphorically as in I don't want to live)but the thing is I can't. My husband and my children need me to function. So I go on, doing the things I'm supposed to do, and looking after my family. But in quiet times, when it all gets to be a bit much, I grieve. Physically, we're all well. Charlotte's teeth are almost through, and she's back to being happy again. The little one in my womb is, at the moment, floating around giving me occasional kicks and punches. Lachlan is at work. I am doing what needs to be done. Laundry, toilets, nappies, meals, and all the rest of it. Cheer...