A year of great loss

Glenn, Arlene, Gram, Janice, Mom, Rich

It's been quite a while since I have posted.  A lot has been going on.  But it seems like every time this year I feel I need to update the old blog - so here goes!

This year has been a year of great loss for our family.  First, my sweet Uncle Glenn passed away of a sudden heart attack 18 months ago.  He was very special and made me laugh.  Even though I didn't get to see him very often, I miss him a lot.

My precious Grandmother passed away in August of 2011, just 3 days shy of her 96th birthday.  I still think of her every day and the huge impact she had on my life.  There just aren't words to describe how much I miss her; how much I long to talk to her again and hear her voice.  I am who I am today in large part because of her.  Everyone needs someone in their life that thinks that everything you do is phenomenal.  That's what she was to me.

A few months later, my sweet Aunt Arlene passed away after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.  Almost a year to the day that her husband died.  I am incredibly sad for my cousins who have to struggle with the loss of both parents within a year and pray for them always.  Whenever I think of my aunt and uncle, I think of how they loved gospel music.  How happy they must be to be together again in heaven, in the presence of Jesus, with my grandmother and grandfather, with no pain and no worries.  Joy does come in the morning.

Earlier this year my mother suffered a severe heart attack.  We are grateful the Lord spared her life.

There are lots of lessons to be learned from all this tragedy and sadness.  I know all you can do is tell your family you love them, and do everything you can to live at peace with one another.  I realize that's not always possible, but I think a lot of times we don't try as hard as we should.  All you can do is your part; you can't change who other people are or how they act.  All you can do is love them, and stay away from them when you feel you can't love them anymore or they don't have love for you.  I also know that we can't take our health for granted.  My uncle and my mom's heart attacks came out of the blue.  Yet, I don't know how often they had their heart's checked.  It's something I will be looking out for that's for sure.

I miss each one of these precious people for different reasons.  I am grateful they were in my life and part of my family.  My hope is in the Lord that we will be together again one day.