Christmas is over and new year awaits!!

We are home now. We nearly spent a week at my brother's home in Bolingbrook. Brian and Jeannie opened their home to my entire family including my parents. Having a new child I know without a doubt this had to be somewhat stressful. Bryce was completly off schedule one night and didn't sleep well. The past 2 years up at their home has been wonderful. Jeannie comes from a HUGE family who gather on Christmas Eve to celebrate. As a child I remember celebrating with just my Aunt Tootie and Grandma Jordan our family not so big. I love watching all of Jeannie's sisters, nieces, nephews gather and have a great time together. Kylie enjoys hanging with all the kids. They have done wonders welcoming Brian's family into the mix as well. It was a wonderful week of memories, pictures, and surprises. Bryce has become one good shopper. He has great taste and got his Aunt Lisa a wonderful new COACH handbag...that is 2 in the past 3 months. I am not sure if I can handle it, but I will try.

So New Year's is now just a few days away and I found a great idea you might want the whole family to do. I am going to have My parents, Ron, and Kylie do it this weekend. Take a moment and write a letter to yourself for tomorrow!! On New Year's Eve,(OR BEFORE) write a letter to your future self.

You can list your favorite things (books, songs, ice-cream flavors, TV shows, foods, colors, animals, games) and make predictions (how tall will you be in a year?) What you might have accomplished in 2009, somewhere you might visit in 2009 etc. The list is endless what you might put into this letter to your future self. Pack away the letter with the holiday decorations so that they'll be out of sight but easy to find next year. You can open it up as you get yourself ready for the holiday season. So take some time out this week to do this...you will get a laugh next year and will look back on what you thought you would do as oppose to what really went on.

On Dec. 31, 2009, open the letter and see how much your tastes have changed -- or haven't!

Although Leona Jordan, of Moline, celebrated her 98th birthday last month, her young soul is dancing now that she's once again with her fun-loving husband, Bill, and her beloved sister, Tootie. She passed away Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008.

Even in sadness, we are truly happy knowing Leona is once again surrounded by the family and friends she missed so much later in life. Those left to cherish her free-spirited memory will be celebrating her wonderful long life as well as the spunk she displayed right up to the day she left us for a never ending life of joy and happiness.

Honoring her wish to be cremated, the family is planning a memorial gathering in the Spring and when a flowering tree to thank her for all the blessings she bestowed upon each of us will be planted near the Alzheimer's wing of the new Oak Glen Home in East Moline.

Leona T. Jordan was welcomed into this world Nov. 13, 1910, by her parents, George and Minnie Kinnie. She attended Rock Island High School and was employed for many years as an optometric assistant for Dr. Myers in Rock Island. Leona fell in love with Bill Jordan long before they married on June 10, 1934, but unselfishly chose to remain at home and care for her parents until they no longer needed her assistance. She was a member of the Church of Peace in Rock Island.

She is survived by her daughter, Carol Ann Waeyaert and her husband, Jerry, Arizona; twin sons, Don and wife, Tudy, Davenport, and Ron and wife, Judy, Coal Valley; 10 grandchildren; six great-children; and long-time "clunking around" friend, Julio Vega, Moline. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill in 1967; and sister, Tootie in 2002.

Online condolences may be made to www.schrodermortuary.com.

This is her obit that will be in the paper tomorrow morning. I thought it was beautifully wrote and I want to remember it forever and I included it in my blog. She was a good soul and a loving person to everyone.

She is gone...but will never be forgotten

I got the call today, the call that I knew I would be getting soon. Around 6pm tonight my Grandmother gave up and went to celebrate this Christmas with her husband, sister and brother and sister in law. Sure I cried but at the same time it is only fitting that she went because my parents are heading home tomorrow. They will be flying into Chicago and will be coming to the QCA on Friday. She knew..she didn't want to put anyone out and she knew that by leaving us now my parents could be here. So goodbye Grandma Jordan.....I love you and I know you know I did.

