m e a d o w l a r k

Hi everyone, it’s Shari… Mom has packed her bags & is ready to go on a trip! She’s going by bus with a friend & as she says, a bunch of old people! They will go into Nevada the first night & gamble awhile, then the second night will get to Laughlin, Nevada. Aunt Barbra will meet her there. They’ll be able to be together for two days (I think) then Mom takes the bus home. I applaud her deciding to have life & move…. She is still so very sad

I truly wish that you would each send her a card, a short note, make a phone call. I’m talking you Grandchildren… (I know my Sisters are already doing this). Please try to reach out! You may not realize it, but she does need all of us.

On personal note, we are planning Fred’s 50th Birthday Party! Fred and his twin, Frank, will be 50 on May 24th; because of school with Frank’s kids Chelsea & Jesse (who live in Washington), we are planning the Party for June 23. You are all invited & I’ll send more info…

At the SuperBowl Party at Turtle Rock, Fred won on the 2nd half draw & got $500, then he had to buy a round for the house & that cost $220!!! It was a lot of good food, good friends & fun! Plus we did win $$$

We finally have some rain, not nearly enough unless we get a whole bunch more to fill up the lake. It’s been a very cold, very dry winter here. We had our most successful? Soup Party ever, on 2/10/07, 25 pots of soup & 59 people! Having Mom here the night before and on the day was a great help. She had a tough time, enjoyed the live music, missed Sam tremendously, it was so obvious to so many of us. It was fun, but alot of work…I have asked Fred if I can stop doing them yet & he still says we must carry on!

Work continues challenging for both of us. I have a 1/2 day off-site meeting next Friday at my Boss’s house… the accomplishment proposed is “reorganization of the Department.” This will be interesting. Fred continues to “hit the numbers” & get wonderful bonuses for himself and his employees.

The daffodils are blooming in the front yard…I LOVE YOU ALL, Shari

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

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

Shari said …
Wil & Renee’ - GREAT JOB!! I am struggling to figure this all out but at least I got this far! Fred & I hope to send pics soon from his new camera. What a wonderful thing for all of us & I really LOVE the ‘address’!
We had our “Hot & Spicy” party last Saturday & it was a huge hit! We had 53 guests (the last 3 {late} new co-workers of Beth’s who drove up & she had gone back to Napa because SHE had to work!) They did too, but apparently she’s a bit more responsible. We are still getting the house back together.
Work is work and rewarding, I have a comic in my office:
“Sometimes at work you have to do things that you really don’t want to do…THAT’S WHY THEY HAVE TO PAY YOU!!” It helps.
So do Bonuses, Fred pulled it off again and got another very nice one this quarter…so we celebrated with a great bottle of Heitz Zinfandel!
I love you ALL, I do realize this is not exactly where I should put this stuff…bear with me…I am learning! Love, Shari