Laughter, Sorrow, Tears and Joy

I love this old Swedish Proverb.....

I have found this to be true in life and it was reaffirmed on Friday.

We all gathered to say goodbye to Joni's only child, David.

Actually, we were there to comfort and support Joni......

her mother, Lily, and the family.

As heartbreaking as it was to see them in so much pain from losing David, you could also see the comfort being shared in this time of grief.

Of all the ones there, David's 15 year old daughter, Chloe, made my heart squeeze.

No child is prepared to lose their parent.

I am praying especially hard for her.

Adults have more tools to cope with their grief. They have more memories of the loved one than a child. They realize David is at peace and in heaven. Chloe just knows her daddy is gone.

We prepared food for afterward at Joni's house and it felt good to be doing something to help.

Normally I am the one taking pictures!

Deanie took this one.

Bill, Nita's son, flew in from Arizona early that morning and flew back out that very afternoon.

Lots of people brought food.....

This Black Forest Cake was worthy of being a centerpiece!

Trish, Deanie's daughter, brought the bundt cakes and cookies from the Swiss Bakery Shop.

This table was the most talked about and rightly so!

I truly believe it is healing to be with those you love and who love you when you are going through such a loss.

Trish was quite the photographer!

She took this really good pic of Deanie and me.

But she had her challenges to get it!

That Charlie!!!

Deanie took this one.

She said, "Linda! Come in here and sit on the couch!  I want to take your picture!"

She made me look better than I really do!

This is a fun photo of Mike's car.
I think it is the coolest thing!
It's a station wagon. I didn't think they made them anymore.
I can't remember what make and model - but I like it!

I left there around 2:00 and went over to visit Mother and Lillian.
I always seem to arrive while they are taking a nap!
Still, we had a nice little visit and I promised them the next time I come,
I will bring lunch and my laptop and show them all the pictures from our Sibling Trip to Galveston.
Friday afternoon traffic had already started when I left Fort Worth and I drove straight to Dallas and Quadville. It was Friday night movie, pizza, popcorn and Coke night!

It was such a good movie and the quads really got into it.

It was fun to hear them talk about what was happening in the film.

I got up at 5:30 that morning, left the house at 7:00 and returned at 10:00 that night.

I went straight to bed.

I did not do damage control or anything!

Saturday morning - late - I decided to straighten up the kitchen.

Louis Dean had fried shrimp and potatoes and popped popcorn.....on the stove.

We have microwave popcorn but he wanted to pop his own.

He had told me on the phone that it didn't turn out good.

I pulled out the trash bag to tie it up and put a new one in the container -

when the contents spilled out from holes all over the bag.

 ** Note to Louis Dean **

Hot popcorn poured into a plastic trash bag WILL melt said bag.

Life is never dull around here!

I spent all of Saturday afternoon cleaning and fluffing.

I started with the bedroom......

I should have cleaned the guest bedroom where Louis Dean has been sleeping since he got the flu.

Every time I look in there - it looks worse.

Maybe I will get to it soon.

I like this saying!

I love my tiny little bathroom!

Louis Dean went in there to clean the drain on my sink.

He got in and out without knocking down anything!

We had an early evening in the gazebo with our wine and was ready for bed by 9:00!

That brings me to Sunday morning.

*Coffee Time With Friends*

I love Sundays and I love going to church.....and The Old Rugged Cross is my favorite hymn.

It felt good to be in church.

I had missed a few Sundays.

I saved seats for Amber and Mike.

The first Sunday of the month we take communion.

When we went to the altar, Amber put her arms around me and said a fervent prayer for Summer.

Summer has had such a hard time. I won't go into it - but Saturday night a good number of friends and family were all talking with Summer on an instant messaging thread - and God was answering prayers. Summer has continued to do the next right thing and take the next step. This now involved another doctor and what was supposed to have been a 3 week wait for an appointment - miraculously happened this morning. Last night the doctor called her back and said he had a cancellation - he could see her at 10:00 this Sunday morning!

That's what we were praying for.....answers and hope.

While we still do not have answers, we know we have hope.

Amber prayed that God would make known to Summer that he has not forgotten her.

It fill my heart to hear Amber pray for her sister.

Earlier in the service, I looked over and saw Amber and Mike holding hands.

What a beautiful picture I still have of that in my mind.

I am so very grateful they are godly parents seeking help and direction from the Lord in raising their precious children.

What more could a grandmother wish for?

This afternoon I came home and took a nap.

It was raining lightly and I just wanted to go to bed.

I stayed there for a couple of hours and when I woke up and looked at the clock - I remembered I was going to visit Reaoma at dinner!

I put my earrings back on and my shoes and went just like I was!

I had changed into a loose black dress that I sleep in so I kept that on and added a black sweater and left in a big hurry! I was back an hour and a half later and Louis Dean was still in the gazebo where I had told him goodbye! He said he didn't know whether to say hello or ask for my identification.

I think that means he's been missing me.

Perhaps he should have gone to church with us!

I finished dressing the dining for Easter.......

Rayne will be coming home for Spring Break.

I host a Good Friday Dinner for my children and grandchildren every year and it is wonderful that Sabrina and Rayne will be here!

I'm not using all my decorations this year.

I've actually bagged up some to take to Goodwill.

I hold on to too much for too long.

If I don't truly love it - I'm letting it go.

The candle is lit and this room is now done!

And now I am all caught up.

We are going to go down to the ranch this week.

I have missed it so much.

Hoping and praying it dries out enough so we can get in.

I want to feed the goats and the chickens.

I want to let the ducks out in the morning and put them up in the evening.

I want to see what's growing and listen to the sounds of country.

I want to watch the horses run across the fields.

I even want to hear the coyotes howling at night.

Soon, I hope!

Very soon.