New Year's Day we welcomed a daughter home from Japan, where she had lived for the previous 15 months, serving as a missionary in the Nagoya area. Oh, my heart, it made me so happy to see all my children together again. She had flown to Japan a mere 18 days prior to her brother's return from his military service in Afghanistan, and they had not seen each other since October of 2010. (Got some great pictures, just can't find the camera...)
Three days later, my three darling girls celebrated their 23rd birthday.
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| The girls (age 2-1/2) with their Grandpa and Old Hawk, Summer of '92 |
That same morning, I received news that my Father had passed away peacefully in his sleep.
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| With my Dad, 1985 |
It was a blessing for him, having suffered with kidney disease and on dialysis for the past 12 years. My ten sisters and brothers and our families were all able to gather at our family farm in Idaho for our goodbyes. The funeral service included lots of "Royle Stories" beginning with his birth in a log cabin in Wyoming, hunting and fishing stories, playing the saxaphone, scouting for huckleberries, riding his horse, teaching school, and raising 11 kids on a 3.4-acre farm. It was delightful to hear tales of Dad's humor and antics from his friends, neighbors, and former students. I'll have to share some of those adventures another time. The funeral was really a celebration of my Dad's life, and I can imagine a sweet reunion with my Mom, who died of cancer over 13 years ago. She and Dad used to play in a band, with Mom on the piano and Dad on his sax. The service also included a couple of his favorite saxophone numbers played by a grandson. I probably shed more tears than before, remembering how "us kids" would all gather around the piano and dance to old Boots Randolph tunes our parents would play. I sang and somehow managed to make it through the whole
song.
It's bittersweet, but I can feel the Lord's comforting spirit surrounding my family. And I can be grateful for good parents who taught us all to love each other, to work hard and play hard, encouraged our creativity and self-sufficiency, and all with a sense of humor. I love these people! And I can remember and cherish my parents' love and concern for me, my family and the rest of our prodigious clan.
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| Dad, Brothers & Sisters, '09 |
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| My Family |
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| My Clan! |
It's difficult for me to put feelings into words, so I'll just leave it to this hymn.
God Be With You Till We Meet Again
New Year's Day we welcomed a daughter home from Japan, where she had lived for the previous 15 months, serving as a missionary in the Nagoya area. Oh, my heart, it made me so happy to see all my children together again. She had flown to Japan a mere 18 days prior to her brother's return from his military service in Afghanistan, and they had not seen each other since October of 2010. (Got some great pictures, just can't find the camera...)
Sorry to hear of your loss. Happy to see you are back in the swing of things. I started a service project after the death of my husband and foster son. My husband died at the age of 45. Both taken away in their prime. My foster son, CWO4, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 2 years before his death six months ago. My husband was active duty CWO4, 45 years old and passed due to a massive heart attach while running his PRT. He was to retire in just six months after serving for over 30 years in the USNavy. Last May I officially started the Military Heroes Comfort Project. The projects goal is to supply comfort items to the military and their family members that have cancer treatment in the Military Hospital in Hampton Roads area. The VA in our area, dependents of all ages and active duty receive treatment from fantastic providers at the Military Hospital; however, comfort items are not afforded them due to military budget cuts. So far we have made and donated over 200 chemotherapy hats, 45 quilt, 15 prayer shawls, stuffed animals, slippers, lap blankets, and hundreds of certificates to crafter, staff, and the patients and their families. So, I know what happens first hand from prayers and great people from all areas of our great Nation. God bless you. Without you I could not have finished my first quilt for the Military Heroes Comfort Project.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your note! I remember talking about your quilt with the Carpenter's Star center and eagle medallion with stars all around the borders.
DeleteIt seems like quilting really has a place in the grief process. The first pieced quilt I finished was begun by my mother shortly before her death. I gave it to my Dad the following Christmas. It healed me with every stitch, thinking about her, remembering times together in her sewing room. And my sister made a quilt from my Dad's old shirts. Quilts are more than just fabric, batting, stitches. They are memories; they are a warm hug from Momma, they are comfort. Bless you for your work for the military chemo patients in your area.