In Remembrance….

While I was home on furlough, my family experienced the loss of my grandma.  I can honestly say this was the first time I’ve ever walked through the loss of a family member, and I’m still trying to deal with the emotions accompanying this loss.

While I was sitting at the funeral service with my family, certain things kept popping into my mind…

• how my grandma always called me “Mer-ee-nie” instead of Maureen. (I don’t think I ever heard her call me anything else)
• all the emails she would send me when I lived in Brasil and Africa…. besides my mom, I don’t think anyone wrote me more.
• the spiritual influence and encouragement she displayed.
• she ALWAYS encouraged me to write!  She would tell me time and time again how proud of me she was and that one day she would be reading a book that I wrote.
• her unconditional love for her family!

I really wanted to go up and share all these things, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to get through them… so I sat and listened to what others had to say… and they said it all! My grandma’s legacy was built on the love and belief she had in Christ and everyone sitting in that room knew it!

My grandma was the spiritual leader of her family, intercessor beyond a doubt, and a faith warrior! She was an encourager, a stander-on the Word and a worshipper!  She was a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, and most importantly of all, a servant of the Most High!

I love my grandma so much, and she is already greatly missed here on earth… but one thing is CERTAIN:  Now she is singing and worshipping in heaven, and I’m pretty sure she’s finally walking along-side the most beautiful creatures in her eyes…. her beloved giraffes!

My grandma and grandpa at their 40th wedding anniversary...

Saying Goodbye

Yesterday morning I lost my little Falafel.  She wasn’t doing so well for the last couple of weeks, and it was breaking my heart, seeing her suffering; but I was hoping she would re-cooperate.  I woke up to see my little sweetheart take her last breaths.

She is the third animal I’ve lost this year, and I just don’t think my ❤ can take much more right now.

In memory of her better moments:

Our Tasha

This past weekend my family experienced a tremendous loss, our family dog of 12 years, Tasha, passed away.  For those of you who know my family, you know how amazing she was!  We got her as a family Christmas present back in 1998.  She was a tiny little thing as precious as could be.  A few days ago my mom and I were crying together over skype, remembering that time when we would have to shovel a path in the backyard from all the snow, she was just so tiny.

As any family with a dog knows, your dog is a part of that family.  She’s there throughout all the trials and tribulations, waiting at the door or end of the driveway when you pull up, always so happy to see you.  Tasha would always wag her little tail every time anyone would pet her… she LOVED everyone!

Each year, my nephew would make sure Tasha always got a present at Christmas, some flavored bone or doggie biscuits. As I was saying to my mom, I just can’t imagine coming home without her there!

Since most of my life has been living overseas and away from my family, I wasn’t there for the day to day living like the rest of my family, especially my mom and dad; BUT, it never mattered to Tasha, cuz the minute I arrived home there she was so happy to see me… like I was never gone at all.  It was always one of the first things I did when I came home, make sure to see Tasha and give her a huge hug and pet her.  She would get so excited and start sneezing each time.

Even though she was old, and we were expecting it to happen at any time, you never quite realize how it will affect you when the moment comes.  I know there have already been many tears shed over the weekend, and I’m sure the moment I return home for a visit they will flow again.  It just wont be the same hearing my dad jump on his riding lawn mower, without Tasha barking and trying to herd him…. or when we are trying to play tennis and she is barking every time we hit the ball over the net…. or taking her on walks around the pasture and seeing her slow down on the way home because she’s not ready to return.  Her presence will be missed everywhere, and it will take time for it to really sink in.

If anyone has seen Marley and Me, then you have an idea how we are feeling at this moment.  My nephew literally grew up only knowing life with Tasha.  It’s incredible how much joy and happiness a dog can bring into your life….especially one who has been there for 12 years!  My heart is already feeling a hole in it from where Tash’s paw held her place.

I really hope its true…. Do all dogs go to heaven???