A Sad Day

Earlier today I received a phone call from my mother. Her brother Ron had called her to let her know it won't be long before my grandmother passes. As of right now she is holding on, although I am at peace that she lets go and is at peace. My grandmother turned 98 in November and she lived a full life. I have so many memories of her and would consider her such a good friend. Brian and I talked later in the day and we thought about how we spent every holiday with her and our Aunt Tootie. We laugh about it now but cherish every moment we were talking about. My grandmother in her current state isn't the grandmother we knew growing up. We appreciate her now more than ever.

As children we had her to ourselves. My Uncles were not in her life and her grandchildren from my uncles didn't find a place for her either. So Brian and I were blessed with spending the majority of our holidays with her. As young children we recall the countless presents under our tree when Christmas came around. Besides my mother making Christmas extra special she was the next best thing. I was spoiled the most. I spent weekends with her and dreaded heading back home on Sundays. She taught me how to play rummy and Yahtzee was her favorite. Kylie is getting Yahtzee for Christmas because it would have been something my grandmother would have gave her. As Brian and I got older we would always get a box of lifesaver's story book with money inside. Brian is getting a box from me this year and it was before I knew we would be losing her soon.

I am finding myself rambling and crying today. I am crying because I will miss her, miss the grandma I loved dearly and will always love. Miss the Grandmother I grew up with and pray for peace for her. Thanks Brian for calling and talking and letting me cry and listen to me. Thanks for allowing me not to feel guilty and for honoring her they way you did. We all will honor her this week as we get together and think of her. Grandma it is okay to go ..we will always have you in our heart. Love you more than you will ever know. ......Lisa

Long Time no write

I guess this month has blew past me. It simply didn't seem like there was enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I hope that all of you have had a wonderful holiday season so far and will continue the next week. Kylie and I are heading up to my brother and sister in law's house on Sunday to spend a few days with them. My parents are heading from Arizona to our frozen tundra for the holiday season. Kylie can't wait. She has been counting down the days for the past 2 months. It is nice to see them 1/2 way through their 6 month getaway to warmer climate. I can't blame them.

As with most our Christmas season will be a little less this year. When Ron signed up for his position with Ecolab that had him traveling to Peoria daily we never imagined that gas prices would be nearly $4.00 a gallon most of the year. It took a big chunk out of our earnings. His gas was not covered by the company. He is now in another position with Ecolab that keeps him closer by but in a company labeled vehicle...so nice but now the gas prices around her are nearly 1.39 a gallon...go figure ...simply Wymer Luck...

The time got away from me that I didn't even send out holiday cards this year. So if you have been reading my blog for the past few months consider that the way I kept you up with what was going on in our lives. WOW I really am slacking.

So the Wymer's hope you have a wonderful holiday season and we hope that you have a great 2009!!

Below are pictures from our recent night out to celebrate a birthday and the holiday season with friends. Erica & Brian Williams, The Wymer's and Cosette and Ted Thoms

11 years and counting....with more to come.

December 2, 1997 I wished a stranger HAPPY BIRTHDAY online....11 years later it will be his 48th Birthday and now I call him my husband. Ron turns 48 on 12/2/08 and I am so glad he is part of my life. He is a wonderful husband and a great father to Kylie. He loves both of dearly and lets us know daily. 11 years ago I simply wished him Happy Birthday online and we began to chat and IM each other. We met at HOOTER's in Orland Park Illinois as he lived in the Chicagoland Area. We met on my best friend's 30th birthday and 1.5 years later we were married. I can't imagine my life without him. Can you believe I married a QUINCY BLUE DEVIL?? I am a die hard Rocky fan and bleed red and gold. He is slowly starting to wear the right colors now and I try to put him in them as much as I can.

So Happy Birthday Ron. I love you today more than I did then and I appreciate all you do for our family. Kylie and I hope you have a great birthday and that it is as special as you are to us. We LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!