Decking the Halls for Christmas with a little help from Emma's friends!!!

 

Now that's a Charcuterie Board!

 

LOL, We had Mark and Sam's friend's over last weekend! Then Sam and Mark came to visit this weekend... We recreated pics!

Mark and Sam said, don't friend jump us!!! LOL! Anything you can do, we can do better! LOL!

 

2nd Annual Thanksgiving with my family and Mark and Sam! (Hayley and Erika couldn't be here, they were with their families(#missedthemsobad!)

Emma's loving Mark and Sam's pups, Ace and Jack!

Ty and Alex gave Keith. me, Mark, and Sam their band Tee's (Ragbags)!!!

Emily bought a crocket set at an antique store and we had a ball playing!!!

Wait, "Tyler, behave!!!"

Yep, I had a stern talking to him, lol! (Look at the other kids faces, lol!)

Awww, he behaved! 

 

Crazy dream Ellie had the night after dad transitioned...

Before dad passed, I said, "Dad, mom comes to visit me in butterfly form" (very specific: black butterflies with blue markings on the front and orange markings on the back). "What form will you come visit me as after you cross over?" I suggested a 10 point buck! Lol, Dad was always sitting on our deck and looking for deer. He would always ask if I saw a 10 point buck. 

The last words Ellie and Emma whispered to "Poppy" while he was on life support was... "Come visit us once you cross over, but don't scare us like a ghost... and make sure you bring grama with you!"

We had company come in town the day after my dad passed/the day before Thanksgiving... Ellie worked that day and brought us take out for dinner from her restaurant. After dinner we were all playing cards at the table and Ellie suddenly remembered the dream she had the night before. She said, "Mom! Last night I had a crazy dream! A 10 point buck walked out of the woods behind our house and faced me. He had lots of black and blue butterflies on all his antlers and swirling all around him!" I got chills! Mom and dad came together in her dream as a 10 point buck and butterflies!

This picture of the buck with butterflies was sent to me the next day by my friend Kat (friend for over 35 years).  The night before my dad passed, she had a dream of a 10 point buck and found this pic on Etsy and sent it to me! She said that she was at the Bass Pro Shop and bought (of all the stuffed animals) a little deer for her granddaughter, Kylie, and told her it would grow up to be a 10 point buck! That's the picture of the stuffed animal Kat bought for Kylie above. 

Yes, you heard that right!!! You can't make this shiz up!!! 

My sweet daddy transitioned into his new life yesterday...

Natalie posted this on Facebook for us...

It’s with a very heavy heart that we tell you our sweet daddy, Reg Denning, passed away unexpectedly yesterday. He had been having heart trouble and was admitted to the hospital on Thursday. Each of his girls (Dawn, Jeannie, Michele and I) were fortunate enough to spend an entire day alone with him over the last 4 days.

Dad was so loving, kind-hearted, and jolly! He was very smart, quick-witted, and a true salesman! He loved to fish and was the Vols biggest fan! But more than that, he absolutely adored our Mom and all 5 of his girls and his 12 grands! His love and laughter will be greatly missed by us all!

We so appreciate all the love and support we’ve received so far and thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers! Love to all of you and your families!

I was able to spend his last day with him. He seemed so happy and so himself and actually feeling good. He watched the grand finale of his favorite show, Dancing With the Stars, and gave me his lotto tickets to turn in. He won 5 new tickets.

Dad loved fishing and his Tennessee Vols!

Sunday night, Shannon and I made dinner and dessert for my boss/ our coach Stacey!

I made 2 kinds of cornbread to go along with the taco soup and salad Shannon made, and I made blonde brownies with ice-cream for dessert. Stacey had double knee surgery and has been out for months. Her spouse was there, and her mom and brother were visiting. Stacey asked us to stay and eat with them. We sat on their outdoor covered deck by the fire and chatted over chips, homemade salsa, and wine. Then we had dinner together followed by dessert. It was a delightful evening! We heard lots of fun stories and laughed a lot. Stacey is a very private person, and somewhat of a celebrity in Athens. So it was an honor to be invited into her home and get to know her family.

 

My new friends, Steve and Sharon (from Latitude Margaritaville in PCB) came to stay with me for the weekend!

 Steve and Sharon have been working the UGA home games for 10 years for Titan Global Enterprises, an event management company that UGA hires to manage their home games. Sharon is in charge of the dog, Uga, on the field, and Steve stands at one of the end zones for security. They asked if I'd like to work the last game with them. My post was at the opposite end of the field from Steve. I stood at the corner where the players and cheerleaders, dancers, flag team... came on and off the field. I was in front of the student section, near the camera man, and beside the parents of the players. I made sure people didn't sneak into the handicap season ticket holder section. And those were great seats and lots of people, including parents of players tried to roll up in that section. They gave us red Titan jackets, paid us 200.00 and fed us lunch and we got to watch the game for free with great views, and meet the players!!! Afterwards, all the Titan workers went to dinner! What a fun group. They said I could do it next season if I wanted to! I said, sure!!!

Dan Jackson, #47 (the kid wearing his jersey is talking to him) came in my section after the game and shook my hand. Humble young man. His family is so proud of him!!!