You know how people are always wanting a sign from a loved one that has passed to know their loved one is okay, or watching over them, or with them or something? Well on the drive to Pella I chatted to God about this and told Him what I wanted my sign to be to let me know Mike was watching over me - and it didn't matter when I'd see it - it could be a year from now - but it would be a definite sign. I'm not sure if things like this really happen but you never know. And I also realized while I don't mind going to Pella, I don't like the drive to Pella. It's because I have to have the radio on or it's quiet in the car. Mike and I used to talk all the time when we were in the car and the drive to Pella takes about an hour from my driveway to my folk's - so that's a lot of talking. Now I have to listen to the radio - or silence.
Anyway....got to my folks and had a good time visiting before we ate lunch which the menu was turkey breast, cole slaw, sweet potatoes and lima beans. Later we had pumpkin pie and Cool Whip - mmmmmm. I am a very lazy person when it comes to wrapping gifts and have found if it doesn't fit in a gift bag - wrap it in decorative tissue paper. Mom decided that was the way to go this year too. So after lunch we opened presents and tossed tissue paper to and fro. I headed home about 2:00 p.m.
At work I'm going to have to move to a different desk and that means I had to clean out my desk - not a fun job but it needed to be done. I brought some things home to organize over the weekend (cards, annual reviews, personal goals, etc.) and Christmas night I started to go through the pile. And while I didn't get the sign I talked to God about earlier in the day - I definitely got a sign. In the midst of cards from co-workers/friends was a card that came with some flowers Mike had brought to me at work. He had gotten me the flowers to celebrate my first day as a fulltime Wells Fargo employee and I was hired as the Work Director for our team. The card said, "I'm very proud of you! Love you tons! Your my Babe! Mike" Wow - talk about a sign. Of all nights to find that, that was the night I needed to read it. Needless-to-say the card is not going back into a drawer in my desk at work - it may go in my Bible. Now - something to think about. My date of hire as a fulltime Wells Fargo employee is 4/27/09 and is the day Mike brought me these flowers. One year later - to the date - is the day Mike passed.
I'm still battling my cold/head cold. Today I felt like one huge sinus. I'm running my humidifier every night but something isn't working. Since putting Milly down, I'm trying to not be gone much during the evening this week so Butler doesn't think he's completely abandoned but I'm going to pop in to Walgreen's on my way home and talk to the pharmacist to see what they recommend.
I've gotten a lot of comfort reading emails and Facebook posts from friends and family encouraging me since putting Milly down - thanks! And it's fun to see how many agree that dogs/pets are a part of our family and there is no such thing as "just a dog".
Butler's been on the bed a few times this evening snuggling with me - the last time he was laying almost on top of the laptop. Either he was trying to help me blog or he wanted to get in the way so I wouldn't blog and would pet him. Check out his photo below.
Butler is laying against my legs, wrapped in Mike's blanket
he got when he was in the hospital the last time.
