6 1/2 days in Heaven

Today started out with me saying goodbye tto my sister Stephanie and B-I-L Jack, from North Carolina. They've been staying with us since Tueasday, and a big help they've been. We then took the day and went to the river where Kevin's in-laws live, and spent the day on a pontoon boat with Kevin, Marlo and the grandsons, and some family friends. Then Kevin and I spent some time together pretending to be fishing, (i'm sure the fish were amused) but more importantly talking. He opened up and we talked about the past few weeks. It meant so much to me for him to share with me, because as I've told most of you, I've been talking through my computer. He has a lot of "Martin" in him (though he has my O+ blood), and that makes him a lot like Janell. Which means he will deal with this severe bruise of life mostly on his own. But he will overcome.
As the day went on, and we were cruising down the river, my heart did start aching to know that Jenn *& Garrett should have been there; to realize that Logan and Ethan will not know their Uncle Garrett and Aunt Jennifer; to realize that Garrett won't be taking advantage of our pool after 140 degree days on top of buildings working on AC units; That our "swapping neck massages won't continue (my neck is a 22" and his was about a 20" and Janell's hands couldn't do that for us any more due to joint problems); thinking ahead to the holidays when we will now hang 3 monogrammed stockings with nothing in them. But I do have two wonderful grandsons, a great daughter-in-law, a very special tough as rawhide son, and of course, my helpmate and best friend. I'm still blessed.