Remembering

A year ago today I got a random and kind of shocking phone call from my dad that my Grandma had died. I was like, "What?" It's still incredibly sad to me that I lost my remaining 3 Grandparents by the time Claire was 1 1/2. Who wants to go to a funeral before their 6 week post-partum check? Here's some video footage of my maternal Grandparents. She said to wear yellow at her funeral. So we did. So weird...last October she was just having a blast watching Claire walk around for the first time. Claire didn't walk until the end of September and so when we went to see her in October, it was the first time she was able to see her walk. It was kind of ironic, as both Vernon and LaVerne were depending more and more on their wheelchairs. At our last visit, LaVerne was just laughing and giggling in the way that she did, commenting how by this time next year, Claire would really start talking. And boy, was she right. CLAIRE.LIKES.TO.TALK.!!! I think the hardest part was that Vernon was expected to go first and was in poor health, whereas LaVerne was pretty much fine and died of a sudden heart attack or stroke. So I was just thinking about that today and how fast and fleeting time is.

Mt. Horeb

We planted black-eyed Susans by my Grandparents' grave in Mt. Horeb. They wanted to have their children's names on the back of the stone.

It's ok to cry.

These are some random memories and thoughts, which I jotted down in the car (on the 8 hour ride!) and shared with everyone at the Funeral service.

• He loved travel.
• He loved driving.
• He loved exploring and hiking.
• He loved being at The Lake, swimming, and boating.
• He loved singing hymns and going to church.
• He loved buttery mashed potatoes and juicy meatloaf.
• He loved oatmeal raisin cookies with just a little hint of cinnamon and a glass of milk.
• He loved serving his country and serving his Lord.
• And he loved all of us in this room, even if he did not have the best of abilities to always express it.
• BUT, most of all, he loved LaVerne, his wife of over 58 years.
• They died about 4 months apart, or 139 days to be more exact.
• They only had one set of winter holidays apart, but never had to spend an Easter or wedding anniversary apart.
• So, I can just see them now--at the Old Country Buffet (their favorite restaurant) in heaven with a big plate of desserts and no worries about how healthy it is.
• I just wanted to say that it's ok to laugh at a funeral, and of course, it's ok to cry, too.
• Because when we cry at one funeral, we cry for all of those who have gone before, and for those yet to come. And it's not ok to cry at a funeral, I don't know where it would be. So instead of telling someone not to cry in the future, tell them "It's OK to cry" instead. Because after all, tears will wash the pain away --

Yes, we AIM chat at home...

joshuagstarr: Grandma died Nov 12?
strwberryjoy: yup
joshuagstarr: 139 days between their deaths.
joshuagstarr: It is a Chen Prime.
joshuagstarr: 139 is the smallest prime before a prime gap of length 10.
strwberryjoy: what does that mean
joshuagstarr: A prime gap is the difference between two successive prime numbers.
joshuagstarr: 139 is neat, because it consists of prime, prime, square.
strwberryjoy: think it is significant?
strwberryjoy: my grandma would have had her birthday on March 23 which was right before he broke his neck
joshuagstarr: She didn't want to celebrate alone.
strwberryjoy: um
joshuagstarr: Hmm 23 is also a prime.
joshuagstarr: Also a good movie named after it.
strwberryjoy: that is Claire's baptismal birthday

Claire with her Great-Grandma

These pictures are from my Dad's mom's funeral when Claire was less than a month old. I'm sad to know that she won't remember her Great-Grandmas from either side, but at least she got to get to know her one for 15 months a little and get lots of pictures with her.

I am enjoying doing nothing today at my parents house. I didn't even have to get Claire dressed today! Thanks Mom! At the moment I am enjoying jacking pictures off of my sister's laptop. Yay!

Vernon's 82nd

As I was going through old pictures and videos last night, I found this video with my Grandma on it. I think it's the last footage we have with her on it. It was in mid-Feb. My birthday is on my Grandpa's birthday. Pretty amazing that my mom had me on that exact day without being induced or anything!!! Josh's birthday is the day after mine (same year even!). He likes like his older women. ;) In the video we were getting ready to take some shots of Claire for her 6 month picture. In case you didn't know, my dad is a photographer. We didn't just randomly find a cool background in the room.

Family Pictures

Claire with her cousin Mark (12 years old), Daddy, and Uncle Richie. Oh, and that must be Oma on the left with her flip cam!
Glama Lynn and Grandpa Jason sent this dress for last Easter along with the shrug. She wore it for her 1st birthday pictures that I sent out on the invites and it still fits! So it was perfect since it's yellow! She even wore the yellow shoes from the Lees! She was wearing the super thick tights and a warm onesie, so she was plenty warm, no worries!

Mark had a good time playing with Claire during the visitation hours. Claire did great all day! Well except at supper after it all...then she got a 2nd wind and was alright!

Claire loves this little baby doll. She drags it around now in public instead of the CareBear. She still loves the Bear too, I just don't like washing it. The doll seems to be easier to spot wash.

Here is a picture of people taking pictures of the people below (Pictures of picture taking?...I thought it was a funny idea.)

