bittersweet memories...

This past week has been full of ups and downs for our family. Daryl's Grandma Cook (Merle), died late last week and her memorial service was over the weekend. Because she had battled with Alzeihmers for many, many years, I never had the opportunity to know and love her. But you can ask anyone in their family and of her friends, and they would tell you she was a beautiful, classy lady. She was a spiritual woman, and a go-getter, who loved her family and her husband. I can't wait for the opportunity to meet her one day! :)

I took this picture of her one of the first times I met her, before Daryl and I were married. It's not how her family will probably remember her, and from what I hear, she would have a heart attack if she saw this picture. But I think that even despite disease, she could still put a smile on her face and enjoy her time here.

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Now - on a happier note. Janette, Daryl's older sister, and her husband, Travis, were in town for the funeral so it was super nice to see them! We conned them into taking some pictures of them so that everyone can have an updated one. Heather snuck in for some sisters action too! We picked the hottest day of the spring to take the pictures but they ended up being pretty nice!

and these two together - so beautiful :)

 that is always followed by twice as much time laughing!