All because two people fell in love....

Today was the funeral for my cousin Tina. It was one of the most touching, hopeful, beautiful funerals I have ever attended. Because that is who Tina was. Hopeful. Faith filled. Beautiful.

The Baptist church was filled, so many came to say good bye. There aren't any words that can describe my feelings so I won't try. But I don't know what non believers do - where do they get their hope and strength? I cannot imagine not being able to look forward to the promise God gives to us all.

Our family is scattered now - we used to be quite close. But today offered one of those rare moments for the cousins to see one another - to catch up, remember, and be thankful that our family had been blessed by Tina. It's odd - I haven't seen some of my cousins in a long long time. Weddings and funerals - mostly funerals lately. It's nobody's fault really - but I am more guilty than not. Life got complicated by "stuff." I forget what that stuff was - just the stuff of life. But I am determined to keep the ties connected now. And I am thankful that I have another chance. We look at each other, and we see that as we have gotten older, we have come to resemble our moms or our dads more and more. Tina's dad and my mom were brother and sister. Uncle Dean - he was one of the most fun loving guys you could know. Mom and Uncle Dean were two of nine children my grandma and grandpa raised. You can only imagine the number of kids and the grandkids and great grandkids (great great grandkids too) produced from those 9 brothers and sisters.
All because two people fell in love and from those roots, God just kept us growing.

Thank you Lord for the blessings of today - and the hope we have for every tomorrow.

Out of the valley...

At 1 pm this afternoon, it pleased our Lord to take the hand of my sweet and gentle cousin Tina Marie and lead her out of the darkness of the valley, and into His marvelous light as He took her home to be with Him.
She is survived by her husband Jeff, three beautiful daughters - Katie (husband Chris), Becky and Jill; her mom, her three brothers and their families.
May God be with them and with all of us who loved her.
Thank you for your prayers these past several weeks.
Sue

Spring recess!

Finally, Western NY is experiencing SPRING! The sun is out, it's warm and beautiful, and the grass is losing it's winter dullness. I think what I love the most about the change of seasons is the difference in the scent of the fresh air with each transition. Spring smells so wonderful - the air is saying "everything is new." It's the season of promise and rebirth. I remember the first spring we lived in this house - Laurie was only a year old and after Scott left for school every morning, Laurie and I would do our morning routine of breakfast and getting dressed. And then, about 10 am, I would begin opening all the windows to let the spring air into the winter weary house. I'd pick Laurie up in my arms and take her to the front window in the living room and she and I would just drink in the morning air. So fresh, we would breathe it in and smile at each other. Laurie would laugh that beautiful little giggle of hers and it was a wonderful mom and baby moment. As the days grew warmer toward summer, we were doing that ritual earlier and earlier in the day. I'd put her highchair near the open kitchen window and she would eat her nummies with a soft breeze wafting it's way through the room.
For those of us who experience winter in all Mother Nature's glory - snow, ice, wind - you name it - Spring is a wonderful and welcome sight.
This past winter has been a little more unusual than most with my Christmastime stay in the hospital and then my knee injury and surgery. But God teaches us in all things. When I was home and listening to the weather outside the window, I was thankful for a warm home and for Ron sitting here beside me. It's been a time of prayer for my cousin Tina - of hope for her recovery, and thanks for the doctors and nurses and her family who care for her. She is still in critical condition but with each day that passes we look for the promise of new strength. She has been in the hospital for months now - how I pray that someday soon she will experience the scent of spring air.
All seasons have their beauty - and Spring is merely one of them. We learn lessons through them all.
And in ALL of these seasons - as each year passes into the next, there are brave, courageous and strong soldiers serving (meaning ALL members of the military). They work in the heat and the sand of the desert, in the cold of the Alaskan winters, in the seasons of life God plans for them. At all times, as we give thanks for the newness of spring, or the warmth and fun of summer, the crisp and colorful autumn and the cold and icy winters - may we drink in all of the blessings and pray that those who serve will be doubly blessed with the knowledge that God is with them.
God bless all those who serve and those of us who wait.

The mourning after.