In Memory of Katherine

There are few people that become a part of your life and remain there until the end. Those special few that know each and every secret you possess….those special few that you can call on no matter what, and they will answer…those special few that love you unconditionally, regardless of what you’ve done or will do.

For me, Katherine was one of those special ones.

We met while I was living in Brazil, I cannot even remember which year, and instantaneously we became the best of friends.  We’ve been through so much together since then…boyfriend breakups, heartaches, traveling, weddings (one of them being hers), road trips, laughter, joy, and all the other things that accompanies friendships.

Every time I came home to the States on furlough, Katherine was one of the first people I would call.  Just hearing her voice on the phone and her crazy, contagious laugh would brighten my day.  She was one of the first who would always send me notes, cards, and packages in the mail. She always told me how much she loved me and was proud of me.  She encouraged me with scriptures all the time. I loved her more than words can express.

Katherine passed away from breast and bone cancer this past week, only 29 years old, and 5 months pregnant. It was a sudden and tragic situation, one that left many of us who loved her shocked.  She left behind an amazing husband and one-year old boy, both of whom she loved with all her heart!

Even though I know, without a shadow of a doubt, my dear Katherine is in heaven today, enjoying our Abba Father, thoughts of her still cause the tears to flow down my cheeks.  So, in memory of one of the best friends I have ever had the pleasure of enriching my life, here are some of those memories that I will cherish until we meet again….

The last two pictures are with her husband, Jared and little Nathan Charles Bowman.  Please keep them in your prayers, as they will miss their wife and mommy sooooo much!!!

Katherine: you were a wonderful woman, wife, mother, sister, daughter, photographer… and to me, most of all you were the bestest of friends!

Saddened but not surprised.

I wasn’t going to, but here I am jumping on the MJ band-wagon to give my 2¢ about his life and death.  

It has been inescapable… the news, radio, internet, magazines, and even on twitter its the #1 topic.  No matter how you feel about him as a person, his impact on music and pop culture is unarguable, especially with the generations growing up with him.  I can honestly say that there is not one of his songs that I do not like.  I mean come on…Thriller!  Billie Jean! Beat It! Man in the Mirror! Scream! (I love that one with Janet)

I remember watching a documentary about MJ years ago when he was going through all those child molestation trials, and after seeing what he endured throughout his childhood and adolescence, my heart seriously ached for him. He went from this innocent, extremely talented child to a music icon, who was sucked in, chewed around and spit out by the world he was now living in.  It happens to oh, so many people, not just celebrities.  We start out as these cute, adorable children, we grow up, and the world literally engulfs us and leads us into disaster.  I have seen it in my own life, as well as the lives of friends, family members, and too many celebs.

Fortunately for many, we get out of it and move forward.  Unfortunately for MJ, he did not.  I am completely saddened by this fact, but I am not surprised.  

So, in memory of the King of Pop…what is your favorite Michael Jackson song(s)???

In the news…

Today we were rocked with news of a huge catastrophe in Eilat (a city at the southernmost point of the country).  A huge tourist bus tumbled into a ravine killing 25 Russian travel agents and injuring many more.  The rumors on the street is that there were 2 busses involved, and they were each trying to reach the checkpoint first.  Its even on record now for the deadliest traffic accident in Israel’s history.

While this is horribly tragic, what I find interesting is that is became such a huge piece of news.  I hate to say it, but people die from bombs and gunfire everyday near/on the borders here. Unfortunately, its gotten to the point where this has become the norm, and hearing about this type of tragedy has not become ‘top news’.  I am deeply saddened by the news of this bus crash, of course, but at the same time I can’t help but wonder why we are becoming numb to what is happening to the people loosing their lives in Gaza/the West Bank. When will we recognize that one life is just as precious as 50 others.

R.I.P.

I came home yesterday to the most devastating news….our zebra had died. Apparently, during the day his heart-rate starting rising, and he wasn’t breathing well. He passed pretty quickly.

I don’t know why, but I took the news pretty hard. We had only had him for 2 days, but I was already getting really attached.

Loss is a difficult thing in life, even when life was so short.