We are doing what needs to be done in her honor

Dear Family and Friends,
I finally went to bed last night at 1 am and then early this morning sleep eluded me again. To wake alone is such a shocking discovery after all these years. For over a year the first thing I did every morning was to check to see if Nan's chest was moving up an down with breathing. But this morning she was not here, a new chapter has opened in the family life, a chapter without the moral compass of Nan's convictions and her strong sense of right and wrong. There have to be at least a 1,000 ways we miss her already and the list keeps growing.
This morning we drove to the funeral home in Tracy for a meeting with Jere. He led us through things we needed to know and the group selected a casket we feel is just the right one for Mom. We discovered that if no embalming is done then the persons hair is not done, no makeup is applied and no intention is given to making the person look their best. The more we thought about that we just could not accept that Nan would like to leave this earth looking like a mess so we changed our plans and mom will be embalmed, dressed up nicely and prepared to look her beautiful best. As a result of our decision a time has been set that we can see her briefly, it is 11 am on Friday at the funeral home in Tracy.
The next appointment is 2:30 at Union Cemetery which is located on Highway 4 or Brentwood Blvd as it is also called. If you are approaching Discovery Bay on Highway 4 continue on 4 through a sweeping turn to the right, go a couple miles and then a sweeping turn to the left and the cemetery is on the left side of the road. The official address is 11545 Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood, CA. After the 2:30 service we are hoping folks can drift over to our home at 5387 Willow Lake Court in Discovery Bay which is nearby. I have learned this evening that we will have a special guest at the 2:30 service, Julius Melendez will be playing his horn. He a very talented artist who has played with Santana for many many years. I know him through work and is has graciously consented to come and help in honor of the brave struggle Nan has waged. In addition Leslie Sain from Adoration Singers will be with us for a special solo. Pastor Jim will be leading out and I think the service will be a fitting tribute to Nan's beautiful life.
Today was filled with tasks, obtaining a guest book, creating a special program, locating photos of Nan from all periods of her life, scanning them and then emailing them to Karen who is producing a special tribute to Nan to be seen at the memorial service. We have also learned that the Adoration Singers will be able to provide some music as well.
Other tasks involved obtaining the plot of ground and paying the costs of opening and closing, concrete liner and cemetery maintenance. I firmly believe nan would have been pleased with the choices and creativity displayed today and that she will be honored at the services.
Everyone here has been working as a team, cleaning, sorting, planning, buying groceries, giving extra medical things away and so it goes. Apria came this afternoon and took away the bed, I decided I did not need to watch that chapter close, some things are too hard.
I have had many sessions of tears today, many started by the powerful messages from you to the blog, others by photos sent by relatives in Texas of Nan when she was young and suddenly it call comes back, I happened to marry a very beautiful girl who quickly grew into an even more beautiful woman. I was left breathless by the shock of seeing her as I saw her 37 years ago, it was wow then and it is wow now. God has been very good to me, far more than I ever deserved. Wait until you see the photos in Karen's presentation at the service, you will see what I mean.
We rented a second vehicle today for the movement of the wonderful family coming from Texas. I am personally filled with joy at the prospect of seeing all these precious people. I'm just so sorry for the reason they are coming, how I wish it was to celebrate a huge breakthrough in cancer research and that GIST had been controlled.
Some directions are in order. The Tracy SDA Church is located on the corner of Holly and 21st at 2025 I think. You need to exit off the 205 Freeway down to MacArthur Blvd. and then located Holly Street and turn south to the church. I'll try to figure out how to put a map or two in the blog tomorrow night.
We are very honored that Carol Peden is coming from N. Carolina for the Friday afternoon service. It will be just wonderful to see her again, she and Nan are Dollywood buddies and long time friends. I am also quite thrilled that my brother and family are coming as well. I've not seen them in some time and this will be very nice to catch up.
If you have any questions about anything please call my cell, 925 998 9855 or our home 925 634 6132 and someone will help you.
Yes we are coping and a very wise friend who lost a precious spouse not that long ago has been counseling me, I know there are quiet lonely days ahead but I am treasuring these day with a house filled with busy family and friends, we take turns crying as we bump into constant reminders of Nan's valiant struggles and life.
Please pray that we can find a home for our stair chair, that we can locate someone who is approaching a time when they will need one. Please pray for all those who will be traveling tomorrow from Texas and N. Carolina, keep them safe and sound.
love

tim and marilyn and jan and dana