m e a d o w l a r k

11/22/06

Dear Family & Friends

“I normally don’t like these ‘form letters’ but because of my busy schedule it is a must. )

Many of you call often asking about Sam. Most of the time I say he is doing good. The truth being, he is bedridden, too weak to get up, even roll over on his own, uses a urinal & bedpan (this is very hard for this former C.O. but i say, “hey, look at all the attention you get! ) He laughs. He has suffered some brain damage due to the progressive cancer [what an absolutly HORRIBLE disease, it slowly takes away every pleasure and the spirit of the indiviual it infects.] Heart breaking beyond words!!!! His speech is slow, he is often disoriented, has some memory loss, difficulty in swallowing. His food is limited to finely chopped or baby food like. Say a prayer for him when you take a bite of pizza. )

He still talks about us going to Tahoe soon, planting a spring garden, going out to eat, being able to drive a car again etc. I ALWAYS stay positive with him in whatever he says & continue to give him hope. He was very concerned that the two of us would not be able to go out together to get our yearly 10 turkeys for the Napa Food Bank. I said I took care of it but it would be his job next year. Please continue to call & send cards, this makes him happy. If there is no answer, I’ve taken the phone out while I sleep (no sleep or very little at night) so I sleep when he does. Please pray for us to have strength and I thank you so much for all the things each of you have done. Love, Carol & Sam

We 3 Amazing Women started out as The “Lawson Girls” @ 4482 MEADOWLARK…

I became HUGHES, REYES, and finally right (with FRED & BETH) BONDS. LEILA LAWSON became HANSEN…and WIL and HEIDI HANSEN came to be ALIVE. And then FOR LEILA right too, BILL, MICHAEL, & LAURA CHIARAVALLE are HERE. FOR RENEE LAWSON (who learned), we were ALL blessed with CHUCK, TRAVIS & ELAINE PEDLEY. So, We already had a pretty much “blended family.”

Then the WHITLEY’s came along… SAM, With JENNIE and JARRED attached.

Sam Makes our Mother Happy…I have sang (sung) ‘here’s me the linguist’!, so many songs with him. I am saddened that we may not sing together again. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE SONGS WE SANG!!!! I am very thankful for ths “avenue” to have the opportunity to share with ALL of you…THIS GIVES ME STRENGTH! I Love You All so very much…PLEASE do one thing for me this Thanksgiving…

Kiss the person closest to you & tell them you LOVE them! PEACE, Shari

P.S.

Have you all noticed a theme in our conversations, my comments, and posts?

OUR MOMMA, GRANDMA, IN-LAW, neeeeeeeeeeds us! Chuck is right about DAILY PRAYERS..

CONTACT IS ACTUALLY BETTER - CARDS & CALLS ARE WELCOME!!

Please remember She’s tired (so if she sounds grouchy, IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU). Ask to talk to Sam, he’ll talk with you & it puts a HUGE SMILE on her face!! (707-226-2241)

Carol Lawson & Sam Whitley

4482 Meadowlark Ct.

Napa, CA 94558

Remember, Kiss the person closest to you & tell them you LOVE them! PEACE, Shari

wil and i got back from a wild and crazy weekend in vegas. ok, so maybe pretty tame compared to most who go to vegas.

celebrating my 21st (friday), my mom’s 50th (shhh…oct) as well as a slew of other birthdays around the same time, the entire family and then some met in las vegas for a long weekend. we gambled (a lot!), danced, drank (a little), played pool, threw darts, watched a usc game, saw the sites, and basically had a great time with such a big group together, that doesn’t usually see each other all at the same time except for weddings and funerals.

we had some big perks, besides just the birthdays. although losing some money the first night, wil and i both had a pretty lucky night at the black jack table before coming home, actually getting us back to almost even! (i’d say that’s pretty good compared to losing it all). some of the younger generation went to a couple nightclubs, and on the last night at a really awesome club at the newest most expensive hotel on the strip, we saw britney spears and paris hilton! and of course, with my side of the family, usc winning against cal is always a plus.

unfortunately i started the trip off sick so i was fighting the battle against and cold/sore throat all weekend, but otherwise, wil and i really enjoyed ourselves. we spent just enough time to step out of reality and experience the city, but not enough so that there’s more to do on later trips. here’s a photo of us on friday at the house we all stayed in (my first legal night!). also, i wrote a longer post on our site, simpleclosure.org

Mom is the strogest Woman I know. Sam is doing alright, but still has been in the hospital bed that Hospice (with Jennie making the arrangements) brought in on 11/7/06. On 11/2/06 Mom noticed that Sam’s responses were altered… She dialed 911 & once the EMT’s got him settled in the ambulance, they told her that he had a seizure, by the time Mom got to the hospital they said he had three totally. Aunt Alicia was there by the time Fred & I got down the hill. She was MUCH comfort to all of us! (& continues to call & help every day) He was in ICU for probably less than 24 hours & he was hospitalized until they brought him home. Jennie & her Mom Rhonda stayed a couple of nights at the hospital so Mom could get some rest.

I’m supposed to write about NOW. Sam is very much Sam, he makes jokes, he knows who we are and he still LOVES our Mother very much! Dr. Murda told Mom that it “does not look good, but, Carol I HAVE SEEN MIRACLES! 1% turn around.” Mom & Sam are praying for MIRACLES and I trust you all to do the same. I also TRUST you all to be there for Mom.

Me & Fred are going to his Mom & Dad’s for Thanksgiving. Geri has already let us know that she will be making plates for Sam, Mom & Grandma (she won’t come over) that we will take to them before all of the rest of the Family has dinner, we are to call 1st to see what kind of pie they each want. What a wonderful Mother-in-Law!

OUR MOTHER is taking care of Sam in an incredible way…each of us should be so lucky to have such a loving and giving person in our lives… She struggles with Jennie & Jared, they each have quite intense personalities & Mom is calm & shy…Pray for all of them please my darling and wonderful FAMILY. Shari

how come my pics come out smaller then everyone elses?¿

- - elaine

* update * i went ahead and fixed the photos, elaine…don’t know if i did them up to wil’s ‘web standards’ (he’s at work right now), but i figured i’d do what i could since i knew how! -kristen

well im supposed to post some pictures on here so here ya go;;

i was a princess at a halloween party that we went to last night

travis was a beat-up hockey player

and my parents were cleopatra and marc anthony

the other picture is one that i edited and just thought it was cool

hope everybody has a great week i♥you!

:D

–elaine