My Great-Aunt Gladys's kids: Lonnie, Vern, Beth, and with their Uncle Vernon.

My mom with her older brother Victor (L) and younger brother John (R) and their dad.

Pictures of Flowers

Pictures of Pictures

Our Family loves pictures all around! Here are some pictures of the poster boards various people made for the funeral. I made the one on the bright yellow board.

Religion as a Comfort Device

I remember now...the other point I said during the little speech was that in another conversation with my Grandma I said, "Religion isn't real; it's just a comfort device." This was during my "rebellious" phase. Perhaps I was sick of being forced to go to church constantly growing up? Anyway, her response was completely unexpected to me at the time. She said, "Well, yes, of course, that is one of the many gifts religion provides." So it is a comfort device! This memory of course relates again to her faith and how much I admire that about the way she lived her life.

She said to WEAR YELLOW!

I'm planning on wearing a pale yellow sweater set to the funeral on Saturday. I once had a discussion about wearing black to funerals with my Grandma. She told me when she died, to please wear yellow to hers. I said, no! That would be odd and I'd look out of place. She said that black was a sad color and we should wear yellow as a funeral is a celebration of life and that she would be with Jesus and that would be happy...I have a yellow polo for Josh and a cute yellow dress for Claire so please spread the word to wear yellow! :) Thanks! Maria

May She Rest in Peace

It seems like we were just there. And she was watching Claire play and enjoying it sooo much.
I'll always treasure our last visit. These are the last photos I'll have with her on this earth. It was just less than a month ago, and we were going to see her on Turkey Day, too. :(

My maternal Grandma passed today. She laid down on her bed shortly before lunch and never got up. :(


LaVerne Joy (Hill) Mitmoen was born March 23, 1926, in Bismarck, North Dakota to John Hill and Magdalena (Kerzmann) Hill. She grew up on a farm near Rose Glen, ND with her brother Ervin and her beloved sister, Gladys Arlene (who both preceded her in death), Viola Goldan, and numerous cousins. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in the Lutheran faith. Her father was elected McLean County judge, and they moved to Washburn, ND. She graduated from High School in 1943. She entered nurses-training at Bismarck Hospital and became a Registered Nurse. After working a couple years, she attended the Lutheran Bible Institute where she met fellow student Vernon Barton Mitmoen. They married August 26, 1950, in Washburn, ND. After graduating from LBI in Minneapolis, MN, they moved to Canton South Dakota. They were blessed with three children who survive. Victor Leroy Mitmoen (Lynn) of Kenosha, WI; Arlene Joy Gross (Wilfried) of Valparaiso, IN; and John Barton Mitmoen (Mika Leckrone) of Middleton, WI. Grandchildren who survive are David Gross (Kristin Busse); Maria Joy Gross Starr (Joshua) and great-grand daughter, Claire Joy Starr; Holly Gross; Richard Gross; Kami Jo Mitmoen Sanner (Anthony); Michael Barton Mitmoen; and Mark Victor Mitmoen.After living in Duluth, MN, they moved to WI and then N. Manchester, IN. She was a member of Zion Lutheran. LaVerne worked as a nurse and then became the Director of Nurses at Timbercrest Retirement Community. She was employed there twenty years. Their retirement was enjoyed by many travels and wintering in Arizona, while summering in Duluth, MN at Caribou Lake and were members of Bethlehem Lutheran in Twig, MN. They returned to Timbercrest as residents in August 2007.LaVerne entered her eternal rest with her Lord on November 12, 2008. She was in her home with her husband of fifty-eight years at her side. Memorial Services at Timbercrest on Friday, November 14, 2008. Funeral Services at Ellestad Funeral Home in Mt. Horeb, WI, on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 2 pm. Visitation at 1.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Timbercrest Retirement Community, Visiting Nurses Association/Hospice of Valparaiso, IN, or Bethlehem Lutheran in MN.

Visit to Timbercrest

So this past Sunday, Josh went to a Colts game with Alex. In the new stadium. And the Colts won. And he got sunburned since the dome was open, and he's pasty. Poor Joshie :( I'm sure he had a lot more fun than if he would've come with Claire and I to visit my side of the family.
I trucked on up to the Fort Wayne area to visit my Grandparents, Claire's GREAT-grandparents, and have Claire meet her Great-Aunt Winnie and Great-Uncle Bob for the first time ever! My Grandparents live in a retirement village called Timbercrest which is in a little town outside of Fort Wayne. According to the GPS it's only 86 miles from here to there.

Here am I holding Claire and trying not to notice all the bees flying around the flowers. Yikes. Winnie and Bob match...how cute!!

Here is Winnie and Vernon. Winnie looks like my Great-Grandma Adeline, who passed when I was in 8th grade, but I can remember pretty well.

We are in one of the lounges in Timbercrest. We decided to go down there because their apartment was totally not baby-proof. She was pulling all their books and CDs off their shelves. She's our little destroyer.

L-R seated: Bob, Winnie, Vernon, LaVerne. Standing: Arlene, Maria and Claire. Good job to my dad...I don't think he was in a single picture all day, although he took several, like this one!

Ahh. I did capture my dad on the video camera.