The news of the shooting incident at Virginia Tech went through our office yesterday afternoon - when lunch hours were nearly over and we had begun settling in to our scheduled tasks that remained. I had to leave work early yesterday for physical therapy, but just before I left, one of our staff members said that 22 people had been killed at VT. I got in my car and turned on the radio news, and heard worse - that it was 32 people killed by a single man. As I rode the stationary bike at pt, I watched FOX news reporting on the tragedy and it began to sink in. How does a day turn that tragic - and how could anyone have enough anger living in him to do this to so many innocent people?
The mourning in my blog title is not misspelled for truly we are mourning. It's not simply the morning after, but a time of deep sorrow and a time for grieving.
On my way home last night, I listened to the callers who were on the talk radio show. All of their opinions, their thoughts about gun control, etcetera, etcetera. But in the end, the bottom line said one thing - 31 innocent students and teachers were gone and many others survived but will never be the same.
Today, may God be with their families. May He be with those injured - and their families as well. And for those who are mourning - which would be all of us - we may never understand, but we will always be comforted by the love God has for His children. Surely He must be grieving as well.
In memory of those who died at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.

I think I'm using the wrong calendar!

Ok, the calendar I've been using for the last 14 days says APRIL 2007 but the weather forecast says January. We are under a winter storm warning as a storm system heads up the East coast. Rain, snow, wind, cold temps. Well, at least we had good weather for Christmas shopping in November and December. But seriously, all across the country, people are digging out from April storms and will continue to do so here in the East until at least Monday. I don't mind snow as long as my family is home safe and not out driving in it. I can actually enjoy a good storm if we're on the inside looking out. Cathy - I think you are in the path of the same storm as we are. Stay safe.

Today is date day - I love date day. It's been a long week - the knee has been quite painful because of my physical therapy - only four more weeks to go with that but I really am walking so much better. The cold, damp weather has been bothering it, too.

The news this week of the 3 month extensions for troops in the Middle East has hit close to home. One of my dearest friends got the news just a day or two ago that her son is included in that extension. She was looking forward to a July homecoming - it will not happen now until October. The time passes so quickly for most of us - but for those affected by deployments - the soldiers and those who wait for them - each moment of every day is long and difficult. I remember well. I only hope they all know that they are not spending those moments alone - that God is with them and many people are in prayer for them all. May He comfort their anxiety and keep them all in His care. There are no words to express how deeply we care.

It seems that God is walking my cousin Tina out of the valley. Her skin is healing and she is gradually being taken off the ventilator. She has had specialists from at least 3 or 4 hospitals working on her and they have been honest about each step of the way. Her daughters have been caring and loving and so helpful in her care each day at the hospital. God has blessed them with a tiny bit of improvement in their mom's condition each day. We are certain that God is working in all of this and are grateful for His tender mercies as the days go by. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Tomorrow I will begin teaching my Sunday School class again. I think I have my work cut out for me since I've learned from the substitutes that the class has not been picking up on what I've been teaching them. Sigh.

God bless your weekend and if you are in a place experiencing bad weather - be safe and stay warm and dry.

Blessings.

Sue

HE SHOOTS - HE SCORES!!!

Well friends, it's Stanley Cup playoff time. We here in the Western New York area - and across the country and in Canada - are getting ready for our Buffalo Sabres to get started. It's the second season now - the first season started in October and, 82 games later, it ended last night. The second season begins this week - The regular season slate is wiped clean and everybody has the same chance as the other 15 teams who are playing.
Now you may have heard (drum roll please) that the Sabres had the best record in the league when the season ended on Sunday night. Hard fought, the wins not always pretty - but they got the job done. And for this they won home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. If you've ever been at HSBC arena during a Sabres hockey game, you'd know that home ice for the Sabres is a sweet thing.
Anyway, I am excited - and anybody here in WNY who ISN'T excited - or at least a little bit happy - is a rare bird. Even Ron - NOT a sports fan ( I think he is a closet sports fan) - is looking forward to watching the games on TV.
So who is your favorite team? Cathy, I would bet the Penguins are at the top of your list. Cat - hmmm - the Hurricanes? Kbug - ummm, the Dallas Stars?
Whoever your favorite team may be, I think hockey is one of the most exciting sports there is. It 's a blue collar sport - the players are paid well, but somehow, they are "touchable." And things can change so quickly in a hockey game. Not to mention these guys do such awesome stuff while on ice skates. THAT to me is incredible. HA!! If Ron reads this he is going to laugh out loud at the thought of seeing the likes of me (or himself) on ice skates. Now that is funny.
So if it's your thing, enjoy the playoffs. Nothing is a given - the Sabres might have the President's cup, but they better have the stamina too. And the playbook better have room for lots of spontaneity. (I'm sure that I spelled that wrong). May the best team win...but I'll just end by saying GO SABRES!!

HE LIVES!!

