Elite 8...Tigers are great!!

I was so excited that Thursday night I was able to get tickets to the Sweet 16 game in Phoenix. It would have been fun just to go but what made it the most exciting was that my Missouri Tigers were playing Memphis! My friend and roommate Senior year in college, Annie, just happened to be in town for Spring Break with her husband and daughter so she was happy to join me for the game. We felt like we were in college again cheering for our Tigers! What a game it was and a big win!! So the tigers advanced to the Elite 8!! Yeah. Unfortunately they lost the elite 8 game against U Conn but it was an accomplishment to make it that far! Hopefully this is the start of good things for the MU basketball program! It is certainly fun to see them playing well again and I am thrilled I was able to see them play in person! GO TIGERS!!

Teammates

This week it was fun having two old teammates in town. Stefanie and I were roommates Freshman year in the dorm and Kristen was two years older but also on the MU women's golf team. Wednesday night the three of us met for dinner and it was fun catching up and seeing them both again. Stefanie was in town because she was driving from California back to Illinois as well as for the LPGA tournament. Kristen was in town for the LPGA tournament because she was caddying for a friend. Always fun to see them and am looking forward to seeing them again this fall at the Women's Golf Fundraiser in Columbia.
Stef, Kristen, and I

Go Green!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Bogey and Jesse!

Heavy Heart

As you all know, Jesse and Bogey are certified therapy dogs. I volunteer with Hospice of the Valley and visit a senior living facility every week. I have been volunteering with Jesse for well over a year now and Bogey just started visits himself. Jesse and I have really enjoyed our visits and have definitely connected with many of the patients. While I volunteer with HOV, I visit all the residents. Since day 1, I have had a favorite to visit with. It is a sweet lady who loves animals, loves petting Jesse and has been quite funny and witty. I always make a point to go to her room if she isn't in the living room of the cottage she lives in. Often she would be reading a book, or somesort of dog magazine or newspaper her daughters sent to her. Whenever our visits would be over I would say "we'll come visit again next week" and she would respond, "I sure hope so".
Well, the last few visits I have noticed her not doing as well. Due to being out of town a bit, I was unable to visit a few weeks. I went for a visit on Monday and was saddened to hear that she had been moved to a different cottage. The cottage that requires the most care. I had already visited in that cottage but decided to go back so I could pop in her room and say hello. It was very difficult to see that she was not doing well. She was unresponsive to Jesse and I and was on oxygen. I left with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat!
I called Tuesday to speak with Kim, the woman who is in charge of activities etc. (She comes around sometimes with Jesse and I as we visit everyone.) She told me that my sweet lady isn't doing well, and that if I wanted to come back the next day for another visit, they didn't think she had long. So Jesse and I went back yesterday for one more visit. What a lucky and loved lady she is....Jesse was the 4th dog visit she had yesterday! There are two of other therapy dogs that visit at the same facility and Kim brought her dog in as well. While she was unresponsive again yesterday, I honestly believe she knew we were there and could feel Jesse as she sniffed her arm and as we put her hand on Jesse's head.
I am glad Jesse and I were able to go have another visit with her and while I wish we could have more, I am glad we got that one in because today I got a phone call that she passed away.
I have had many patients pass away. I knew when I signed up to volunteer with HOV that it would be a difficult part of the "job". I have definitely been saddened by every passing but this one has gotten to me in a way that none of the others have. I am thankful Jesse and I could get to know her and bring her some smiles! I hope we gave her something to look forward to and something to enjoy each week but she probably gave me more than I ever gave her!

Tennis, Supper and a Sunset

Jennifer and I after we played tennis

Yesterday afternoon I drove up to Mirabel where my friend Jennifer lives. We have taken a few tennis lessons together in the past and decided to attempt playing a little. It was a lot of fun even though we still have some work to do on our tennis games. After we played for a bit, we went to her house and enjoyed a nice dinner & glass of wine and watched the sun set and then got in the hot tub. It is so beautiful up there and a great way to see some Arizona beauty! I don't get to see her as often as I wish I did so it was fun to hang out and catch up. Friday we are playing golf so we'll see if our golf games are better than our tennis games!

Road Trip Up North

Saturday morning my friends Toni, Meghan, Singne and Mitzi and I drove up North to Pinetop for the day and night. We got there around 1 on Saturday afternoon and got home around 3 on Sunday. It definitely was a quick trip but so much fun. We made lunch when we got there, played games (Scattergories and Apples to Apples), had some beer and wine and made a nice dinner and laughed! When we all get together there is always a lot of laughing. This time there were even some tears, but that is what you get when you get girls drinking! :) Thankfully the tears only lasted a short amount of time and we were back to the laughs! We slept in, woke up and cleaned and hit the road down the hill. It was mentioned to do a summer trip back up there and hike, and horseback ride etc. I hope we can make it happen because this little short one was so much fun!

East Coast Bound

I went to visit my sister and her family for 6 days and got back on Friday the 27th. It was certainly great to be there and wonderful to spend time with my sister and my nephew as always. However, I knew I wasn't going for a "fun, let's go out and do things" kind of trip. My sis is due in less than a month with #2 and just needed help with day to day things. So I helped take care of my nephew and just "play" with him as well as help her clean and organize. She will be hit hard here soon with the arrival of a second and just needed help. I guess that is what family is for right??