WE BURY DADS ASHES

 On Wednesday the 9^th of Jan 2013 we went up to Snapper Rock as a family and buried dads ashes.  It was just Mum,  Aaron and Sharis and Ethan,  Me, Keith, Arama, Terina and Niwa and Terry (Dads best friend and Business partner). The only ones missing were Aunty Colleen, Uncle Ken,  Sarah and the rest of the family.

It was the most amazing weather and we had a lovely day.  

We got 10 Helium balloons, one for each of us and when we had finished Burying the ashes,  we all cut one balloon each and said something as we released it into the sky.  It was so impromptu and special.  We all said something and it was quite emotional and spiritual.  We got this all on video which I would like to edit and  put on my blog at a later time.  I Liked what Terry said “I will cut the string but will never cut the ties”,  Ethan said,  “I hope you are enjoying playing bowls in Heaven Poppa”,  Terina said “I love how you gave me money every Wednesday for Mini Muchie Markets at school Poppa”,  I said,  “Because of you Dad,  I will always try to ‘Reach for the Stars’,  Mum said "I think of you all the time Roddy",  Keith said “We will see you again someday Rod”,  I can’t remember everything everyone said but these are some of the words I remembered.

It was kind of cool how we just sat around informally chatting about our special Hero.

My special Arama contemplating.

Below:  These are Dads Cherry Tomatoes that have just turned red.

Mum Buried some with his box of ashes.  She also took some roses from

the garden that grew outside their bedroom window.

Below:  Arama wiping away his tears. My Darling 

Arama was so close to My Dad but Arama tells me

he isn't sad because he truely believes in the Plan that 

Familes can be together forever. 

Thank you Arama for being my strength!

I don't know where I would be without you!

I love you so much. xxx

Above:  Terry with Diesel his best friend who goes everywhere with him.

Below the kids with their new Surrogate Poppa.

Not that there will ever be another one that could ever measure 

up to my Greatest Hero Dad eva!

We all also had a turn at shoveling in some dirt on top of the ashes.   

The next few photos are of us all having a turn with the shovel.

 NIWA

 TERINA

 ARAMA

 MUM

ETHAN

 AARON

 ME

 TERRY

SHARIS

 KEITH

We truly loved our Dad and Poppa and Companion  (in mum’s case).   

I have had a special dream since dad has passed to let me know that he

is not too far away at all,  this has been very sacred and comforting for me.

However....  on this day I missed him dearly.  I got home and I just

cried and cried and cried.  Some days I just can't believe he has passed!

I miss you so much my dear Daddy,  I know you are not far away but that

doesn't stop me from missing you.

Please be patient while I grieve for you.

You are my inspiration and will always be a good reason for me

to try harder each day and to get up and keep going when I feel discouraged and low.

You always were one not to muck around and to just 'get the job done'  

so I won't waste too much

time crying but a little here and there won't hurt.

 YOU ARE FOREVER IN MY HEART!

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER  xxxx

MY 40TH BIRTHDAY ARGHHHH!

Last weekend was my 40^th Birthday ARGHHHHH!  I can’t believe I have reached that age!  Oh well I hope the words of the song ‘Life begins at 40’ ring true and that this is the beginning of a great life ahead!  LOL!  Mum and Dad took the Niwa and Terina for the weekend and Arama went to his cousins (Tristan and Dahlins).  So we were free from lots of noise and distractions etc and we got lots of quiet time together.  On Friday we went to the temple which was amazing, we did sealings there for some family names and then we came home and went for some good exercise together then we went out of tea with our good friends Sarah and Donovan.  It was Sarah’s birthday on the 28^th of Sept and so each year we usually find ourselves sharing a birthday dinner together which is really nice.

On Saturday I went out with my Bestie (Nix)  in case you didn’t figure who that was, and we went somewhere we have been wanting to go together for about a year now.  So Saturday was our chance! That blog entry is yet to come.  On Sat night we went out of Dinner again,  just Keith and I.

On Sunday (My actual Birthday), we went to Torbay ward for church and then came home and chilled.  Then we cooked some yummy food to take to mums  as she had organised a little birthday dinner with the kids for me.  My brother and his wife and son came too which was nice as it was just simple, immediate family.  I didn’t really want anything big I just wanted a break from the kids and some time out for Keith and I and that was the best pressie eva!

Here are some photos of the night at mums below.  The photos are not very good quality as they are only taken on Keith's I phone.

Above:  My brother Aaron (AKA Santa) and I eating together outside at mum and dads.  He works in Promotions for MORE FM so he always brings freebees over for the kids such as movie tickets,  tickets to Butter Fly Creak,  Ice Skating, Shows etc,  that is why I call him Santa.  I must say that my actual birthday had AMAZING weather and the next day was rubbish again.  So I think someone was giving a special 'Shout out' to me in a very special personal way.  

Above:  Mum and dad 'going hard' in the kitchen as usual!

Above:  My yummy peach filled sponge Birthday cake.

Above:  Dad lighting the candles on my cake.

Above:  Niwa and I blowing out the candles.

Above:  I am about to stab myself,  well it looks that way, flip, licking the knife!  Teaching Niwa how its done!  CRAZY WOMAN!

Above: Niwa stealing the yummy strawberries off my cake.

Above:  The dessert spread above, yum!

Above:  Terina in Heaven.

Above:  The Napoleons I made,  I will tell you the story about these in the next blog entry.

The crazy family below.  My bro, getting 
everyone going as usual!

Aaron the 'Nutter',  the kids love him!