Hope for the Season

 

First Snow!

November 14-16 held some "bench visits" with the Leis family,

to commemorate that day/week 3 years ago!

We miss him so deeply!

and a tombstone decoration was put in place...

... with me still trying hard to gracefully accept this sorrowful day!

Today is Sunday, December 1. The advent candle has been lit, 

giving much hope for the coming season and the joy of Christmas.

So thankful for "unto us a child is born"

The best kind of hope.

The decorating has begun, bit by bit and our first family gathering with my siblings

and much loved inlaws, gives me a warm kind of hope.

Love this bunch!

We don't gather often but when we have the chance it is so very meaningful.

All were able to come in spite of the weather being frightful!

We missed one sister and BIL who live too far away in the great white North to be able to come.

We managed to do a facetime with them, however, and sang Happy Birthday to the one

turning 75 today!

It also helped give me the "push" I needed to set up the wee tree

(on wheels, as my brother noted) for a time together at my house, apres dinner.

Has your decorating begun or been completed?

How are your Christmas plans and hopes for the season shaping up?

I have been practicing each morning to make a design

on my morning latte coffee.

It's not going well.

So far I have a tree, sort of a heart,

and an angel I think (that was supposed to be a tree).

I admire the baristas that can create their beautiful designs and make it look so easy!

Endless online tutorials just don't seem to help me.

But, I do love my morning coffee non-the-less.

Till next time ... stop to smell the coffee and may you feel hopeful and joy with the anticipation for this most holy season.

His Shirts

 

It has been over 3 months now

and doesn't seem to be getting any easier

And, the World just keeps getting heavier ...

My little survival project these days is to 

cut and piece some of his many shirts.

They still smell like him and the collars are still stained.

How many times did I wash those shirts and iron for hours?

Hopefully a nice memory quilt or two will come of this ...

The colour and design scheme will be simple - light and dark fabrics

fashioned into half square triangles

in much the same theme - tans, blues, black, and white.

He never wore a red, purple or any other brightly coloured shirt,

 so it will have a subdued pallet - much to my liking anyway.

It may take me years to complete but at least there is a plan

And I don't have to part with them to the thrift store

 where no one will know what memories they hold!

Or how those shirt sleeves were filled with loving arms ...

Thanks to a dear friend Ardith for giving me the pattern!

I keep looking up with hope and determination amid the mire.

Daily prayers for strength and resilience.

How are you coping during this cold and never ending Winter?

Or are you somewhere warm and sunny?

Longing for Spring

Family Day Soak! Love this bunch.

Noa's beloved kitten "Purrl" was tragically killed. So proud of her for being so grown-up about it!
Farm Life ...

Till next time ... pray for peace. Love each other!

Broken Hearts

Morning has broken,

and so have our hearts ...

The hardest post I've ever done - right here.

https://www.brennemanfuneralhome.ca/funerals/view/616

 

Early Sunday morning,

One painful and surreal week ago!

19 years to the day that my mother passed away,

Held by Becky and Patrick,

Standing on holy ground beside his bed,

5:15 a.m.

Funeral arrangements being made by 1:15 p.m.

Struggling to stay present and focused.

Barely breathing ...

A full day making arrangements, pulling pictures, selecting songs, breathing...

Reflections on a blessed and well lived life,

Leaning hard on a very capable daughter and son-in-law.

A blur of visitations - private family night,

Many tears and deep sorrow,

Numbness,

Beautiful flowers everywhere.

Full day of public viewing and visitation,

Masked faces,

An act of kindness by a cousin providing a venue for our evening meal

arranged by cousins and friends.

Private pre-service burial,

Nephews as pallbearers,

Surrounded by a loving and caring family,

Deep and meaningful embraces graveside,

Unbearable grief.

 

Celebration of Life Service ... so beautiful, so meaningful!

Church Family, Relatives and Friends surround,

Readings by nieces,

Tribute by a loving brother,

A poem written by a dear friend,

Compassionate message by Pastor Julie,

Music led by an amazing Sister-In-Law and friends,

Grandchildren, Family, and Congregation sitting six feet apart, 

Covid restrictions and Social Distancing making things strained and strange,

Ushered outside for some socializing.

Still Breathing ...

A calendar suddenly empty!

Is this even real?

Till next time ... whatever will we do without Popa???  Love you for ever and ever. Till we meet again!

Merciful Lord, give us the strength

       we need to get through this emptiness and pain.

Tears and sorrow overwhelming us all.

Breathing ...

One day at a time ...

Morning photo taken of the farm by a thoughtful neighbour, Michelle Martin