Flowers

Flowers can be for any occasion, I know it sounds like an advertisement but it's true.

I remember for my wedding Jeff and I presented a single red rose to each of our moms and to Lupita, a woman that has been like my grandma my entire life. These single roses meant thank you, I respect you and I am thankful for everything you have done for me.

Then when Lupita passed away when we were at the cemetery Lupita had a beautiful bouquet of red roses on her coffin, each rose was plucked off the bouquet and given to a family member. I was given one of the red roses to remember Lupita by and I remember thinking how ironic it was that I gave Lupita a red rose just a few months ago and now she was giving me one back.

My last week of my medicine rotation was so much work, I was so stressed out from assignments and from wondering what was going to happen with my grandpa. When I arrived home one day from my rotation Jeff came home with a purple bouquet of flowers and a bag of groceries. These flowers meant "Good luck on this week, I know you'll do great! You're almost done!"

Friday, at my grandpa's funeral there were flowers all over the church from friends that were paying their respect towards my grandpa. After my grandpa's ashes were buried and all the family parted ways I was given a bouquet that was a combination of a couple different flower arrangements that were displayed at the church. These flowers meant "I'm sorry for your loss."

Yesterday (Saturday), was my graduation from pharmacy school and I was given a bouquet of pink and white flowers as a "Congratulations on graduating from SIUE School of Pharmacy!"

Even though some of these flowers are from a sad occasions I still love the sight and smell of flowers. Each flower gives me a certain nostalgia about an occasion in which I received a bouquet of flowers in the past. I only hope my next bouquet will be a happy set of flowers.

Family

I know I said I was thankful for work but sometimes it's so nice to have a day off.

Today I got to spend the morning with my parents making 4 collages for my grandpa's funeral. One included only pictures of the grandkids with my grandpa, one included pictures of my grandpa with random friends, one included pictures of my grandpa with his kids and the last one included pictures of my grandpa with his wife that passed away before I was born. It's so funny to look through these pictures of my grandpa at his different stages of life.

In the afternoon I went on a run and walk to Forest Park and back. Jeff and I love where we live because Forest Park is so close by and there are always people biking, running, or walking around us. During this time we spent together we were able to talk about the future and our plans for Kansas City. We are hoping to find an apartment that is safe and close by bike trails and parks so that we can stay active.

When I think about it I really didn't do much today but relax most of the day, but I can say that I had a very pleasant day and I'm so thankful I had this day to spend with my family!

Walgreens

I'm thankful for my job at Walgreens. Today was an exhausting day because the Walgreens I was working at bought out another pharmacy so it seemed like it took double the time to refill a prescription because first you had to locate the prescription in the old system from the previous pharmacy and then transfer all that information to the Walgreens system. 

Work today was the perfect distraction for me. When I'm at work I sometimes feel like a different person, I walk more upright, I talk more professionally and today I even calmly spoke about my grandpa and his death. 

I don't know how else to say it but I'm thankful for my distraction from reality/double life as a pharmacy student.

First post

So this is the first time I've ever made a blog, this blog is a dedication to my grandpa who passed away this morning at 4am after a 4 way bypass surgery with valve repair.

My grandpa, Robert Clay Spann aka Bob, lived until the age of 81. His hobbies included: spending time with family at Friday fish frys; watching WWE wrestling, the Blues and the Cardinals; and eating with friends and family at Fast Eddies, White Castle, and Mrs. O's. One of the biggest accomplishments that he mentioned quite a bit was the achievement of bench pressing 315 lbs when he was in his 60s. We were all looking forward to and hopeful for his recovery so that he could enjoy a more active life, but thankful for the life he had.

Unfortunately my grandma passed away before I was born so I have been extremely thankful for the life of my grandpa. I'm thankful for all the fish frys we spent together with family and extended family. I'm thankful that I was able to make my grandpa proud by being a future pharmacist. I am thankful that he was able to come to my high school graduation and initiation into the school of pharmacy, of course I'm sorry that he won't be able to make it to my graduation from pharmacy school but I know that he will be there in spirit. Thank you Lord for the life of my grandpa.

For every tragedy that happens there's alway a million more blessings to be thankful for so this blog is dedicated to recognize all of those blessings in my life.

Today although I am very upset about the sudden loss of my grandpa I'm thankful for my little buddy Henry. When I was really upset he was the one that sat with me, like he knew that all I needed was someone to silently sit with me.

Some say that Henry should be thankful to live with me because of his "rescue" from a breeder but honestly I'm sooo thankful to have him in my life.

In November I was married to the most handsome and sweet guy ever so of course today more than ever I'm so happy to be in his presence alone. He has been very caring and patient with me during this time of grief and for this I am extremely thankful.

And lastly (for this post), I'm thankful for all my friends and family. I have heard so many encouraging words this past couple of weeks and it really means alot to me to have everyone lifting my family up in prayer. I think sometime I don't allow people to realize how thankful I am because it's hard to say thank you without crying right now. But thank you all.