Thursday, August 30, 2007

More Montana

Finally, after many tries, I found a great slideshow at Picasa.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Big Sky State--Montana

I'm home, at last, from the beautiful state of Montana. As you know, from my last post, my sisters, my dad and step-mom and I, traveled across the country for my Gramma DeRocher's funeral/memorial service. This funeral became more of a family reunion as all my aunts and my uncle were there. Along with them, were most of the children. Unfortunately, my brother was the only grandchild that wasn't able to make to it. :( There are 20 grandchildren in all so that means there were 19 in attendance. With those 19 grandchildren, were several great-grands. It was amazing to see ALL those people that my grandparents were, mostly, responsible for. At times, overwhelming. To my surprise, I have cousins in Seattle, Hawaii (a golf pro), Phoenix, California. It was also wonderful to see some of my closer cousins again. Those I had not seen in 10+ years. Thankfully, we all meshed, quickly the conversation felt familiar and we talked about our families, hobbies, like and dislikes. We (meaning my very organized sister, Mariah) made a list of our family "tree". I'll have to post it sometime soon. We got e-mail addresses and hopefully, we'll stay in contact. As my step-mom Julie said, "We have a LOT more Christmas cards/letters to send out this year." Indeed, we do.

Here's some pics from my camera. I'm hoping to get some of my sister's pictures. They were better. She's not shy to take random pictures of people she doesn't know well.





Monday, August 20, 2007

Agnes Veronica DeRocher



On August 15, 2007, eight years to the day after the death of her beloved husband Paul, Agnes V. DeRocher died at Billings Clinic Aspen Meadows. She was 91 and died of natural causes.
Agnes was born on August 6, 1916 in Milwaukee, WI. She was the only child of Edward and Agnes Hanner. She was raised and educated in the upper Peninsula of Michigan.
On June 15, 1936, Agnes married Paul N. DeRocher in Linwood, MI. They were married for 63 years. Agnes was active in the Alter Society at St. John Vianney Parish in Flint, MI. They lived in Port Huron, MI for 40 years of their married lives.
Those who knew and loved Agnes remember her as a feisty, independent woman who could be found from dawn to dusk in her countless flower beds, cross country skiing in her woods or cooking the "favorites" of her ever-expanding family well into her eighties.
Paul and Agnes moved to Billings, Montana to join their daughters in June of 1999. She participated in every "Montana Women's Run" with her daughters for the last seven years. She loved the mountains, the beach and family gatherings.
Her children and grandchildren remember her as the loving matriarch of their family.
When her adult children "came back home" to visit, she made us feel like pampered kids again. Her carefully planned and plotted practical jokes on April Fool's Day are legendary family lore.
Surviving Agnes are her daughters, Emy LaBeau of Billings, Paula and husband Fred Deigert of Bozeman, MT, and daughter Celeste and husband Gary Dimon of Billings; sons, Gregory and wife Francoise DeRocher, Nicholas and wife Julie DeRocher all of Alabama. Twenty grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren plus two "on the way", and two great-great-grandchildren also survive her.
Please join us for a Memorial Service to celebrate her life on Friday, August 24, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Dahl Funeral Chapel, 10 Yellowstone Avenue, Billings. A reception will follow. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to "The Women's Wellness Fund" c/o Billings Clinic Foundation, P.O. Box 3566, Billings, MT 59103.
Mom we love you and you will always be with us!


This Thursday, I will be flying (with my sisters, stepmom and dad) to Billings, MT to go to her memorial service. I'm excited to see all my family. The occasion will be sad yet, celebratory at the same time. I'm also eager to have a break to recharge my batteries. Please pray that the traveling goes well and that Tim won't go crazy with Rachel. I haven't been away from Rach for more than 1 night and I'm kind of anxious. I'm sure nothing will go right while I'm away. The world at the Hudgins' home will collapse in my absence. :)

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Great Quote

"Facebook does complicate the pleasure of gently losing touch with people you're tired of."
-Newsweek (August 27, 2007 ed.)

Saturday, August 11, 2007

The Underdog

This makes me feel all warm and tingly inside. Yay Ron Paul!!

Ron Paul Rallies Supporters

Ron Paul 2008

Thursday, August 9, 2007

While reading the newest Parents magazine, I came across these really cool wooden blocks. A great idea for all those parents wanting to start their kids on Greek early. Particularly those who are of the Reformed persuasion. :)Heck, they even have Hebrew! Kind of on the pricey side but they are good solid wood and they'd last forever. Check them out at Il Cocco di Mamma.