Of Gatherings, and Grief, and Gratitude...

This past week Dad and I spent time traveling to the Midwest to say good-bye to a favored aunt...

 

We gathered together, family and friends, to honor a woman who has touched each of us deeply.  Her sweet spirit, contagious smile and generous love have poured freely from a life well-lived.  She will be so missed.  But I can't help but think how she would have found great joy in how her memorial transpired!

 

No stuffy funeral homes, nor elegant cathedrals... her husband and children planned a memorial perfectly fitting her life. 

 

We gathered on the banks of the Wabash River in the quaint, tiny town of her ancestors.  And there under a wide wash of blue sky and towering pine trees, we shared our memories...

 

Things she had taught us... stories of mishaps and laughter... remembrances of her battles... even of regrets... but more, jewels of resilience in her crowning achievement, a family raised up to love and cherish each other. 

 

Her son and daughter both spoke... there were tears and laughter, grieving and healing.  And then her 6 grandsons gathered round and read from her favorite bedtime story.  A story she read to them often, complete with sound effects and theatrics...

 

 

There were roses to lay on her grave and silence for a moment... Then a spring breeze whispered thru the pine trees and the boys began an impromptu game of chase, joy dancing in the air...

 

Aunt Emily would have loved it. 

 

Dad and I were so very grateful to be a part of this family gathering.  We celebrate her life, but mourn so deeply her passing.  It soothed the ache to be with each other.  Isn't that so often how it happens?  Grief and Gratitude, tied together inexplicably somehow.

 

We spent several days with the family exploring this charming town of cobblestone paths...

 

 

historic log cabins...

 

 

 

quaint cottages...

 

 

and peaceful parks...

 

 

 

 

 

We gathered for wild games of Wiffle Ball...

 

 

And hopped on Dad's rented golf cart for more adventures...

 

 

Like getting lost in the giant hedge maze...

 

 

And skipping stones across the sweeping Wabash...

 

 

 

Yes, Aunt Emily would have approved.

 

Dad and I were so very blessed to be a part...

 

   

A Dolphin Escort...

Mom's memorial cruise began with the most graceful of gifts...

 

A playful dolphin frolicking in the muddy waters of Galveston port!

 

 

She brought smiles to the 4 intrepid travelers:

Jordan, Katie, Me and Dad...

 

 

The wonderment continued as we settled in to our staterooms

and began to let the cares of the world slip away.

 

A cruise vacation that mom would have loved...

 

 

We ate.  A lot!

 

 

 

We relaxed and watched the shows...

 

 

 

we explored the tropical ports of call...

 

 

 

We played with tigers!

 

 

 

 

We indulged in a Beach-side massage.  Ahhhh.....

 

 

 

 

 

And on tuesday, December 4th, we honored mom's memory...

 

 

 

at sunset we stood at the bow, endless blue above and below.

We released her with tears and sighs

and felt her spirit dance on the waves...

 

there was pain and grief as memories flooded,

but also joy and freedom as we realized the grief was softened...

her love wrapped our hearts,

not with the tearing hurt of first loss,

but of hopeful new beginnings with her blessing.

 

 

And in a surprising, touching end to the day, Dad bought a

beautiful painting at the ship's art auction...

 

 

the painting was aptly named

"Close to my Heart"

 

She is and always will be...Close to our Hearts.

 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

 

And then we arrived at the Wedding Beach!!!

 

What a delightful way to finish out this memorial cruise.

Katie and Jordan had a blast roaming the beach, playing in the surf

and relishing the absolute peace of this tiny bit of tropical paradise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived back home refreshed and at peace.

Tropical trade winds, soft and warm,

brought the healing caress of memories,

soothing to the mind's eye

and sweet to the much loved heart...

 

 

In Grace Renewed, Jane

 

In Memory...We Run

Today was the Fireman's 5K Run in Ft. Worth, and Leroy and I were blessed to cheer on our favorite (and only) Fireman son!

Travis ran the race well, along with hundreds of dedicated and generous supporters.

The Fireman's 5K began in 1999 as a way to benefit the families of two firefighters who lost their lives while battling a church fire in Lake Worth, Texas.  It has since evolved into a fundraiser to support two very worthy organizations dedicated to grief support when families lose a loved one:  The Compassionate Friends and The WARM Place.

Travis ran to honor those men who gave their lives protecting others, as did his whole Engine Company. 

What an awesome group of young men!

And, of course, Travis' biggest supporters were there cheering him on all the way

You ran well, Travis! So very proud of you!

"Let us throw off everything that hinders...

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

                                           ~  Hebrews 12:1-2