Mother's Day

Muffins with Mom at daycare

Handmade gifts by my little artists

5/13/2018

Celebration of Life

We honored Dad with a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, May 12. It was bittersweet but we are blessed to have so many friends and family come show their love for Dad and his family. Between tears, laughter and memories, the most common comment I heard was how much everyone would miss his smile. Love you Dad! Be good.

The Crew

The out-takes 

Us with our aunts and uncles.

5/12/2018

Landscape Update

My landscape guy... aka Blake... is on to another project. In March we pulled out most of the bushes in the front flowerbeds to replace them with something smaller. The salvia, lariope and pink Kock-out rose bushes that we planted in March are all getting bigger everyday. Blake planted some colorful Vinca flowers (a lot of them!!) in the large open area of flower beds and we placed two planters and added Bouganvillas on each side of front door. Next up.... shutters for the windows!

After (May 2018)

Shrubs and bushes removed. Planted salvia, lariope and pink Kock-out roses.
(March 2018)

Before (December 2017)

Original (July 2015)
This picture was taken on the day we closed on the house (and I was 5 months pregnant with Addison). We have since removed the white rock in the flowerbeds, the bushes and the storm door and added window blinds.

5/11/2018

Memories with Dad

While gathering pictures to compile for a slideshow for Dad's memorial service, I came across some great memories over the years. After Mom and I scoured through hundreds of printed pictures, I found even more on my digital files from more recently, and then Dad's siblings found a few from his childhood. All together, I think I had 203 pictures, which I initially thought was way to many, but I couldn't narrow almost 60 years down to just a handful of slides. Everyone loved seeing all the pictures and reminiscing. Here are a few of my favorites...

I'm not sure how old Dad was in this picture, but I see a little bit of Addie in that smile and big blue eyes. 

Football Captains (and so much hair!).

Dad with his dad and brothers
Dad, Wayne, Grandpa, Albert, Sudsy and John

Dad and his siblings at a family reumion
Albert and Wayne (twins), Patsy, Sudsy and Carmen (twins), John, Dad, Shirlie

Dad in his element

Addie Sue and Grandpa

The tractor is always the favorite toy at Grandpa's house!

Boss Man and Boss Baby

Dad and Dr. Sadie Brown - the first doctor who treated him on the melanoma journey. Dad always appreciated her kindness and even asked to take a picture with her when she left the office he went to.

April 14, 2018

Obviously, I have a hard time narrowing down "favorites" too. :) 

Kenneth Charles "Foamy" Lutz 1958 - 2018

Kenneth Charles "Foamy" Lutz

July 13, 1958 - May 9, 2018

Born in Hondo, Texas

Resided in D'Hanis, Texas

Kenneth Charles "Foamy" Luz of D'Hanis, 59, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.

Born July 13, 1958 in Hondo, he was the son of Arthur J. and Lillian E. Rudinger Lutz.

Kenny enjoyed "piddling" around the house, farming and ranching, carpentry and, most recently, raising sheep.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Albert and Arthur Wayne Lutz; and brother-in-law, Sam Strunk.

He is survived by four children, Tanya Beth (Wayne) Moore of Utopia, Arthur Bryan (Jennifer) Lutz of Ft. Stockton, Krista Sue (Blake) Butler of New Braunfels, and Amy Elizabeth (Barrett) Phillips of D'Hanis; seven grandchildren, Lilly and Hallie Moore, Arthur Wyatt and Caitlin Lutz, Greyson and Addison Butler and Jake Phillips; siblings, Patricia (Steve) Myers, Norman "Sudsy" (Judie) Lutz, John (Sylvia) Lutz, and Shirlie Morales, all of D'Hanis, and Carmen Strunk of San Antonio; and the mother of his children, Beverly Hood Lutz of San Antonio. 

Visitation from 10 to 11:30 am with a Celebration of Life service at 11:30 am, will be on Saturday, May 12, at Guinn-Horger Funeral Home Chapel. 

Private interment will be at a later date. 

The family would like to raise awareness regarding the seriousness of melanoma cancers. Memorials may be made to Mays Cancer Center in San Antonio, www.makelivesbetter.uthscsa.edu.

