For little over a week, our family has been dealing with having to say goodbye to a very dear member of the family - Jo Anne. It is a time of great sadness as we see and hear of friends and family filing in to spend time with her during her final days. We have made the trip two times over the past week. As we made each of those drives, I regretted the fact that life tends to keep us so busy that we did not go to see her more frequently.
As we visit with her, I am astonished at how gracious she is to each and every one of her visitors. You can tell she is tired but she still makes the effort to talk and comfort her guest. While we were with her, she reminisced about the time we stayed with her during Hurricane Frances in 2004. What wonderful memories we share of that stressful time. Meghan played Jesu, Mans Desiring for her. She seemed to enjoy her impromptu concert; however, she has inspired Meghan and her playing of the violin in a way that no one else has in a very long time. We hope that Meghan has given her a gift through her music, but Meghan's Great Aunt Jo gave Meghan a wonderful gift by allowing her to play for her and seeing the joy that she is capable of giving with her music.
In spite of the stress her situation creates not just for her but everyone else as they deal with her illness and her imminent passing, it strikes you as to what an incredible gift she has been given to have these final moments with her family and friends. The gifts that she has given over these past few weeks will live on well past her and bring comfort and joy to people for years to come. Isn't that really what we all hope for in the long run - to leave some part of ourselves with those we will leave behind so that we will be remembered; and thereby continue to live one in the hearts of others even after we are gone...
Please click on Dianne's album and see pictures of this courageous woman. She is truly incredible and such a beautiful example of grace.
Showing posts with label family and friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family and friends. Show all posts
Monday, March 2, 2009
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Time Moves On
Tomorrow afternoon my cousin's daughter will get married. Sadly, we are unable to afford to fly up for the wedding. I would like to have gone but between work and cost to fly, I could not be there. I feel almost as though I am letting my cousin down. She was there for my wedding and except for my parents she was the only family that I had at my side when Alan and I were married. I know that there will be plenty of family there and my presence will not be missed.
I spent a couple of summers with my cousin and her husband when I was in my pre-teen years. Unfortunately, I was too young when my cousin's daughter was at the same age I was then to recreate the same experience for her.
There are lot fewer years between my cousin's daughter and me than there are between my cousin and I. I remember when I found out that my cousin was having her daughter and how excited I was awaiting the news that she had arrived. I remember shopping and getting a huge box together to send to them. I was a little younger than my daughter is now. Being an only child, I looked forwarded to doing things with her as she got older. Unfortunately, those things never happened. The travel distance was too great. Add to that, I am horrible at writing letters. No, it is not really the writing letters part that I have a problem with it is remembering where the address book is and actually putting it in the mailbox. I guess bottom line while I was busy growing up so was she.
Despite the things that we did not get to do and the time that passed while we were both growing up, my cousin's daughter will always have a special place in my heart. So with that said, I offer these hopes for her:
1. I hope that the man she has chosen has proven himself worthy of the "little girl" that I hold dear in my heart and memories (yes she has grown up but I remember the little girl I spent a couple of summers with that thought Shamu was the best thing)
2. I hope that she finds the same contentment and security within her marriage as I have found in mine
3. I hope that he is at least half as terrific as my husband
Most of all I wish for her complete happiness. I really regret that I am not there to wish her in person all these things.
I spent a couple of summers with my cousin and her husband when I was in my pre-teen years. Unfortunately, I was too young when my cousin's daughter was at the same age I was then to recreate the same experience for her.
There are lot fewer years between my cousin's daughter and me than there are between my cousin and I. I remember when I found out that my cousin was having her daughter and how excited I was awaiting the news that she had arrived. I remember shopping and getting a huge box together to send to them. I was a little younger than my daughter is now. Being an only child, I looked forwarded to doing things with her as she got older. Unfortunately, those things never happened. The travel distance was too great. Add to that, I am horrible at writing letters. No, it is not really the writing letters part that I have a problem with it is remembering where the address book is and actually putting it in the mailbox. I guess bottom line while I was busy growing up so was she.
Despite the things that we did not get to do and the time that passed while we were both growing up, my cousin's daughter will always have a special place in my heart. So with that said, I offer these hopes for her:
1. I hope that the man she has chosen has proven himself worthy of the "little girl" that I hold dear in my heart and memories (yes she has grown up but I remember the little girl I spent a couple of summers with that thought Shamu was the best thing)
2. I hope that she finds the same contentment and security within her marriage as I have found in mine
3. I hope that he is at least half as terrific as my husband
Most of all I wish for her complete happiness. I really regret that I am not there to wish her in person all these things.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Greatest Gifts Do Not Come With A Price Tag
Originally posted on my AOL journal 12/19/2007
In this season of giving, we are seeing people worried about rushing around making sure they have purchased the perfect gift. These people seem more concerned about the material aspect of this process, but in reality they are trying to purchase happiness for themselves and the receipent. I am just as guilty of it myself especially since I work in the industry that promotes the commercial end of Christmas. Every year as Meghan has gotten older and more interested in the giving of a gift, I have worked with her and preaching to her that she should give a gift that comes from the heart and not worry about the money. I have explained to her many times sometimes the smallest things mean the most which was what I received my own special reminder of today.
Today, I spent the morning helping my mom look up the names and addresses of people they have lost touch with over the last few years. One of the couples was someone that they knew during my dad's last active duty assignment. This couple and their family have been a part of our lives in some way for long as I can remember. Well, mom has tried to locate them several times of the past few years and has been unsusccesful. Today I hit pay dirt. I not only located their current address but their phone number as well. Guess where they live? Sanford Florida - right around the corner from us. Mom made the phone call this afternoon and the other couple was as thrilled to hear from mom and dad as mom and dad were to have found them. The two couples are currently trying to find a way to get together soon. Without realizing it, I provided four people a terrific gift with truly very little effort on my part. To hear the happiness that was generated from my stroking a few keys on my computer brought tears to my eyes.
We all put so much effort into what we give someone, especially at this time of year and sometimes thle best gift is a little time. The truly sad part is that we expend all this gift giving effort trying to generate the feelings in both the receipent of the gift and ourselves that I did today with such very little effort.
In this season of giving, we are seeing people worried about rushing around making sure they have purchased the perfect gift. These people seem more concerned about the material aspect of this process, but in reality they are trying to purchase happiness for themselves and the receipent. I am just as guilty of it myself especially since I work in the industry that promotes the commercial end of Christmas. Every year as Meghan has gotten older and more interested in the giving of a gift, I have worked with her and preaching to her that she should give a gift that comes from the heart and not worry about the money. I have explained to her many times sometimes the smallest things mean the most which was what I received my own special reminder of today.
Today, I spent the morning helping my mom look up the names and addresses of people they have lost touch with over the last few years. One of the couples was someone that they knew during my dad's last active duty assignment. This couple and their family have been a part of our lives in some way for long as I can remember. Well, mom has tried to locate them several times of the past few years and has been unsusccesful. Today I hit pay dirt. I not only located their current address but their phone number as well. Guess where they live? Sanford Florida - right around the corner from us. Mom made the phone call this afternoon and the other couple was as thrilled to hear from mom and dad as mom and dad were to have found them. The two couples are currently trying to find a way to get together soon. Without realizing it, I provided four people a terrific gift with truly very little effort on my part. To hear the happiness that was generated from my stroking a few keys on my computer brought tears to my eyes.
We all put so much effort into what we give someone, especially at this time of year and sometimes thle best gift is a little time. The truly sad part is that we expend all this gift giving effort trying to generate the feelings in both the receipent of the gift and ourselves that I did today with such very little effort.
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