So this is the entry I never wanted to write…

After almost exactly one year and one month after Dad passed, my mother passed away Sunday, Feb 13th in the early hours of the morning.  This may sound silly, but I’m so thankful for my crazy dog Tojo, because he KNEW what was going on.  He wouldn’t let me go to sleep because he kept whimpering next to mom.  I brought him to bed with me but he wouldn’t go to sleep, he just sat there looking at the door wanting to go back in the living room with mom.  And he’s definitely not the type of dog that doesn’t sleep at night:

There’s not much to say about what happened, but she went peacefully, and two of the few things I understood her say Saturday was “I feel fine” and “I love you.”  Luckily Rocky was sleeping in mom’s room and slept all night.  I am so thankful Greg was here with me to help me through this, and Donna, Kelly, Carolyn B and the nurse from Covenant came over to help us.
I don’t see how mom dealt with this same thing with Dad for so long, and I wish I could have helped her more, but even though it was sooner than expected, I am glad that she is in a happier place, and she hurts no more.  Her and Dad are looking down on us, they’re up there playing golf again together and will always be in our hearts!
One of the hardest things was having to wake Rocky up and tell my brother that Mom had joined Daddy in heaven, and she is no longer in pain.  He had a good cry, but he and I know that he has so much support with me and Greg, his entire family, the Orange Beach Elementary family, Lee Drug Store family and friends. 
Yesterday was the longest day of my life.  I thank every one of you that came to visit, and made it easier on Rocky and me.  We’ve had SO much support and I know we will forever.  Rocky chose to go to a friend’s house to play because so many people were coming in and out.  He came home about 5:00 after everything had settled down a bit.  He and Greg built a fire outside:

Koda has been really mopey.  He was with her all night when everything happened, then I put him in his room, and when he came out he didn’t come to any of us, he was just looking all around the house for mom.

I just got back from making helping with the funeral arrangements and picking out flowers – On the busiest day of the year for flowers! We got it covered though – going to go with a blue and orange and white, because she LOVED Auburn and Rocky LOVES orange and blue (because of Auburn of course).  Details for the funeral are below:

Thursday, February 17, 2011
Robertsdale United Methodist Church

8:30	Private Family time	In the Church
9:00-11:00 am	Public Visitation	In the Church
11:00 am	Funeral service	In the Church
Immediately following	Burial – Family/Employees Only!	Baldwin Memorial Cemetery

In Lieu of flowers Memorial Gifts are requested to go to:
The U B Good scholarship fund at Orange Beach Elementary School
4900 Wilson Blvd
Orange Beach, AL 36561

The Steven Wayne Baker Sea, Sand and Stars Science Center
4900 Wilson Blvd
Orange Beach, AL 36561

Baldwin County Auburn Alumni Club Scholarship Fund
P. O. Box 1322
Foley, AL 36536

The Alabama Golf Association Women’s Scholarship Fund
Attention: Alyson Stuart
1025 Montgomery Hwy
Suite 210
Birmingham, AL 35216

Mr. Baker is going to bring a few friends over for Rocky to play with this afternoon and bring his Valentine’s candy.  We’ve just been relaxing today.  I’m going to continue this blog with everything including memories and pictures for you all, and for me.
There is so much more that’s going through my head that I know I want to write, but I’ll save it for later. 
Thank you to Aunt Sandy and Uncle Dave for these pretty flowers, and Jeff for the chocolates:

Love you all,
Whitney