Emerging from a Bleak Mid-Winter

Have you ever noticed how God designed the seasons—each one dependant on the next? Without winter there wouldn’t be much of a harvest. And, spring flowers wouldn’t bloom unless the sun warmed the frosty ground. Life is no different. Through seasons we continually change and grow. Each transition is a passageway—bridging the old and the new.

Recently I’ve had to let go of some things, some of which I was prepared for, others I was not. God keeps reminding me that He created seasons to have a beginning and an end. And, I know we must go through the first to end up at the second. Thankfully, there are loving people in my life cheering me on each step of the way.

During this transition, Ryan’s grandmother passed away just a few days after her 90th birthday. At the funeral, I learned things about her I’d never known. Apparently, she hid her true age from everyone—even from her husband who was six years younger than she. We had a good laugh when we learned she had their tombstones engraved to say she was two years his junior.

Did I mention that was after her conscience got the best of her? Originally she had it engraved to say she was six years younger than he. If you do the math, that’s stretching it by twelve years. So, she paid $200 to have it changed. I guess she felt guilty. What’s the moral of the story? If you’re going to fudge your age, make sure you know how old you want people to think you are before it’s set in stone.

I love my quirky family. We’ve come together more in the last two months than we have in a year—each time offering encouragement, love and support. We celebrate our differences because they shape us and give us depth. Simply put, my relationships with family and friends have turned my life story into a page-turner.

After grandma’s viewing, we all went to eat at an Italian restaurant. We sat around the table sharing funny stories about her life. And, for a moment I was transported by joy and laughter to a place where the heart is healed and grief melts away.

Does heaven have park benches?

My husband and I were hit hard when his grandfather, Bada, passed away three days after Thanksgiving. We had just lost our beloved dog Maggie and weren't prepared emotionally for Bada's passing. Many prayers and the support of friends and family kept us encouraged. Looking back, I am thankful we were able to capture Bada's memory in one last family photo. 

This picture was taken Thanksgiving Day just after we lost Maggie. I wasn’t feeling very brave, but our family comforted me and an inner strength took over. Pushing past the tears, my husband and I prepared my in-law's living room for our photo shoot. We took the pictures and got some great shots of Bada and Nana. When the night wound down, we said our goodbyes. On his way out, Bada said, “I’ll see you again soon.” Three days later, he stepped into God’s presence. 

After his funeral, I learned from Nana that Bada prayed for Maggie every morning when he found out she was battling cancer. She told me how much he loved Maggie--it really meant a lot because he spent his last few years fighting his own body. One thing I will say about Bada is he always put others needs before his own. 

It's hard to express how moved I was at his funeral when I saw how many lives he had touched. He was more than an awesome grandfather--he was a pillar of the family, leader in his church and contributor to society. He was an honest, hard-working man of God who loved his family. And, he passed the torch to his grandchildren so they could carry on his legacy. 

Does heaven have park benches? If so, Bada and Maggie have a great view. I like to imagine them sitting together in the quiet, just enjoying each other. We’ll miss them dearly and are thankful for the time we were allowed to share with them.

Remembering Maggie

Life’s unexpected journeys are the ones we should never miss out on. Maggie cheerfully wandered up to my doorstep after being dumped in my neighborhood when she was a puppy. All I can say is someone really missed out on something great because she was the most loving, loyal pet I ever had. Her baby fat and puppy waddle were so cute, and she never really lost the little potbelly. Once she claimed her favorite spot on my bed, there was no turning back. She made her way into our hearts and was with me through many exciting transitions: college, marriage and a move to a big city. Her arrival was not planned, but brought joy and many wonderful experiences and memories. This is the last photo we took with her. She overcame a lot, including a rough beginning, but to our surprise she started feeling bad about a year ago. After losing her vision, we took her to the vet and discovered she was battling  canine cancer. She was very brave, enduring biopsies and tests. It was hard to see her so sick. Three days before she passed away, she nuzzled my husband and wouldn't leave his side. We lost her on Thanksgiving Day 2008. It was one of the hardest things I've ever been through. At home, the house felt empty. Seeing Puppy, her red tug toy, brought tears to my eyes. I know it will take a while to heal from this loss, but I wouldn't have traded those nine years for anything. Maggie enriched our lives, and I’ll cherish that season forever. I encourage those reading this to be a good steward of the things God gives you--even when you don't plan for them. It's amazing how Maggie changed our lives for the better. But, we could have missed out had we not taken the opportunity to make her part of the family when God brought her to our doorstep.