Happy Hunting Grounds

Bonnie

2001-2012

Our dear Bonnie has moved on to the Happy Hunting Grounds. She was the most amazing friend to our family. Bonnie stood the test of time as a loyal friend, companion for adventures, mother, play toy, and bodygaurd. She has been with us since before our babies, before our marriage, even before we were really an us. Bonnie will always hold a special place in our hearts. It has been just over a week since she moved on, but it has taken this long for me to be able to sit here and type through the tears. That moment when I realized she was gone, I felt a piece of my heart tear, it felt like a life line had beeen severed. Bonnie was above and beyond the best listener and confidant. She never told your secrets no matter how juicy they were. I know people say that they think their dogs understands them, I KNOW that Bonnie understood us.

 

Daddy, Brother, and I had a really tough time that afternoon, Sister doesn't really understand. Some of the questions that Brother set upon us were extremely difficult. His questions went way beyond "Why?" and "How?" We got out our Bible and read through to answer questions and have since gone to get Brother Bear his own Bible, written in terms he can understand easier. His life was richer during Bonnie's life and will be even more enriched since she has passed on.

One of the hardest parts has been to listen to Sister call for Bonnie all through the house. She goes looking in every room, knocking on closet doors, and calling out in her sweet Baby Bear voice, "Bon Bon!" She just doesn't understand why Bonnie isn't coming to play. Our girl Gretchen is trying hard to be the playmate, but it just isn't in her nature. She was always more of the observer when it came to playtime.  I can say, I see a different bond starting to form between Gretchen and the cubs. She might be an old dog, but she is learning new tricks!

  

We will miss Bonnie, but according to Brother Bear, Papere was at the gate waiting for Bonnie as she entered her Happy Hunting grounds. Now they are both checking us out from above! Love and tears and memories shared... We Love Our Bonnie.



Our Summer Adventure - Backtracking to BLUEBERRIES!

How did our Summer Adventure start? With BLUEBERRIES... this is truly a bear family so we had to head on over to the local blueberry farm and fill our stores as soon as summer vacation started! Daddy Bear went to see the Sons of Guns guys and so Mama and the cubs went to Pop's Blueberry Patch!

Step One: Pack up kids, caps, sunblock, and a backpack carrier for Sister Bear and head over to the farm to learn the rules for pick-your-own.

Step Two: Grab our bucket and get to picking... Laugh, giggle, pick dark blue plump berries and put in bucket or pick dark blue plump berries and put in your mouth (I think they ate a quart or more before our bucket got full!), notice the variety of people also out picking and have an absolutely wonderful life lesson discussion about differences in color, language, and abilities. Then at the prompting of the brother, say a prayer for the people who can't pick their own blueberries cause they are missing out! Life is GREAT!

Step Three: Once our bucket was full, we headed to the shed to pack up our berries and head home, tummies full of berries and souls full of sunshine and joy! I LOVED this part, the cubs happy and helping one another!

Step four: Head home to put away our goods and lay Sister down for a nap. A great start to our Summer Adventure! Now we have berries to savor all summer! They love those little boogers straight from the freezer on a hot day and so do I!

R & R - mostly for Sister Bear

Sister Bear has been home from the hospital for 1 week now... she is feeling good, still sleeping alot but otherwise back to herself! We want to give a shout-out to the nurses at GRMC, especially on the 2nd floor... We love us some Mrs. Debbie, Mrs. Twila, Mrs. Leah, Mrs. Kelli, Mrs. Desiree, Mrs. Stephanie, Mrs. Stephanie (not a mistake, sometimes on the same shift too!!) Mrs. Pam, and especially Mr. Mark who took us in through the ER and cared for our whole family while caring for Sister and all of those wonderful ladies from housekeeping and "Room Service", plus the guys from maintenance who helped us by fixing the light fixtures in the bathroom. The staff at GRMC was wonderful for the 8, I repeat, 8 days we spent there. There was a bump in the road, but it was addressed by the administration and all else was well. Let's not forget our favorite ole Doc too, he thought 6 o'clock in the morning was the time to bring breakfast to a Sister Bear, who had only been asleep about 25 mins, but she did eventually eat some of it. Doc has the biggest heart and really LOVES his patients. We also love our pediatrician and her friend who covers for her when she is out of town. Thanks to all of you who were on the frontline with us helping Sister Bear through her sickness.

Next, let us give a shout-out to all of our friends and family who lifted us up in prayer and offered to do so many of the Earthly things that helped too, like books to read and cherry-vanilla Dr. Peppers and that awsome greasy burger after 4 days of hospital food (J & C, y'all were the bombs that day). We are truly blessed with the people God has put into our lives. Thank you for checking on us and for being patient when I didn't always feel up to sending out an update, especially when it seemed like we didn't know anything. Sister Bear gave us the scare of our lives, but Daddy Bear and I are a team and we handled it pretty well. We knew that God would lead us to do the right thing and show us the way. HE even sent all those state troopers on coffee break while we FLEW over to GRMC that evening. All I know is Daddy Bear said, "Don't even ask me how fast we are going." and I didn't. We made those first, panicked calls on the way for prayers and they were answered. We made it there in record time and got Sister Bear the care she needed. All the while, Brother Bear was home with a friend, bewildered at why we left in such a hurry, knowing we never send him to play next door without calling first, but he handled it like a trooper. Brother Bear packed his bag and spent the night next door, knowing Mama Bear and Daddy Bear were helping Sister.

Brother Bear is amazing. He is the most caring and sensitive young cub around. He tried out that sleeping away thing for 2 nights at Mimi's, but that didn't work out. He wanted to be with us, where he could see us and touch us, and know that Sister Bear was okay. I know there will come a day when he wants to stay away from home, but for now it is comforting knowing he would rather spend his time at home. We love one another fully... and we love others too!

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Have a few pics to share with you... all of these are from May... I'm a little behind...

Do these kids need a pool or what? 1st day of May...

 Granny in her rocking chair                                       A brand new Wolf Scout

I will post more of our AMAZING SUMMER ADVENTURE later!!!