Oh to have been in Mary Magdalene's sandals on that first Easter morning so long ago. The fear and sadness at seeing Jesus' tomb empty.
The joy at hearing Jesus' voice call her name ..."Mary!" And being chosen to be the messenger to the disciples..."I have seen the Lord."
Each Easter morning it's all new to me - the joy, the knowledge that Jesus died, was raised from the dead...and HE LIVES! And WE LIVE! Our Pastor indeed has the Holy Spirit living in him as he did such a wonderful job with the service. From the beginning to the benediction and closing hymn, the entire service reaching out and sending a message of faith and promise and proof that Jesus is alive.
And so on this Easter Sunday, I pray you will be blessed with the joy of the risen Savior. That you will know He died for you, and lives - that you will live as well.
God's promise fulfilled through His Son.
HE IS RISEN ~ HE IS RISEN INDEED.

The day in between.

Today is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It doesn't have the solemnity of Good Friday (although it should) and there is always so much to do to get ready for Easter. But I always think about the fact that Jesus, on the day after Good Friday, was still in a tomb on this day...waiting for the miracle of Resurrection. Lent isn't quite over until we open our eyes on Easter morning and realize HE IS RISEN. So, to me, the Saturday before Easter is still a day to be in thought about what Jesus did for the world, about what He did for me. (yet there is the knowledge of the rejoicing to come tomorrow).
My cousin Tina has been walking through the valley these last few days. But the doctors are cautiously optimistic. What was originally thought to be a grave problem with her lungs has turned out to be treatable and the Drs. are hopeful they can treat this successfully too. She is fighting with all of her might; heavily sedated, but still fighting.
Today - true to tradition, will be a busy one. I have a funeral to go to this morning, a wake to go to this afternoon and some shopping. We'll stop by the kids house to visit for a little bit and maybe I'll get to SEARS to get a new Easter suit - but since it's in the 20's and snowing, I think I can probably wear a winter suit and still be ok. I remember when the kids were little, Laurie would get a new outfit for Easter and it would never fail that Easter morning would be cold...but she would wear that cute little spring dress no matter what. I guess we are all that way; my mom used to buy my sisters and I matching coats for Easter and no matter how cold it was, we were in church on Easter morning with our new coats and new hats. Funny.
The knee is a lot better these days - it's easier to walk on it and the brace is a thing of the past. I still use my cane occasionally and stairs aren't easy yet - but my physical therapy is going well.
I'm hoping to be online tomorrow morning to wish you all a blessed Easter but if you aren't able to stop in, I wish you a joyous Easter and many blessings.
Yup - today is the day in between...almost time for rejoicing. May we all do so with all of our hearts.
Blessings.
Sue

Going Home.

This morning, as I got ready for church, I thought about the last time I was there. It had been such a busy morning - the choir sang that morning so I needed to be there early to rehearse; then after worship service there was a special meeting with Pastor before I went down to teach my class. After Sunday School was over, I was rushing because Ron and I were supposed to go to a wake for one of our friends after I got home from church. Until I fell - and all of the plans we had for that day, and for many days to come, were wiped out. Why hadn't I slowed down a bit?

So this morning, as I entered the church, I was a little bit cautious. Over the course of the past 5 weeks, I had received many cards and notes - and I knew that Pastor had been praying for me. But the one phone call I had expected to receive had not come and I was hurting a little - and confused.
As I greeted my Pastor this morning, I said "hi stranger!" And he turned and greeted me and gave me a hug. He has not been feeling well so both of us have been healing, but not in touch. I've missed him - we've been in ministry together for six years...before he was our Pastor, he came to our church during the summer of 2001 to fill in as worship leader when we were without a Pastor. We led the service together and became good friends. On the Sunday after 9/11 happened, he supported me as more than just a worship leader. He knew I had a daughter in the military and what that tragic day for our nation could mean for her...and for our family. When he became our Pastor 4 1/2 years ago, it was because we knew he could help heal our congregation from a great heartache. Our hearts had been broken by our full time Pastor and calling Garry back to be our worship leader was a step which was pre-ordained by God. Had he not come to our church, we would surely have been lost. Many, in fact, have found their way back to our church home because of his ministry and his enthusiasm.
It's been 5 weeks since Pastor and I have been in touch. The road back seemed so long during those weeks away. But this morning, I went home again...and it was like I've been there all along. His hug told me that. He is our Shepherd...but still my friend and my brother. God is good.
May He bless your week as He has already blessed mine.