My Gma

On Wednesday, December 28, heaven gained a sweet, sweet angel. My grandmother has been battling nonalcoholic cirrohsis of the liver for almost a year. She has been through so much this past year from falling and breaking her hip to numerous hospital stays. She had so many people who touched her life but she also touched so many. She wanted to be home when she passed away and grandaddy made sure he kept that promise. GMa spent christmas eve in her hospital bed but heard all of her children in the kitchen talking and laughing, plus visiting with her in the room. We all made sure we told her how much we loved her and gave her kisses. On Christmas day Rob and and I went to Lancaster to celebrate with his family. We went by GMa and Bubbas before going there to pick up the camera case. I went into her room and told her Merry Christmas. She grunted back to me and then I said I love you GMa and SHE SAID IT BACK!!!! Bubba was in there to hear it too. That was the last time I heard my gma talk to me or anyone. I was and still am so happy we stopped by. Gmas boys stayed with her Tuesday night because the hospice nurse had said gma only has twenty four to forty eight hours to go here on earth. On Wednesday at 5:00am she met Jesus!!!!!

Friends and family have been so amazing the past few days and we are so honored to know how loved Gma is. We have had tons of food, cards, phone calls, and visits. On Thursday, we had the visitation. We met at the funeral home at five to start at six but people came early. So at 5:15 we started greeting people. It lasted til 9:00. So many people and so much love. Over 500 people are thought to have come through. It was hard to see Bubba saying goodbye to GMa and I broke down and had to leave the room. We all went home and ate supper then got some sleep for the next day.

I decided that on the morning of Friday I wanted to go to the funeral home and talk to Gma alone. I talked with her for about twenty minutes through tears. I needed to do this so that I could say my goodbye. I know she is in heaven and I am happy for her but so sad that she is not here with me.

Friday, December 30  was the funeral. Preacher Doug, Dennis, Chip and Loretta did a great job in speaking and music. I had a hard time again today. Lots of tears, some of joy and sadness. I will never get use to seeing MOAK in the graveyard. We all spent the evening together and each night someone has stayed with Bubba.

I will forever miss my gma. She is my after school mom, tent making buddy, Debbie cake giver, and a best friend. I will always remember doing my cheers for her after school, making a tent in the living room and she not complain one time about my mess, being the only grand child she popped on the hand for going in and out of clothes racks, and much much more!!!

Oh my Gma, how I miss you more than words can express. I love you and I will see you again soon.

I love you!!!

Jill Marie

Shopping with Bubba

Today Bubba, grandaddy, and I went shopping for groceries. I wanted to go with him because he would be seeing people that he would usually see with Gma. I wanted to make sure that he wasnt alone when they talk to him. Bubba drove the van and I was the passenger. He is a really good driver, a little heavy on the gas, but a good driver. We went to Piggly Wiggly first. He was greeted by everyone we saw. He knew them all and they all knew him. Each one offered their condolences to him. I knew my grandparents are loved but I didnt realize I guess how much and by so many. We got our groceries and then went to Dollar Tree. We were only there for a little while. When we checked out, I saw he had Butterfingers in the cart and mentioned it to him. He said to me, My wife never questioned what I put in the buggy. I then shut my mouth b/c he is the boss!! :O) We went back to the house and unloaded the van. I enjoyed our little shopping trip with bubba.

Happy Shopping!
J-Tru

Yes, Its been a busy month....

I realized that I havent blogged at all for the month of December. So what all has been going on in the Truesdale world....

At the beginning of the month g-ma was in the hospital and things were looking bad. She is home now and hospice has started. She is such a fighter and has such an amazing spirit. She is not able to walk or be mobile at all. She is eating some, mostly pudding and grits. She is talking to us but at times she talks about things we dont know about. Its hard to watch her go through this, just so happy that she is still with us.

Lots of shopping has been done this month. I went to the Holiday Market with the Beta Babes and bought a few little things. More shopping was done with Amanda and Jennifer at Sandhills for our girls day out. It was nice to have a day with the girls since we dont really get to see each other that often.

We went to Lancaster to celebrate my mother in law birthday too. It was so nice to see her and spend some time with her. We ate a new place, Smokehouse, and it was yummy. Lots of good food--bbq, shrimp, etc. LOTS AND LOTS of it!!!

Rob and I went to our Home Group Christmas and we enjoyed lots of food and fun. We all bring some snacks, a secret santa gift and just sit around and have fun. I love this group of people, blessed to have a great group of Christan fans.

We also met with the Branhams and had Christmas lunch and exchanged gifts. It was fantastic to be with this family who I feel are my own family as well. I love them!!!!

So on the weight watchers front, its been rough. I am playing with about 2.5 pounds. I gain, I lose, I gain, I lose. I am at a total of 73 pounds gone and am trying hard to get to my 75!!!! I will get there. Having lots of parties and sweets around the house is not helping but I am going to the gym like a mad woman so hopefully this will help!!!

So, December so far has been super busy but I have loved every minute of it!! Time with family and friends gives me so much joy.

Remember though that Jesus is the Reason we celebrate!!

Merry Christmas!!

J-Tru

Better Late Than Never...

I haven't updated my WW info in a few weeks. I have not been to weight watchers since 11/10/11 due to out Cruse and then Thanksgiving fell on our weigh in day so it was closed. Here is the update so far:

On 11/03/11, I weighed in and lost .8 pounds and my total was 73.4.

