The family is arriving, good things are happening, tomorrow we tell Nan good night.

Dear Family and Friends,
I am reminded of Santa's workshop when I look around the house. Ronnie, Dana's husband is up straightening the angel on the top of the tree, Sharon and Jan are sorting clothes, cleaning out drawers and Jan has completely emptied the china hutch and the curio cabinets where Nan has kept her china, crystal and vases. The curio cabinets are full of nativity sets, I mean full and they are from around the world purchased when Nan was traveling, Alaska, Australia, Mexico, Hawaii, Israel, Jordan and KMart. Tonight they are all clean and sitting on freshly dusted glass shelves. Beautiful, Nan would have been so happy to see this. The ladies, Nikki, Jan, Stephanie (Nikkis good friend) have combined forces to create a beautiful folder for tomorrow and Saturday's services. It is the nicest one I have ever seen. Nikki has been scanning photos all last night and all day today for Karen in Denver. She has found some tremendous photos that capture Nan's life so well. Seeing those photos has been a very pleasant experience. Today while I was working I came across a photo I shot of Nan November 20. That photo which captured Nan's struggles so well reminded me of why we are all at peace with Nan's passing. She was no longer the vibrant healthy woman but a person ravaged by tumors and their effects. The photos we have been seeing of the past remind us of the other Nan, the one before pain and suffering, the one before the years of struggle and pain.

We have been very busy today and several members of the family have joined us now. Mary brought Sharon and Ronnie mid afternoon, then Dana brought David, Joe and Linda and this evening Marilyn and I brought home Leslie, Dana's daughter in law.

Ken and LeAnn have loaned us their home next door and tonight several members of our family are resting there. Joe's middle daughter Lorrie and her husband Don are also with us this evening.

One question has been lingering in the back of my mind for weeks. If I should lose Nan would I lose her family as well. The members of the family that are here have gone out of their way to assure us that we are still a part of this very special family. That really helps so much. Nan loved this family and the family has been wonderful in contact and support for Nan. It is a very special family and all of us, Nikki, Steve, Jason and Jo would love to stay in contact with the family. They are very precious to us.

Tomorrow will be a challenging day. We lay Nan to her final rest, my mind cannot really get around that concept. Its like laying down my right arm. She has been everything to me for as long as I can remember. The thought of leaving her there is just awful and I'm sure everyone of you who has had to do the same knows how I feel tonight. How can this be happening? So once again tomorrow is doing the hard side of life, maturity requires we go forward and face hard moments along with tender and precious moments. Over the past few years I done lots of hard moments, ones that your heart cries out to escape, no, anything but this. Driving Nan to the hospital for surgery was like that, or taking her to ER was gut wrenching for me, I hated every moment because I knew they would waste hours leaving her in limbo before starting treatment. So tomorrow is a necessary part of conventional civilized life in this culture, its what we do here. However it does not make it any easier to go through the steps.

Tomorrow we will drive to Tracy Hotchkiss Mortuary located on the corner of Holly and West Highland Ave. Holly runs north and south and MacArthur crosses Holly. Any exit from 205 will soon deliver you to MacArthur. The casket holding Nan's body will be opened briefly at 11 am. Afterwards those who want to can lunch at Olive Garden which is near the Tracy Mall which is west of Tracy off 205. When the lunch is over it will be about time to travel to the cemetery near Brentwood. From Tracy one uses the Byron Highway which is accessed going out of Tracy on MacArthur Blvd. Byron Highway leads to Byron. In Byron access Highway 4 and head to Brentwood. The Union Cemetery is on the left about half way to Brentwood from where the Byron Highway joins Highway 4. The service will begin at 2:30 and will be brief. I am asking our good Lord to hold off the rain if possible. Somehow the weather has seems OK since Nan passed away, dismal and dreary, sort of like our inner selves at this moment.

On Saturday at 5 pm a memorial service will be held at the Tracy SDA Church. The church is located at the corner of Holly and 21st Streets. John and Karen Cress will be leading out in that service and will sharing a special program of photos of Nan's incredible life. Karen has special gifts at selecting music and has been hard at work preparing this part of the program. We appreciate their willingness to rearrange tight schedules to come for this service and we appreciate those that are helping them make the trip. I believe Nan would be very humbled at all the fuss we are making over the services. She really would be shocked at the outpouring of love and support from her many GIST friends, from family and from friends.

This morning I received a very special message from Dr. Morgan at Dana Farber in Boston. He wanted to affirm how well Nan fought the good fight and send his best thoughts to us all. He said, "it was truly a miracle that Nan was able to carry the struggle onward as long as she did. We are grateful we were able to play some small part in that struggle, but your loving care and constant devotion were what truly made the difference. Allow us to extend our heartfelt sympathy to you at this sad hour."

We as a family look forward to seeing all of you who can come to join the services. We have done everything we can to make sure what is taking place is fitting for a lady like Nan.

We are deeply thankful this evening for nan's productive life. She made sense out of a sinful and crazy world for many and found out what was important and pursued it with all her might. God made one Nan, allowed us to love and cherish her and has now seen fit that she rest in Him. I thank God for His precious gift, for Nan and I'm glad I could have her as long as I did. She has filled my heart with joy and will again at the second coming.

So we send out love tonight. Should any of you have any problem with finding where you want to be tomorrow please call my cell, it is 925 998 9855.

love

Tim, Sharon, Marilyn, Dana, Ronnie, Jan, Leslie, David, Joe, Linda, Lorie and Don