A Letter To My Friend

Dear Mrs. Bennett:

I find it hard to believe that you are really gone.   It is nearly impossible to find words to say when someone passes away too soon.  With sudden death, you have no preparation and no time to gradually absorb the reality that the world around you is about to change dramatically.

Unfortunately, I realize that you are only one of the big losses I will face in my life.  So many of my dear friends are getting older and no longer seem as invincible as they once did.  I am grateful for the hope I have in Jesus knowing I will see you and others again in Heaven.

I don’t know about Gary Smalley’s five love languages, but I do know that YOU spoke MY love language.  EVERY time we saw each other you would hug me  --  the perfect hug that is relaxed and sincere; a hug where your embrace wrapped around me so tight I could feel your heartbeat.  Then you would place your hands on my face, kiss me (yes, kiss me and it wasn’t weird), make eye contact with me and say, “I love you”.  You loved me unconditionally, and that changed my life!  It was freeing because you allowed me to always be myself with no worries that your feelings for me would ever change.  When someone loves you truly unconditionally, it drives you to try even harder to be the best person you can be.

Friendship is renewable, but people are not.  No person or new friendship will ever quite replace you.  But...your memory will always be alive in my heart.  When I close my eyes and whisper "Geri Bennett", I will always see your sweet face and beautiful smile.

Love,
Julie  --  AKA Mrs. Jones :0)

Deep Waters

Save me, O God,

for the floodwaters are up to my neck.

Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire;

I can't find a foothold to stand on.

I am in deep water,

and the floods overwhelm me.

I am exhausted from crying for help;

my throat is parched and dry.

My eyes are swollen with weeping,

waiting for my God to help me.

 

Psalm 69:1-3

 

 

I can seriously relate to these words prayed by David in Psalm 69.  Feeling overwhelmed...Exhausted...Crying 'til I can't cry anymore...Praying every minute for a miracle for my daughter.



Sylvia

Kind. Steady. Loving. Passionate. Tender. Sensitive. Friend. Sincere. Fighter. Adventurous. Romantic. Inspiring. Snuggly. Compassionate. Honorable. Remarkable.  Ben's mother. Sam's true love and soul mate.  Our friend.

 

Sylvia Timmons

January 30, 1954   -  January 2, 2014



Happy Halloween - Haley Style

Tonight was our Annual Haley Halloween Party (held the Sunday before Halloween).  As always, we had a GREAT time!  A big thank you to my Aunt Monda (who dressed like a spider) for always hosting our family get togethers:

Lyle went as Kent Clark, and Jeremy and Ashley came dressed as ghosts:

There was food, food, and some more food and lots of yummy desserts.  And we always enjoy such sweet fellowship around the tables.  Just as a side note, we have a table for the "older" folks, a "middle age" table (where I sit these days) and a table for the "kids".  We have ALWAYS done this at Haley family get-togethers since I was a little child.

There was a pumpkin carving contest, enjoyed by both the young and old.  Here are a few of the pumpkins and pictures of the teams working on them:

Of course, I had my favorite team  --  TEAM JONES!!  We Bob and Lyle made a cat pumpkin:

After we were done carving our pumpkins, my Aunt asked the man who rents her big house to come over and judge the contest.  He said it was a tough decision.

BUT...in the end...TEAM JONES WON FIRST PLACE!!!

After the contest, we bobbed for apples:

At the end of the evening, we left with a sack of candy:

P.S.  Hilary, Ted and Uncle Wes we missed you!!!!!!! :0(

Onward to Hayward -- Part III

On Sunday, we went out to breakfast and then to this huge mall:

After shopping until we dropped, we walked to this beautiful park that is a block away from where my brother lives.  They had a train that went all around the park, and we took a ride!  The park is beautiful and has a train, carousal, and a petting zoo.

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After exploring the park, we toured this beautiful Victorian home that is near my brother's house.  It is owned by the Hayward Historical Society.  The last remaining member of the family who owned it lived there until he was 102.  It was sooooo beautiful and well maintained.  The furnishings, etc. were also beautiful.

We also toured the carriage house:

What a fantastic weekend we had with my brother!  My mom thoroughly enjoyed everything we did and especially loved being with both of her children!!!

Onward to Hayward - Part II

On Saturday, we ate a delicious breakfast at Coco's and then drove across the new Bay Bridge.  We then headed to Half Moon Bay.  What a delightful place!!  Lots of little shops on each side of the main street.

Then even had a feed store right in the middle of town.  I made friends with Bessie!



I LOVED how each shop at flower boxes by the windows.  It was beautiful!

One shop, had mosaic pictures on their building.  How cute is this cat?



Of course, by this time it had been 2.5 hours since we ate, so it was time for a snack.  We stopped at this little bakery:

We ordered several things and shared them  --  cinnamon and sugar crisp, apple strudel, and meringue rounds:

That night, we took Moma to Blank Angus for her birthday dinner.  I had never eaten at one, but it was so good.  We had appetizers, salad and bread, filet mignon and stuffed baked potatoes.

After dinner, back to my brother's place to open presents and have birthday cake and ice cream.

We played cards and discussed where all to eat the next day!

Onward to Hayward -- Part I

A couple of weeks ago, my Mom and I went to visit my brother, see his new place, and celebrate my Mom's birthday.  We stopped for lunch at Granzela's in Williams and went to Marshall's and shopped a little bit. 

My brother is now the Assistant Manager of Wittenberg Manor, a low-income senior housing facility in Hayward.  He has a nice little apartment, and I must say the grounds are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!

We toured the whole grounds and facility.  In the back, they have a little section of ground for each apartment where the residents can grow some vegetables and/or flowers.  In addition to the apartments, they have a beautiful Dining Room, Kitchen, Activity Room (where you can play pool, ping pong, bingo, etc.), a library, and a spot where people can come and work on a jigsaw puzzle.  They have lots of parties and activities including bingo, coffee hour on Fridays, Bible studies, exercise classes, etc.  I MUST SAY THAT I WANTED TO MOVE IN!!  :0)

I will confess that when we visit my brother, we tend to just live from one meal to the next.  We are barely finished with one meal when we are thinking about where we want to go for the next one.  It's ALL about eating!!

Friday night, we went to Chili's, one of my most favorite restaurants.  Wish we had one in Redding.  We had some delicious appetizers and food.  Went back to my brother's apartment and played pinochle half the night.