James L. Castonguay December 15, 1923 - October 5, 2008Forever missed~ Forever loved.
I have procrastinated posting about the recent passing of my Dad because I have been trying to find just the right words. .. that's the pesty perfectionist side of me. I haven't wanted to post anything else in the meantime because I feel saying something in honor of him deserves priority posting. Today, Jewelya, Jim's first granddaughter sent me her notes from the eulogy she gave at his service. Perfect! Thank you so much!
Here is some of what she said:
Today is a day for celebration to come together with love & honor for our loved one’s journey home. Change is never easy when we are attached to the ever changing physical form. Relationships never end, they only change level.
In his 85 years, nearly a century, James Castonguay graced us with his whitty charater that will remain a part of us long after he is gone. Also known as Jim, Dad, Grampa, & Grampa "GG", he was the youngest child and outlived all of his 14 siblings.
Born in Mill Town, Montana, of French born parents, he took after his father, working in the mill in Montana before joining the Army. He crossed the English Channel on his 21st birthday, served in WWII, was part of the second wave of American soldiers that hit the beach at Normandy and was a decorated solider and Purple Heart recipient. After returning from the war, he married and had his first child, Sue. He moved his family to Renton, WA in 1957 to pursue a better life.
He later married Lois, who commends his partnership of 40 years, dedication as a husband and his willingness to step in and become a special father to help raise six children, along with their youngest child together, Lee.
A carpenter by trade, he retired in 1989. Not only will his character and handy work live on with us, so will many of the buildings that he helped build. These include the Columbia Tower, the Metropolitan Buildings, Microsoft's first campus buildings, Cascade Vistas, and the house he built in Renton, to name a few.
Henry - 8 yrs Hailey - 6 yrs 
. . .did not come out of storage under our stairs, was not pre-strung with a zillion lights, and did not leave our carpet needle free. BUT ~ this tree is one of the most beautiful fresh cut trees we've ever had, was the first one we saw at the tree farm and smells so incredibly good it's got me giddy. I'm not kidding. . . I didn't want to put a single thing on it because it is so beautiful! By nightfall the lights were strung, the star topper was in place and a simple sampling of decorations were hung. It almost feels like costume jewelery for a queen.
Casey, Lindsey, Ariele, Madison, Taylor
This has become one of our favorites places in Sumner! The best bagel sandwiches, cafe'latte' martinis, and coffee art! Owners, Trish and Ben, are adorable and so much fun! 
I drive by this tree everyday when I pick the girls up from school. In the fall, it makes me "ohhh...ahhh". . .I LOVE LEAVES! We had a big windstorm recently. . .the tree is totally naked this week, shivering in the cold.
Campbell Marie Allred
The picture quality may not be that great. . .but he was too CUTE for words with those ears on his head. He giggled right back at us! Hayden is one handsome baby, Shrek or No-Shrek ears!
James L. Castonguay 
Last month we spent a weekend at Desert Aire, we rented the above flicks and watched them ALL in two nights. . .this is like eating chocolate to me! DELICIOUS! 
Taylor worked this summer to be able to purchase a camera she wanted. She loves to experiment with it. . .I think she captured just the right light on this one! Ally was exploring the sea life at Anderson Island's marine park during our Labor Day weekend camping trip. This year was especially fun for us. . .a gaggle of the girls' friends joined us!
Recently Taylor wanted to wallpaper one of the walls in her bedroom with pages of magazines containing things she likes. One of her friends did this and she loved the idea. She was so happy on how it turned out. Unfortunately, the tape we had didn't hold so well on a textured surface. The next morning she woke up to a blanket of magazine pages on her floor. . .rippppppppppp.
I can think of few things better on the senses than loving on a sweet baby. Thank you Baby Hayden! You were Henry's and G'ma's dessert!
I was looking for a particular photo in my e-files and came across this one. . which I love! While food shopping at Fred Meyer, the girls and I took Avery on a detour through the shoe department. Can you just see "shooz" on her lips as we browsed up and down the aisles. What a field trip!
Grampa Moe is known to many as the "Candy Man" because he's always sharing his assorted candies. Sunday was his 80th birthday so we decided to give him the ultimate sweet tribute.
Those rain clouds hung with us for hours on our drive to Eastern Washington last weekend. We didn't mind because we knew where we were going they wouldn't survive.
Beautiful Columbia River Valley. . .this was our view for the next two days. (Thanks Cheri and Steve) Those scared-y-cat clouds. . hardly showed their faces at all.
Return trip home via Chinook Pass and Mt. Rainier National Forest. . .this is one of my favorite drives. . .it takes your breath away when you come around that turn to see a 15,000 ft mountain waiting to show her beauty.
Betty Brashear
Tia, Melinda, Kathy, Mary
www.dooce.com
Times Square . . .just before the downpour
Times Square ~ 42nd St.
The Empire State Building ~ 34th St.
Strong dude!
Outside Joe Dempsey's Grill ~ 34th St.
Battery Park, end of Manhatten (see our Lady in the distance?)
Subway ride uptown to Times Square
New car on the red line. . .clean, clean, clean!
Back where we started
We are amazed every May when this "gigantus" Rhody blooms. . .it's directly across from our front yard. . .our mailbox and newspaper tube are below. (That'll give you perspective!) Some of the neighbors that have lived here decades guestimate the age of the beauty to be over 50 years. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy it everytime we look outside. Thank goodness we don't have to prune it!
