Good Evening!
Today is Sunday May 27, 2012, Memorial Weekend….
While I have posted since Janelle left us, in my mind this seems like Post #1 of the new journey. I am still not sure exactly how long this will go and where this will take us however since the majority of the comments I am getting suggest we should continue, continue we will. I have lots of thoughts about things I can share in the weeks and months ahead that will be very special. There will be some humor as I reflect back on many of Janelle’s posts and provide you the “Ken” comments on many things she talked about.
Today’s post won’t be too long in words however depending on your interest you may end up here for many hours. Warning in advance…..these videos are sweet, but some of them bring me to tears immediately.
Grief…there is a lot of it right now. I will explore that with you more also in the weeks ahead because it is really crazy….fine one minute, crying another minute, wanting to be around people sometime, sometimes not wanting to be around people. I have such a great support network of friends that hang out with me and talk when I want to talk, don’t talk when I don’t want to talk. I also of course have Britt and Ian, both of who have been huge to my healing over the last two weeks. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, they have lost their Mom. They are very concerned about their Dad but I am equally concerned about their healing.
OK, how about this picture? In the many pictures I came across this week, this one really hit a chord. Janelle loved her job, every aspect of it however no question her favorite time of the day was morning car pool, greeting the children, greeting the Moms (Dads & Grandparents as well). Look at that smile! How could kids not want to jump out of the car? How could caregivers not feel comfortable leaving their children in her care?
I took my first trip out of town this weekend. I even took Roxy with me. Short, went to Raleigh for one day/night to hang out with Britt and Kenneth and celebrate the birthday of their niece with the Freeman family. Special group of people we are now involved with. Happy Birthday Little Girl……
OK, I wanted to recap our activities Honoring Janelle. Below are several links to various videos. A brief explanation is included for each one. If you decide to view any of these and have a problem, please let me know as this is my first attempt at streaming video. Again, depending on your relationship with Janelle and the rest of our extended family, be warned that tears may develop….
Janelle Marie Clausen Hayes – Video Tribute. This is a collection of pictures starting very early in Janelle’s life. This was shown repeatedly at the visitation without the music. We shuffle played her iPhone 280+ Praise & Worship Songs instead. (13m 21s).
Janelle Marie Clausen Hayes – Craft Montage w/ Music. This was put together and all credit goes to our Worship Pastor (Brad). I added some music but again, no credit to me. This was shown a few times at church in the weeks before Janelle left us as they discussed the situation and prayed for us. (2m 13s).
Janelle Marie Clausen Hayes – Random Pictures. I decided I wanted pictures of the three services where we Honored My Janelle. My niece kept the camera handy and captured many pictures from the Visitation, Burial, Cousins Get Together and Celebration Services. Thank you Sarah! (8m 27s).
Janelle Marie Clausen Hayes – Sister’s (and brother-in-law) Thoughts and Reflections. This was also the work of the Worship Pastor at our church (thanks again Brad). We had not quite decided who would talk at the Celebration service so Brad pulled these family members aside at the Visitation to provide some reflection. (4m 28s).
And finally……
Janelle Marie Clausen Hayes – Celebration Service. This is the entire Celebration Service Video. It is very long. It is very Honoring. You will see bits of the above videos in this including the entire Sister’s video. Again, rather long but I wanted to provide it to you if you were interested. (1h 27m 39s).
Thank you for all of your encouragement. It has and does mean a lot to me. My plan is to be back next Sunday with at least a short update, perhaps a couple more pictures of My Janelle.
Ken
Strength & Peace to you…….Psalm 29:11
hi, Ken, I can see what you mean about the tears...I haven't viewed the videos yet, but when I saw that picture of Janelle at work...the tears couldn't help but fill my eyes...I could really feel her presence...even though I was only a blog friend...perhaps our faith and our craft passion is making me feel her...and your love for her. I love seeing these photos...of her healthy and smiling and waiting for her next crafty session or a dinner with family or a little weekend getaway with you...so many precious memories...thanks for staying in touch :) I finally sat down to write out your card I am sending you...will mail this week (from Canada)...hugs to you, Britt, Ian and Kenneth.
Posted by: Maureen | 05/27/2012 at 11:08 PM
Thank you again for sharing your dear Janelle with us. I watched all but the last video , I will watch it later. They are all so beautiful and sad at the same time. I will continue to pray for you , Britt and Ian. As I know these days must be the hardest . I loved seeing the video of some of the cards Janelle made. I would see something she made and then I would have to go and buy the stamp or dies so I could make something like Janelle did. She was an enabler :) I was looking at one of my first blog post and there was Janelle giving me kind words of encouragement. I miss her , and her emails. My heart aches for you, and your loss. On a happy note Janelle is home! That is wonderful, for her.
Posted by: marybethL. | 05/28/2012 at 12:11 AM
So enjoyed this glimpse into "Janelle" and your celebration of her earthly life.
