Perhaps it's morbid, but that's ok

Time to update those funeral plans.  YES indeed this is the same chick who created her original funeral plan at the age of 15, following the Columbine High School murders.  Every few years I update it.... it's that time.  I prefer my final wishes to be known loud and clear.  There is no question or confusion on what I want- ever!  And this time I have huge changes in desires, and I'm serious!  I already have a living will and have signed papers to not permit me to be a life long vegetable-- that is still true.  Yes I was one odd 15 year old, odder yet at 19 when I made on my desires legally known and signed and notarized so lets just hit the ball out of the park this time!

1. My first desire still remains organ donation, and yes I have the cutsey symbol on my driver's license, but just to be completely clear!  I am all in for ANY type of tissue/skin/organ donation.  Don't worry I'm dead- or there about so I don't need any of those parts so please save as many lives as possible!
2. My second desire goes hand in hand with my first.  If I can only have one of the two follow step 1- Organ Donation.  In some cases both are possible and in others only one of the two.  However I have decided I would like my body donates to science.  Yes science, seriously even though I doubt it will help cure any disease, perhaps it will.  But further more it's a free, so no expense to it. I doubt anyone would visit my grave anyways so why waste all that money?  If you want somewhere to go to remember me-- volunteer your time somewhere, that's what I would do!
3. I will allow whomever is still alive decide but with the Stanford University Body Donation Program, they give family the option of receiving the ashes of me after they use my body for whatever, so there is still that option with minimal expense although it obviously won't be as quick a process as a funeral home giving you ashes, why waste such money?  If for whatever reason body donation isn't an option (due to organ donation or a tragedy that won't allow the release of my body w/i 12 hours of death) then cremation is my preference.
4. I would still like a Memorial Service, small in size as I don't have many friends/family who would be attending, but I still want something.  You can further minimize costs by holding it at a church rather than a funeral home chapel, but again that is up to my remaining family.  I think anything cheaper is certainly wiser.
5. I think it would be hysterical to rent a coffin as if my body is in it (it won't be) and then when people go to "pay their final respects" have a note, "She's already gone" or just a picture... but that may be distasteful, so you can decide.... but I think it would lighten the mood at least.
6. NO FLOWERS-- I am not a flowery planty type of person and especially not those dead scented ones that funerals are known for.  The smell of those ewww! If you insist on some plant-- at least make it minimal and potted ones that don't smell all funeral like, and then perhaps some one would want the potted plant to take home.  If not I'm sure some church or school would accept the donation.
7. Since we are skipping flowers the funeral home places typical like to list charities to donate to:
1. Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center
2. Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy Scholarship Fund
8. My favorite color is orange, my 2nd favorite color is bright not dreary so only people in my dress code need to come-- NO black, grey, dead colors allowed!-- that goes too for the preacher, in fact I'd prefer he skip that whole over-dressed suit and tie thing!
9.  Go ahead and waste some of my money on a nicer obituary please, include all my siblings names, nephews and nieces.... not just the fact I have some, but their names!
10. Put up many picture of myself with those I loved throughout the room

Reunion of sisters

The biggest flaw I have personally witnessed in the foster care system from my point of view is the huge lack of stability.  This may not mean what you expect.  So many kids are tossed to multiple homes a year.  And even kids who stay in the same home many months or even a year, once they leave that homecontact is basically completely cut at that point.  As a biological child within a foster home, this aspect was very difficult.  Even as an adult I swear it still effects me.  I have zero desire to make friends or let people into my little circle.  I have no desire to let someone in and then to be disappointed or loose contact, no need to make my adult self vulnerable like I was as a minor within a foster home.
I am exceptionally thankful for relationships I have via foster care siblings, but it was not easy getting to this point.  I have found almost all my foster siblings via facebook or myspace, which is certainly nice.... but doesn't make up for lost time and obviously the closeness once had within the household isn't the same via social networking, but we are certainly still family in my heart and mind!
Two years ago I found Julie!  After a very long search for years- after I had already found most my foster siblings, I found her--- with a FULL new name... no part of her name was the same.  She had been adopted, thus the first and mid and maiden name change and she was now married thus a 2nd last name.  She wasn't easy to find, but I was ecstatic!
Little Miss Julie Ann who I remembered from 1997/98

Unfortunately she hadn't had the happiest of childhood.  She didn't remember me, but she did vaguely remember mom and dad.  I guess if you have had 40 homes in your 10 years in foster care... it isn't simple to recall everyone.
She's now 25, and had her first baby in December.  They live all the way in Texas.  She was coming "home" to Pennsylvania to see her biological family, so of course we had to arrange a meet up.  During her time in our home, Missy also lived there, so she also had to join in on our reunion.

 

We got to the mall a little before noon.  Missy, Justin, and my wonderful four nephews were already there.  We saw the Easter Bunny and rode the train while we waited on Jewel and baby Ziya to arrive.

Meeting sweet baby Ziya and her amazing, beautiful, loving mommy for the first time since 1998!

We shared a family meal at the buffet--- yes all 13 of us

 Then we headed to the hotel I had reserved and it was swim time!  This was Miss Ziya's 1st time swimming!!  She seemed super content and comfortable in the pool--- not to mention beautiful!

The hot tub was a hit for all the kids, of course--- but the jets weren't working

Meanwhile, a certain babby princess got tired of swimming a tad before the big kids... and we found this when we got back to the hotel room

 About 6:30 Missy, Justin, Tucker and Carter left for home.  Hunter and I succeeded in convincing Missy to let the big boys spend the night at the hotel!  Yesss!  That of course meant more swimming until the pool closed!

Some more cute pictures from the evening/night at the hotel.... Our evening included Little Caesar's pizza, Jewel doing our hair and everyone loving on baby Z!

Morning came far too soon!... I think I managed 4.5 hours of sleep.  Jewel and I stayed up chatting later than the others.... far later!

Jewel and I headed to breakfast just after 8 ahead of everyone else.  I got to play with Z while Jewel ate.  Missy and the little boys got back to the hotel around 9 after a snowy drive.  After everyone had breakfast the kids of course had to swim until 11:30.  That gave us just enough time to pack up and check out by noon.

Mom and dad wanted to go sight seeing of their former homes and then ate at mom's favorite restaurant.  All the rest of us hit up the mall again!  The kids enjoyed the play area, especially the ball pitt!

Most the kids rode the Easter train.  A big event of the day included baby Z getting her first Ariel outfit!  Jewel is a die-hard Little Mermaid, so of course I had to get Ziya and Ariel outfit!!

 We had lunch in the food court.  Then we checked out the movie store.

My handsome- yet crazy nephews with my niece princess Z

Sisters reunited 12years later

 Sadly at that point it was time to call our visit finished.  Missy and the boys left from the mall while we took Jewel back to her dad's house in time for one final photo of baby Z in her other shirt I got her... 100% true for sure "Aunts are Awesome"

And we then we had to say our goodbyes but certainly not for such an extended amount of time.

We won't mention the drive home.  Well other than to say, it proves why I am perfectly ok with over-using my GPS... It certainly beats out under using it!