On 11/10/11, I weighed in and was hoping to hit my 75 pounds BUT i was .2 short. I lost 1.4 pounds and my total is 74.8.

Now, since the last weigh in I ate lots on the cruise and also for thanksgiving so I am expecting a fairly significant gain when I go this week. Fingers crossed its not as bad as I am thinking but I will get it off again!!!

Enjoy!
J-Tru

Top Ten from our Anniversary Trip on the Carnival Dream

10: New favorite cold beverage is "a kiss on the lips"

9: On -board entertainment, props to Jaime and Gumbie

8: Free flowing soft serve ice-cream and cones

7: Our steward, Leonardo, and wait staff, Big D and Budi :O)

6: Making salsa authentically and enjoying pure vanilla ice-cream

5: Warm Chocolate Melting Cake with Ice-Cream--NIGHTLY!

4: Eating authentic food in Belize--rice and beans made with coconut milk

3: Snorkeling, dodging the reef in the current and waves!!

2: Bus ride to and from the Xunantunich Ruins in Belize

1: Climbing to the top of the Xunantunich temple, El Castillo.


There was lots more but we tried to narrow down a top ten.
J-Tru

On the road again....back home

Saturday, 11/19/11:

We got up pretty early and we were in port. It was nice to be back in the good ole' USA but I was going to miss the Dream. We took our showers, got dressed, and then made our way to the theater where we had to wait to get off. Our debarkation time was to be 8:20 am but we didn't make it off until almost 10 am.--i was really wanting a McDonalds biscuit but that was not going to happen now. We got through customs and getting our luggage pretty quickly though. We made it to the car and then it was time to head home.

Rob drove the first leg of the drive home. We stopped and got a snickers, combos, and drinks to tide us over since we missed breakfast. We then headed on up I-95 North. Rob was getting really tired and I was trying to not sleep but it was hard. I did stay awake though once I saw how sleepy he was. We swapped driving at the Georgia state line.

I drove the rest of the way. We stopped at Krystal Burger for lunch and I showed Rob how awesome those little burgers are!!!! SOOOO good. Wish we had those in SC--well maybe its good we don't b/c I would eat them all the time. The drive was long but we made it back and then it was time to crash---but wait we had burst of energy when we got home!!!!! We separated our clothes, started laundry and got some things done around the house.

Then it was time to crash!!!---BED TIME!!

The end of vacation was here but the memories will last forever.
J-Tru

Final Fun Day at Sea....

Friday, 11/18/11, Fun Day at Sea:
Today was our final day at sea and on the Dream. We woke up around 7:30am and went to breakfast. There were hardly any lines for the buffet this morning--I guess normal people sleep in on vacation!!! Since it was our final day we didn't really have any plans so we were just hanging out today. We were near the pool so we decided to go to the sport desk and get some putt putt clubs. We went up to the 12th deck and the wind was a whipping!!! My hate almost got lost to the ocean but luckily I grabbed it. We played our 18 holes and battled the wind doing it. The final score was, drum roll please............................JILL 47, ROB 48!!! That is right, I WON!!!!! :O) As always we had to play another round to make an official winner--gotta play at least two! Rob putted first this round. After the first ten holes I was beating him by eight strokes and then margin shortened by five. I had one bad hole and he had several holes in one. I did come out on top though. The final of this round was Jill 43, Rob 46. So I am the Dream Putt Putt Champion of the Truesdale Household!!

We went and had a cold refreshing drink after our putt putt rounds. We headed inside to the Promenade deck and watched a corn hole match. I also went and picked up the pictures we had taken last night so we could choose one or two to buy. They were all so good that we had to get FOUR of them. They were just too good to pass up.

We went to the Lanai for lunch today, it was BBQ time. I had two sliders, a quesadilla and Rob had two hot dogs and he said they were awesome. After enjoying the grilled goodness I wanted some ice cream, so off we went. Once we got there I remembered they were having a Chocolate Extravaganza from 12 to 2. So of course we enjoyed that. i got us some yummy pieces to try. We tried three types of cake, chocolate wontons, churros, and chocolate covered candied orange.

After the tasty desserts, we went back to the room to start packing up some of our stuff. We got most of it packed and then went to the Love and Marriage show for a break. It was a good laugh. The older couple had been married for 64 years. They newlywed couple were actually there grandson and his new wife. We laughed hysterically and learned that Bud is a boob man. After our laughs we went back to pack some more. We finished up and then got ready for supper.

Tonight the boat was a moving--not just fast but also bumpy. I was a little nervous about that but tried to keep my mind off of it. --DIDN'T WORK!! We went to the Liars Club show where we had to guess which person on stage was lying and who was telling the truth about the definition of the word given. It was funny but my mind was preoccupied with the boat b/c the equipment on the rigging above the stage was swaying and creaking. After the show we went back to the room.

It was time to put on our jammies, get our luggage our of the room and watch tv. While we were doing this, Jaime--cruise director came over the speaker to tell us that the reason we were experiencing movement was b/c we were going faster back to Port Canaveral due to a medical emergency with another guest on board. We should arrive at port early but this would not effect when we get off the boat. We were suppose to get off at 8:20am. I pray all is well with the passenger who was sick.

So needless to day, this was a great trip. I enjoyed getting away and celebrating our first year of marriage.

Ready to hit the road home tomorrow and get back to some type of normalcy, although I love being waited on all the time!!!

So here is til next time!!
J-Tru