It has been a Year!

This is Beverly. Writing to any friends and family that still may be occasionally checking the blog.

Can you believe it has been a year since Ken passed away????

I can't. It seems like only a few days ago, and then the next minute, it seems like it has been forever. Next Tuesday, Jan. 25th will be Ken's first birthday in Heaven. Let's all celebrate with a Coke and a smile, or a plate of spaghetti, or an ice cream sandwich; all of Ken's favorite things. I think I might have dinner at the Texas Roadhouse that night, Ken's favorite restaurant. He loved the prime rib.

For an update, I am doing OK. I am keeping busy. As long as people are around me, I seem to be able to hold things together. I am trying to sell our house. I have bought a town house and Ken would have been proud that I decorated the outside with Christmas lights. Ken loved to decorate for Christmas. He was often told by neighbors and people walking by that they enjoyed our holiday house. He always made it look festive. I am still trying to catch up on paperwork, down sizing and medical stuff. It is amazing how much there was to do when Ken passed away.

I still miss Ken every day and I have been pretty weepy this week with the approach of his anniversary. I miss some of the silly things. I miss holding hands with him the most, in the car, walking down the street, on the couch. The dogs just look at me funny and pull away when I reach for their paws while we are watching TV. I miss his laugh, his cute butt, and his way of telling me that I am beautiful. I miss the way he cared about the kids, our kids, the neighbor kids, Heidi's kids, the kids at work. It didn't matter, he cared about all of them. I even miss the arguments we used to have; mainly because I used to get flowers afterwards.

I miss him driving for me, and going shopping with me, and taking me out to dinner. I miss him so much at work. It is still sometimes hard to go to the Food Court. It will be worse when the students that worked with him are all gone. I already don't recognize so many of them. But Sundays are the worst. Most of my friends and family are busy doing their own thing, as it should be. Sundays were the days that Ken and I spent doing things alone. We had so much fun on Sundays. I think I am going to Colorado Springs this coming Sunday, to see some family. I wonder how many times Ken and I drove to Colorado Springs to see his girls. Sometimes we would drive down and back one day, only to return the very next day for another event when the kids were little. That drive was just a part of our lives. Ken never seemed to mind it.

Okay, you get the picture. We all miss him in our own way. I just spent last weekend with all 5 of our children and their families. We had a group picture taken. It turned out great. We didn't talk much about Ken. I think it is still to hard for us. We just enjoyed the company of each other and played with little Norah. She is 2 now and so adorable. She still looks a bit like her Grandpa. She calls me Grandma Bev and she likes me. It is tough having her in Chicago, but I see her every few months and we skype every week or so. She is the light of my days. I think I like this Grandma Gig.

I hope this year has brought much joy to all of you. I want to thank everyone for their support, their help, their prayers and their love this year. I couldn't have gotten through this year without all of you. I have been blessed with so much in my life, family and friends foremost. God Bless You. Love You, Bev.

PS to Ken. ISBLY (I'll Still Be Loving You)