February

February was a busy month for our family with some fun times and easily the most difficult moment in our family as well. The month started out with Jordan finishing his second season of basketball. He had a great time and improved a lot over the course of the season.




Also in the beginning of the month was Papa Gunnell's 64Th Birthday!! All of the adults enjoyed a nice evening out at Black Angus and the next night we had an open house for his birthday with family and friends coming to celebrate with us. It was a special time that we all enjoyed, made even more special by Glen and a few of his kids being here to celebrate with us!! The following week was Valentine's Day and then came the weekend that we all knew was inevitable.
Bruce took another turn for the worse on Friday morning, he slept for most of the day and Sally had Hospice bring in the hospital bed. Saturday (same day as Jared's bday party) he slept a lot of the day, but was awake for visitors that night and was even able to crack a joke or two. He had had a turn similar to this back in October and he had bounced back after a few days, so we all thought that maybe it would be the same this time around. We didn't go over to visit because we would be there the next day for Sunday dinner. However, on Sunday within minutes of arriving home from church we received a phone call from Michael's sister, Natalie. She was at her parent's house and the nurse was there and the news wasn't good. Dad didn't have much time left and we needed to get there to say our goodbyes as soon as possible. We rushed right over and as the family all arrived we all gathered around Papa's bed, Becky suggested that we sing some songs so we started singing our 2 "Family Songs", "Let us all Press On" and "Sing Me a Song". Just as we started to sing the last of the family arrived and while we were singing Bruce peacefully passed away, surrounded by his sweet wife, children and grandchildren. I know that he could feel the love that we each have for him and that he was welcomed with open arms by family who was waiting for him on the other side. I know that he is no longer in pain and that we will all see him again someday. I am so grateful for my knowledge of Eternal Families and for the opportunity that I had to spend a few hours every Tuesday morning with Bruce during his illness.
At the funeral all of Bruce's children talked about their dad and the memories that they have and the lessons that they learned and we all got up and sang our family songs. It was a wonderful tribute to a very loving man. We love and miss you Dad(Papa).