Remembering

 Hubby's grandfather passed away the other day, so we are making arrangements to go to be with his family for the funeral.

I love looking back of pictures of my children with Hubby's grandpa.  I remember when they didn't have any great grandchildren, and they really wanted some... 

It was always so much fun to watch them hold the babies that we brought with us. 

The Memorial

 Unfortunately our wonderful vacation with family in Chelan and North Bend, had one pretty major dark cloud casting a shadow on our time together.

On the day we left Chelan and drove to North Bend we received the very sad news that my dad's older brother, my brother and my uncle passed away.  He had been in declining health but no one anticipated his death would happen so soon.  My parents actually had travel arrangements to go see him as soon as they left North Bend, and then they moved those travel plans up when he began to rapidly decline -- and then within an hour of their changing their flight to the next day they received word that my uncle died.

This was my father's only living siblings, and oldest living friend.  The loss had (and still has) a very big impact on him.

In the hours and day following my uncle's death, we learned that my uncle's immediate family (his wife and children) had no plans for any memorial or funeral in the immediate future, which disappointed all of us.

So... after a little brainstorming and creativity, since my dad's family was all together spending time together, we decided to hold a memorial service for my uncle.

It was very heart-warming how my whole family came together to hold a very beautiful, intimate memorial service in 24 hours time.  I gathered pictures, and organized the program.  My mom and dad choose Bible verses and songs.  My brother planned where on his property we should hold the service, and arranged the layout.  His girlfriend printed out the pictures that I choose and created a beautiful prayer card and program for the service.  My hubby arranged video cameras and amplification for the service.  Our children memorized Bible verses to recite, and all the adults who had met my uncle wrote eulogies to share.

The result was an incredibly meaningful celebration of my uncle's life by his loving family, and it gave all of us some closure, and a place to take our fond memories of him.

My hubby is still compiling the video footage, but here are some pictures of the service:

So Touching

My parents have always liked Frank and Kathy Lee Gifford.  They were not married at the same time my parents were -- but maybe 5-7 years later, and they have a similar age difference as do my parents.  They had children and seem to have a solid marriage.

Of course, Frank Gifford, was a football legend and went on to be a broadcaster, and then Kathy Lee was a well-put-together co-host to the Regis and Kathy Lee Show for many years.

I remember back twenty or more years ago when the news broke that Frank Gifford was having an affair, and I remember that their marriage did not end.  I never knew how they worked through it, but, as a children, I remember thinking it was very admirable that their marriage did not end, and they clearly found some way to work through it.

In recent years, Kathy Lee has had a segment on the Today show, and, frankly, I find her and her co-host a little weird... but yesterday, she gave the most touching, beautiful, honorable tribute to her husband, Frank, and I hope you will take the 8 minutes to watch it.

Thank you, Mrs. Gifford, for sharing this side of your husband with the world.


God Bless the Gifford family.

To Some...

To some, every day is Memorial Day.

We are so incredibly grateful for the sacrifice of generations of men and women who have served this nation, in uniform, and for the families they left behind while serving.

In Memory

In memory of my Uncle Marshal.  Welcome home to heaven.  We rejoice in your homecoming, but are sorry for ourselves.  We will miss you.

Marshal Crawford
welcomed home, January 19, 2015

I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God laid, you see.
I took His hand when I heard him call.
I turned around and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I've found the peace on a sunny day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A family shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Oh yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee.
God wanted me now; He set me free.
~ Author Unknown ~