A "Day" in the life.......of Kim: 01/20/09

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

This title has been used before, but guess what----it never gets old! One of the best, smartest, and valuable things we did in planning for the funeral for Timmy was have the satellite viewing and video recording set up in the Fellowship Hall. Overflow seating was needed as the church was jam packed that day, over 300 people at one count. But, now I have a "permanent" record of the very special worship service that took place on January 19, 2001. More than once I have allowed the question to cross my mind and occasionally my lips, "How in the world did he do it?"---meaning, how did Pastor Prange, Pete, ever manage to get through that service like he did? Of course, it was the Lord who provided the strength and support he needed, plus perhaps a healthy dose of adrenalin, another blessing from our Creator!

Last night after the Board meeting, I decided to watch the video of the funeral service, in part to hear the amazing message Pete delivered to us, and partly to experience the whole "triumph" once more. Parts of the sermon I have memorized, such as when Pete is explaining how we are all sinful and need Jesus' forgiveness, and that anyone who has spent any time at all with Timothy knew he was a sinner.........and the congregation, or parts of it, chuckled. He was a stinker, that is for sure! The one part of the sermon that moves me so much is when Pete points out that triumph has already taken place----not one person in our family and not one person from his congregation expressed concern for Timothy's soul. We all had the comfort and assurance that he was with his Savior in heaven. "I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives who once was dead, He lives my ever living head!" Just as Pete is about to end the sermon, he recalls the story I told about Jesus and God sleeping with me at the hospital...........oh, yeah.....

In talking with my mom today, she didn't know how to go back to re-read my postings or the comments that are added sometimes a day or two after the initial posting. I explained to her about the "Older" button on the bottom right hand side of the opening page which allows the reader to go backwards, even so far as to the first posting ever! One can also click on the archives on the left side of the opening page according to date, or even according to year. Hope this helps anyone else who is not familiar yet with navigating the site. She had sent me a comment last week and thought it did not get to me, and when I told where to look for it, Mom said the blog did not go back far enough. Now she knows how to work backward and see her comment posted.

Please take some time, if you do not already, to read some of the comments posted recently. Suzanne, my friend from church and Timmy's Sunday school teacher, sent me a list of her remembrances from the night of the 'accident' through the funeral service, and it warmed my heart through and through to read about her memories. Hers seem almost more clear than are mine!

Fixin' to go meet Rayna...

....but, first, just a few notes from the warmth of my desk. It is really cold outside (forgive me, those where it is extra cold!) with hard freeze warnings cautioned for tonight. I have heard from several folks in the upper midwest regarding being weary of shoveling, layering their clothes, scraping or chiseling ice from their car windows, and bundling children until they are barely able to move their arms. I hear you! Remember, I spent two weeks in that same environment over the holidays and haven't gotten over it yet!

When people are considering moving south to live and work, they are encouraged to move during the spring or our version of winter rather than when it is summer or fall, to avoid the trauma and shock of the heat, heat, heat, and oh, yes, the sun! The same thing should be true for those considering moving back to WI to help take care of their moms: do not go when the temperatures are less than 60 degrees above zero! That leaves a two week window for decision making. And what a terrible shock it would be when the "warm" weather wears off and the cold sets in.......it does not matter if you grow up there, once you have escaped, it is incredibly difficult to re-adjust. I think of poor Tarren, moving to IL, after living her entire life in Florida, immediately after CHRISTmas, having to shovel snow in order for the moving van to unload their belongings. Welcome to winter!

Off I go to Palm Coast! That even sounds warm, does it not?