Jewells of Thought

Mom and I got back to our morning routine of walking first thing this morning. It felt good after missing yesterday not only did we have the funeral, but Mom and my brother had podiatrist appointments.

One great blessing from the last few days was the beautiful sunny days we had for traveling both days. The weather has also been really good for our green tomatoes they have finally turned colors over the last few days. So today we will be picking them and then making another batch of salsa.

There are memories from the last few days that have unsettled me and yet some have been good reminders. Our family is strong, we persevere and move one day at a time doing the things we have to do until it’s been weeks, months and even years later.

This December will be 24 years since Grandpa Leo died. I sat next to his little sister yesterday. She was around 4 years old when he went to war in 1943. Now she’s the oldest one of the 6 kids left. Their baby brother Uncle Jim was born 3 weeks before Grandpa and Grandma got married. Now Irene and Jim are the only two siblings left.

In front of Aunt Irene and me were Mom and Dad during the funeral. I noticed when Dad got out his hankie to wipe the tears, because it sent my waterworks into motion. There is nothing that gets a daughter more than when she sees her Dad cry. The speaker helped with his storytelling, the laughter from the stories of my Aunts life that some of us didn’t know was comforting.

Then watching the line of hugging and speaking one more time to my cousins, Uncle, Grandma and my Aunt was somewhat difficult. When the funeral attendant got to my row we were all family. All of the non-family or family mixed in with the friends were mostly through the line. As I was trying to think what to say to Andy, he beat me to the punch line as we hugged. He caught me off guard asking me how I thought Dad was doing.

You know this has always been my problem, at the end of a funeral service knowing what to say. Even when it is family or friends I know well I tend to get tongue twisted. Somehow both days the words were given to me. Any other time I would not have liked to go through the line without my parents close by, but yesterday God gave me the strength.

Sunday afternoon we got there earlier than most of our family. I got to hug Julie and it felt like she didn’t want to let go. I am not usually the strong one in the family, but I felt God empowering me to be the support my cousins needed including young Kylee, who like her mom, clung to me longer. God seemed to be pulling me out of my routine to step up for Grandma Sunday as I sat with her and with my cousins in those moments.

Routines are meant to change throughout our lives. All summer long I have been asking for prayer over my family and these very cousins. Somehow God seems to be working in my life in what I have been dealing with this entire year. My routine has been changed several times since January and I have learned a lot about myself, my writing and my spiritual maturity.

I am intrigued to see what new routine God is preparing me for.