5/10/18

Til we see you again, Dad

Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, May 8 at about 2:30am. This photo is a view of his last sunset on Earth and although he didn't see it, it was the perfect view from just outside the kitchen window. 

Tanya, Mom and I, along with one of the caregivers, Linda, were all able to be with Dad on his journey home. Amy and Bryan were with us in spirit and Dad's siblings, Patsy, Susdy, John and Shirlie were all there for support for us and each other. There were many tears, however were are all at peace knowing Dad is at peace. Pain free, confusion free, seizure free and cancer free. Dad had a great day and visited with Amy and Jake on Monday, and then had a seizure on Tuesday morning. We prayed lots of prayers that Dad would be pain free and not suffer and that's exactly what God graced him and us with.

Til we see you again, Dad. Be good.

5/8/2018

Date Night

Nannie babysat the kiddos while Blake and I had a rare Date Night on a Sunday evening. One of the local restaurants was hosting a series called "Supper and a Song" with one of our favorite musicians, Adam Hood, who doesn't come to Texas very often. We were served an awesome four course meal while listening to a acoustic concert on the restaurants outdoor patio. It was a fun date night and Nannie sent us plenty of fun text updates. 

Course 1

Jalapeno Cesar Salad with Sourdough Cheddar Croutons

Course 2

Smoked Tasso Deviled Eggs with Cilantro and Pickled Onions 

(I was worried about the "pickled onions" but it was just a tiny slice of onion on top for garnish.)

Course 3

Smoke Pork Loin with Orange Glaze served with Cheddar Grits and Garlic Roasted Broccoli (My pick... I've never had grits and commented how I can't believe I haven't eaten them if they are so good when Blake informed me that they were basically the cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream loaded mashed potatoes version of them.)

or

Seared Redfish served with Red Pepper Risotto and Garlic Roasted Broccoli

(Blake's pick... I had a taste and it was delicious, too!)

Course 4

Smoked Banana Pudding with Vanilla Shortbread Crumble and Whipped Cream 

(FYI Smoked Banana Pudding tastes the same as regular banana pudding, but it was very good!)

Meanwhile, back at home...

5/6/2018

Boys Only Fishing Trip

Blake took Greyson to Rockwall for a weekend of fishing with Papa. Greyson was so excited that it was a trip for just him and Daddy, and he made sure to let Addison and me know that it was a trip for "boys only!" On Saturday, Blake and Papa went to Cedar Creek Lake a couple hours away to scout it out for our upcoming Butler Family lake trip, so Greyson got to spend the day with Nana. They went to his favorite place, Walmart, where Nana let him pick out a new Nerf gun. Between trips to Walmart with Nana and Nannie, no wonder it's the kid's favorite place! Nana planned to take him to his second favorite place, Chick-fil-A, but he fell asleep in the car. 

Nana and Papa live just a few miles from Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall, so the next day Greyson and Nana went out on the boat with Blake and Papa. I think Daddy, Nana and Papa made someone's day!!

4/29/19

Visiting Grandpa

After my weekend with Dad, our plan was for him to spend the days at his house with a caregiver and then stay overnight at Tanya's house. Unfortunately, this plan only lasted one day. Dad had several seizures during the night while at Tanya's house and we all decided that he will need a caregiver to stay with him around the clock. We have been blessed with some amazing people with big, big hearts to be with him. The team of caregivers all have experience in caring for hospice patients, and although Dad isn't the their typical hospice patient, he still needs care 24/7. He has moments of clarity and good days, but also gets very confused and frustrated at times. I have been visiting him on Saturdays to check in and hang out for a few minutes at a time, depending on how he is feeling at the time. Since Blake and Greyson were in Rockwall to go fishing with Papa, Addie, Nannie went with me to visit Grandpa. We had a good visit with him on Saturday and he had fun making Addison laugh and playing peek-a-boo with her. After visiting Dad, we went to the ranch to visit Amy, Barrett and Baby Jake. Addison picked a few flowers for us and we got to love on Baby Jake. After spending a few hours at the ranch, we made a quick stop at Dad's to check in one more time before heading home.

4/28/2018