Saying Goodbye...Saying Hello

Yesterday, the kids and I attended my Uncle Jack's funeral. Jason was not able to join us, as he had several finals to administer.

So, we loaded up the van - 3 kids, 4 brown bag lunches, and one DVD player in tow - and headed out for the 2-hour trip. I was thankful that the travel actually went quite smoothly. The kids enjoyed watching some "new" library videos and we also listened to a few books on CD to make the ride a bit more enjoyable!

It was sad to say "goodbye" to a dear uncle...a husband of 33 years to my Aunt Sharon...and a father to my cousin Mikael. It brought back a flood of memories and emotions of losing my own dad, as well. You can read more about Jack here.

We also had the chance to say "hello" to many relatives that we don't get to see on a regular basis. Seven out of my mom's eight siblings were there, as well as several of my cousins.

The kids especially enjoyed meeting their second-cousin, Jonas, who is 2 years old. He is Mikael and Anna's sweet, inquisitive, smiley little guy. After the funeral and reception, he said to me "Are you going to my Grandma Sharon's house?" I smiled at him and said, "Yes, we'll be there." He then tilted his head and inquired, "Are you gonna to bring all of those kids with you?" I had to laugh. "Yes," I replied. "They pretty much come with me wherever I go!"

Madelynne, Chloe, and Lukas have two first cousins - my brother's son, Michael, who is now 15 years old, and Jason's sister's son, Christopher, who passed away in 2001. They are always thrilled to meet new "cousins".

Here they are playing with Jonas (and trying to get him to pose with them for a picture, too!):

As we drove home, I spent much time thinking of and praying for my aunt and cousin. I also prayed and shed tears for another family - the family of Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, upon hearing the tragic news of the loss of their 5-year old daughter, Maria Sue. It was the excruciatingly sad topic of discussion on the radio station I was listening to. I also heard the following song played several times, and in light of my thoughts and emotions on saying "goodbye" and saying "hello" I thought I would post the lyrics here as a reminder.

"We Live" by Superchic[k]

There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost her son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be the last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
(so she could say she loved him one last time)
And hold him tight
But with life we never know when we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

There's a man who waits for the tests to
See if the cancer had spread yet
And now he asks why did I wait to live 'til it was time to die
If I could have the time back, how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well, this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we were meant to do

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day
Is a gift somehow, someway
And get our heads up out of this darkness
And spark this new mindset and start on with life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy's a reminder to take off the blinders and wake up
(to live the life)
We're supposed to take up
(moving forward)
With all our heads up
Cuz life is worth living

We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love
We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

Give your kids a hug, let all those around you know you love them...remember to live and to love.

Psalm 39:4-5
Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah