So Long, Farewell, Auf Weidersehen, Good-bye

 As I mentioned in the previous post, on Wednesday, November 12th we got on a Zoom call on which Mom Fox said goodbye to her children and in-laws and many of her grandchildren.  Rather than attempt risky, invasive surgery to repair a perforated bowel and aggressively treat the subsequent infection, she opted to be medicated for pain and let nature take it's course.  Since her husband passed in September of 2016, she has missed him terribly, and her quality of life seriously deteriorated.  She was in an assisted living home, and although she was well cared for, she was unhappy to be moved from her beloved FoxHill home.  She really just wanted to be with Jim again and we all supported her decision.  

Not knowing how long it would be before she passed, Abe and his sister, Marjorie hopped in the car around 10 pm to drive through the night to Spokane, Washington.  They wanted to be able to say goodbye.  And it is a good thing they did.  When they got there around 9:00 am, she was awake and able to talk with them.  Within a couple of hours, she was heavily medicated and never regained consciousness.  

Stu, Phil, Jesse, Marjorie, and Abe

Whatever the circumstances, the Fox siblings love to be together.  Mom Fox wouldn't have it any other way.

In the end, all nine of her children were there by her side when she passed.  They were each sharing loving memories of her, when they noticed she was pale and her breathing had slowed.  The seven sons gave her a priesthood blessing, and it was mid-blessing that she passed.  I don't think she could have scripted it any better.  

They stayed in Spokane for a couple more days to situate funeral plans and such, and then they drove home on Sunday, November 16th.

This past summer, Grandma Fox gave our family this German Black Forest Cuckoo Clock.  She bought it when she and Grandpa flew to London to pick Abe up from his mission and do a European whirlwind tour.  Since I was born- and later baptized in Germany- she wanted us to have it.   We brought it home and hung it up, and I didn't think too much of it, but now I am SO GRATEFUL!  Every time the cuckoo clock chimes, it makes my heart so happy.  It has instantly become one of my most treasured possessions.  

Time Flies As Life Flies

 Wow! Yikes!-- I haven't blogged since November 1st.   I am genuinely shocked. 

I love the holiday season -- which for me is October, November, and December.  I love all the fun and festivities and celebrations and hoopla.  But now that it's January, and am a very happy, contented little homebody.  I have a LOT to catch up on. So, here we go.

We had a lovely time at a Day of the Dead dinner at Stuart and Tiffany's home.  I've never celebrated this holiday before, and it was wonderful

Tiffany put together a table with photos of deceased relatives.

Then Phil, our family historian, shared stories of ancestors.

We loved going to Brandon Gonzales's (my cousin's husband) most recent art show.  We LOVE his artwork.  

Charlie Bear at about 5 months

Just as college football is winding down, college basketball is gearing up.  Abe and Cannon had a great time at an early BYU basketball home game.   

When Cannon leaves on his mission, Abe will really miss his best sports buddy.

A little date night to go see Bluffdale's production of The Secret Garden.  It was very, very good.  

On November 12th we were excited to join friends at  this fancy-pants fundraising gala for a community arts center in Utah County.  Brandon Sanderson spoke and we enjoyed hearing and seeing several other inspiring artistic performances.  

It was a lovely evening, but unfortunately, it was marred by a sad turn of events.  During the course of the evening, Abe's siblings reached out to have us get on a zoom call.  Abe's mom's health had taken a serious turn for the worse.  She had an infection caused by a perforated intestine and had decided against surgery or further invasive intervention.  Basically, she was likely to pass within a week.   

To be continued...