The circle of life...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

No month in my life has made these verses more true. On November 5th, we experienced the time to be born and welcomed a new baby into our home. Aiden Daniel was born to Brad and Amber and is quite the joy in our lives. He is really growing like a weed and is already more than two weeks old. We are so happy to have this little life in our home.

Here is Daddy Brad, Great-Grammy Frisbie, and little baby Aiden on the day he came home from the hospital:

Aiden with Grammy Cone

Aiden with Granddad Cone

Again with Great-Gram

Uncle Brandon with his Madi and new nephew Aiden

On November 15th, we experienced the time to die with the passing of my Grandma Hitt. She had been fighting Parkinson's for several years and finally lost her battle with the disease last Sunday morning. I will miss her greatly. She and I had such a close relationship and I am sad that she is no longer with us, although I am glad that she is no longer fighting. I find great comfort knowing that she is finally in Heaven with Jesus.

Grandma would have been 90 years old next month, and would have celebrated 62 years of marriage on the 30th of this month. We are all truly blessed to have had so many wonderful years with her. Her obituary can be found by clicking here.

Her funeral was this past Thursday. It was a great celebration of her life and there were lots of family and friends in attendance. It was great to hear everyone's memories of my grandma, and to see all of the lives she had touched. Here are some pictures from the funeral and from the grave side service.



We had quite the collection of pictures, memory albums and artifacts to share with everyone at the funeral. It is really a hard thing to summarize someone's life, but it was helpful to us to share with the world all of her accomplishments during her life. Along with the pictures below are several of the dresses Grandma made for my sister, cousin and I. We got a new dress from Grandma every Christmas and Easter. Madison was able to wear one of Grandma's dresses for the reception (pictures are further down in the post).


While we were all dressed up for the funeral, we decided to take some Hitt family pictures.
Here are the four great-granddaughters. There is a running bet as to the gender of the 5th great-grandchild...no one has any doubts that it is a girl on this side of the family, as my dad was the last boy born.

My cousin Tabitha's three girls who are 5, 7, and 9:

Grandpa with his great-granddaughters. He sure seems proud of these girls.

Grandpa with his direct descendants, from oldest to youngest: Janet Cranston, Joe Hitt, Bruce Hitt, Tabitha Poplin, Jami Cone, Jenni Hitt, Sydni Poplin, Hayli Poplin, Nikki Poplin, Madison Cone, and baby yet to be named.

The entire Harold Hitt family, minus Brandon who had to be out of town for an education conference this week...we might just have to photoshop him in later. :) We added Janet's husband Roy, Joe's wife Allene, my mom, and Tab's husband Jeff.

Madi and her momma:


The Poplin family,

The Joe Hitt family,

Joe and Allene Hitt

Janet and Roy Cranston

The Bruce Hitt family...again imagine Brandon beside me.

Bruce and Tammi Hitt

Grandpa and his three kids.

We will miss Grandma greatly, we know she is better off now, but it still hurts to know that she is gone. My heart really breaks for my Grandpa, I would be crushed if anything ever happens to Brandon, I can't imagine how lonely and hurt Grandpa has to be after losing his wife of 62 years. He seems to be handling the loss very well, but I know it has to be hard.

To end this post on a brighter note, here are some more pictures of Madison. She turned 8 months old on the 12th, and she is sure full of life.

Here she is making faces for the camera while standing on Granddad Cone's lap.

Madi with her Daddy...and the Bronco's football. Lets hope they play better tomorrow. :(



Grampa Hitt was in charge of bath time at Great-Grandpa Hitt's house this week. The wash tub sink worked great for giving little miss Madi her bath.


Brandon comes home tomorrow from his conference in Nashville. I have missed him greatly this week and I am sure that Madi missed him too. It will be nice to have him home again. I am also glad that this will be a short week of school, Thanksgiving break starts Wednesday at 12:40. :)