Thank you
Posted by: Ginna G | 05/28/2012 at 12:39 AM
Thank you for all of this, Ken. Oh my, you must miss her so. I'm glad you have good support around you. Still praying for you and your family every day.
Posted by: SueB | 05/28/2012 at 01:19 AM
Thank you for the posting, Ken. I will look
at the videos tomorrow. I hope that all of
this "work" you are doing for us will also
be a healing measure for you. I think you
are doing remarkably well for such a short
time. Keeping you and the family in my
thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Sherry in MI | 05/28/2012 at 02:24 AM
Thank you for sharing these videos Ken! I wanted to be there but couldn't make it happen. I feel like I was after seeing the photos. I will have to come back when it isn't 2:30am to watch the whole service. I didn't comment on your last post... as I just don't usually comment on every post... I am usually more of a creeper... but I wanted you to know that I am so glad that you are keeping the blog going! I think everyone here cares about your entire family and want to be here for you guys... either by comments or prayer. I think we all want to know how you guys are doing and are just not ready to be done with the Hayes family! :) I think about you guys often... sometimes I cry when Janelle pops into my thoughts and it hits me that she is gone. Janelle and I were not best friends... just as good of friends as you could be through an online friendship... but I knew what a special woman she was. It was so evident... even through a computer! When I start crying... then I start praying for you guys because I can't imagine what it feels like for you! I love you all and I am so glad that we will continue to hear from you! :)
Posted by: Kelley Eubanks | 05/28/2012 at 03:43 AM
Just finished watching the first video and i m already in tears.You can definately see that this woman had a full life.Im absolutely going to watch every single moment of these videos.
Ken, i cant begin to tell you how much i appreciate what you re doing. I m praying for you and your children.
Posted by: eleftheria | 05/28/2012 at 06:13 AM
Continue this as you can. Love you.
(Who knew? Math guy: scribe?? ;))
Posted by: lynne | 05/28/2012 at 10:31 AM
Ken: LOTS of smiles on these pictures. As it was. Thanks for these remembrances. Love you.
Posted by: lynne | 05/28/2012 at 10:59 AM
God Bless you! Thank you for sharing these precious memories. I also enjoyed the videos and photos. Happy to hear that you were able to go on a short visit with the kids.
You don't know me but we are fellow children of God.
Posted by: Patricia | 05/28/2012 at 12:00 PM
Ken,
Thanks alot for sharing all of these memories. Janelle would be so proud of your blogging ability. I have seriously enjoyed following Show & Tell for quite some time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as the days go on. Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Doud | 05/28/2012 at 12:04 PM
Thank you for sharing the videos. They did bring tears to my eyes, but also a profound sense of love which you could feel in each and every picture. Loved hearing the music that was so meaningful to Janelle.
Posted by: Lisa (Williams) Hadley | 05/28/2012 at 03:26 PM
My dear Ken,
after watching the whole thing i wanted to thank you one more time for doing this. For the first time i felt like i was there,a part of rejoicing her life.This brought a closure for me because i was thinking every day that i didn t have the chance to say goodbye.
I also want you to know hat i beleive Janelle would be really pleased by the way you honored her.
After all, i m sure now that Janelle didn t have an impact only on me but to everybody.
God bless you
Posted by: eleftheria | 05/28/2012 at 03:30 PM
Thank you for your thoughtfulness in sharing all of this with us.
Yes, Janelle had a full and wonderful life, but, oh my, what she left behind is just as wonderful: a loving family, children and co-workers who loved her dearly, a church family who cherished her, a craft family who adored her talent and all she shared, and perhaps, most importantly, her beautiful testimony of what really matters in this life. . .and after.
Posted by: Bev | 05/28/2012 at 04:52 PM
Aloha Ken and family, mahalo for sharing all your precious memories. You are in my prayers daily! Grief is a funny thing as you mentioned, best advice is to "roll with it"... it is part of the healing. So good to hear you have such a great support system to help. . .
Take care of yourself and know you are in the prayers of many, many folks and Janelle is in a wonderful place waiting for you.
Posted by: Goodly Creations (Volcano) | 05/28/2012 at 11:23 PM
Thinking of you and the family, Ken.
Posted by: Don and Mary | 05/29/2012 at 09:02 AM
Ken,
Great to see all the pictures/vidoes...thanks for updating the blog and continuing it as long as you can.
Donald and Mary
Posted by: Mary Brooks | 06/02/2012 at 08:21 PM
Ken, your right, the tears are flowing. What an absolute beautiful person Janelle was, I am so honored to have known her. She really brought beauty and love to the world. I can see why Janelle chose you to be her one and only throughout her life. Two beautiful souls, you will always be one. Thank you so much for sharing with us, as I live in Oregon and of could not make it to her service. It warms my heart to see the love and how Janelle shines through. I wish I could just give you a big hug, for all you do, throughout all your pain and sorrow, you manage to share with us. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough! God Bless YOU!
Posted by: Janet Brattin | 06/07/2012 at 10:10 AM