January 15, 2011
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Today
*Monday’s post written on Saturday*
TODAY
I looked in the mirror and talked to God about slowing the alarming growth of white hair that I am experiencing. I looked at my sallow winter skin and prayed that spring would come early. And I wondered if I will always have dark circles under my eyes.
I asked God to help me show Jesus to the people I meet.
TODAY
We went to a funeral. We sat quietly and listened to Charlie Pride playing before the service. Dan read a eulogy and scriptures of comfort and hope. The man who died had been a bricklayer. He built most of the brick buildings in our town, including the funeral home and the crematory where his body was burned. The Mennonites sang Whispering Hope and more. The family cried. We listened to the Judds singing “Grandpa” while pictures of the deceased’s life played on the slide show. At the cold graveside, Dan read those familiar words, “Ashes to ashes, earth to earth, dust to dust.” Then we ate egg salad sandwiches and Nanaimo bars at the luncheon. We talked about snowmobile accidents and the dry summers we’ve been having. We hugged the family who’d lost and said goodbye.
TODAY
Someone told me that I was the kindest lady she had ever met. I will never forget that. Never mind that she had only spent three hours with me in her whole lifetime and didn’t see me putting my childen to bed at the end of a long day.
TODAY
I shopped at Sears. I wondered why I bother to look at sweaters in the boys’ and mens’ sections of the store. Neither Dan nor the boys will wear a sweater for more than about five minutes. They’re hot and scratchy, they say. But I think they’re so classy. So still I look at them. I wondered sadly why all the cute ladies’ sweaters that were 40% off were petite size. At Sears I picked out sweet colorful tees for my two little girls and then went to the fabric store for coordinating fabric for skirts to sew on them. And I dreamed of Belize and hot sunshine next month.
TODAY
We looked for a Suburban to replace our totaled van. But the prices were all high at the dealers and we came home from the city without one.
TODAY
When we were driving Dan said this, “I love smiling at Natalia in the mirror. She’s cuter than the doll she’s holding. I used to think some dolls were cute until I had my own.”
TODAY
We looked online for tickets and dreamed of Cancun & Belize some more.
TODAY
I wondered if a certain person will ever outgrow adolescence and start to care about the feelings of others.
And isn’t that life?
Wanting to be beautiful inside and out.
Working, raising families.
Music.
Eating.
Shopping.
Caring.
Dreaming.
Striving.
Growth.
Life. It’s tough. It’s good. It’s sad. It’s sweet. It’s pleasurable. It’s ugly in spots.
Funerals. Coffins or urns. Burials. It’s final.
I like life in its place. But I’m so glad it’s not the end. Paul knows what he’s up to when he says that if in this life only we have hope we are the most miserable people around.
I’m excited about seeing God face to face some sweet day.
And please don’t sing Safe in the Arms of Jesus at my funeral.
Comments (6)
I could use some Belize about now. Or at least the weather. I bet Lourdes would love to go with you!!
Loved reading your random thoughts. And that compliment…I can totally see why that meant so much to you! That’s a wonderful thing for someone to say about you!
O and please don’t sing it at mine either!! And DO.NOT. Serve funeral potatoes. You may have rounds of Safe In The Arms of Jesus before those gluey ham and potatoe stink bombs. But please dont sing that song. Amen.
Those 3 hours to her … might have seemed like such a burden to you … but in the end, it completly paid off! I think you are a wonderful person … and I haven’t ever spent any time with you!
On your last day … you totally nailed it … what life is!
Have you checked Craigs list for a new vehicle? you can find some awesome deals with out haveing to pay dealership prices! =) Just a little thought!
Hope you have a somewhat relaxing weekend!
Typical day, with ups and downs. Mom always said the downs build our character; and if life would be all ups, we’d be boring spoiled brats. I loved your random tidbits, esp the one about Dan/Natalia. And I’d soar on the ‘kindest lady’ compliment too!
@VirginiaDawn - I don’t know what funeral potatoes are, so I had to laugh….
Here we eat cold sandwiches at funeral luncheons.@The_Carpers - Thank you, Sarah. (at least I think that’s your name 
. I am not necessarily a wonderful person and not always kind either. But thanks. We did find our suburban. A private online deal for a good price. Actually, all this stuff was what happened on Monday. Yes, it was a big day.
i think you must be a very gifted writer. Because somewhere between you praying that God could slow down the white hair growth and not wanting Safe iN The arms Of Jesus sung at your funeral, I felt all choked up and emotional. I LOVE feeling like that after i read something. Know what i mean? here’s to a week that has you imagining you can feel that Belizian Sun….
I want Amazing Grace, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Nearer my God sung at my funeral. and bagpipes. They have thee most hauntingly beautiful sound…just my opinion but everytime i hear Amazing Grace being played on bagpipes, i dissolve into tears. everytime.