I am numb with disbelief! The Packers lost the game in overtime, as though you don't already know this. If I repeat it often enough, I just might believe it!
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It's hard to imagine that there are worse things than not making it to the Super Bowl, major events in our lives that knock us off our feet. I don't remember the Super Bowl in 2001, although I am sure there was one...okay, I looked it up and yes, there was a Super Bowl played on the 28th of January that year, only a couple weeks after the funeral.
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A few weeks later we were off to the Builder's Show in Atlanta, as if nothing happened. Well, not really, it was obvious we weren't ourselves but had expended the money and the two people going with us were geared up to go. We felt we could mourn there as well as at home, and the distraction would be welcome. Many there knew our situation and offered comfort and support. We just weren't like other people, I suppose, not the way people expected us to react. Nothing I can do about that, is there? One thing I liked to hold to was "there are no rules when it comes to grieving". Grieving like people who had hope might have served as a light to some of those who knew what we'd been through. I don't know, maybe, I hope so anyway. I DO know I did better with people around me and that worked out nicely.
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Cindy S. sent me the loveliest note last night which brought me to tears, both sadness and joy weeping. She related what their household was like after Mike told her about what happened to Timmy, the emotions and reactions. Her memories are keen, she remembers Pete singing at the grave site, how Mike helped her to bear up although he was suffering himself. I love, just love hearing these stories from "the witnesses", as there is much that I either forgot or never even knew about. Thanks for that, my dear, dear friend!
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Today in church we sang the hymn "I Lay My Sins on Jesus", and I returned to my pew after communion in time to sing the last verses of it. I was doing just fine until we sang " I long to be with Jesus, amid the heavenly throng, to sing with saints His praises, to learn the angels’ song." Such a lovely wish to have, and that's what I believe Timmy is doing right now---or as Kerry says, he's telling it on the mountains! The author of that hymn also mentions how Jesus knows all our sorrows, which is comforting alone, as He knows what it takes to ease that grief. He provides.
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I am much too tired to see clearly any more so will let you off easy tonight. Thanks again for the cards, text messages, comments, e-mails, and other acknowledgements. Now, I'll try to turn toward joy and the coming of the Prange's for their annual visit. The housekeepers haven't been here since just after the family left so it's ready for some cleaning again. I've done a bit of vacuuming in between, especially by the messy cat box and after the tree and stuff was taken down. Styrofoam beads are such a hard thing to corral!
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Blessings on your coming week, all! Sorry 'bout the Packers---next year????
