Facebook Post:

So proud of the life lived out by my dad.  He was diagnosed with brain cancer just two months ago and passed away this past week due to complications with pneumonia. Grateful he no longer suffers; thankful he’s now completely healed & with our Savior. Missing him here in his absence and blessed by the example he set for me.

 

Facebook Responses:

• Kari, this so exemplary of his life. I have so many wonderful memories with him and the rest of our family. Thank you so much for posting this – it will be so good to see you next week.
• Kari I’m so sorry for your loss. Your dad was such a great man! Praying for peace for you all! Hugs to your family…love you.
• [We] are finding it difficult to say goodbye. So many wonderful memories. 
• Such a blessing he was to all of us Kari.
• Sorry to hear about your dad. He was such a great example of a godly father. I feel blessed to have known him.
• What a friendly, kind, and intelligent man he is in my memory, Kari. Tears and shouts of joy to you and your family as you send him off to meet Jesus face to face.

Texts:

• From me to a friend:

Big thank you to you and the rest of the Bible study group for the fruit bouquet.  Please let the group know we will enjoy it!

• Between a friend & me:

Friend:  Thinking of you and praying for you sweet friend

Me:  Thank you!  Definitely hits me at different times, still a bit numb.  Figure it will be harder once things settle down.  Headed to the gym now to burn off some calories/steam/something!

Friend: Good for you.  Let me know if you need anything  Have friends created a meal drop off schedule?

Me (days later):  Sorry for not getting back sooner.  Head spinning w/ a bunch of annoying, but necessary details for my dad’s service, etc.  Ahhhhhhhh!  Guess it’s good to be busy w/ stuff, but might completely be a basket case next week.  Gak, just feel like a spazz right now.  Anywayyyyyyy, a friend has a website meal list going for me.  I can send her your email if you’d like to be added to it.

Friend:  Ok!  I am hoping to get over in the next few days with a bread/muffin basket.  I am sure when the chaos ends you will grieve.  Just reading your FB post made me tear up.  I am still in shock.  Thinking of your mom too. : )

• From a friend to me:

I’m very impressed with how well you are handling everything and I will be praying this week goes smoothly for you and your family.

• Between my life-long friend and me:

Me:  Would you be willing to read something I wrote about Dad at the service?  5 minutes tops and I didn’t make it too sappy.

Friend:  Yes I would be honored to, don’t make it too sad, or I might cry;)… If I read it a few times before I should be good.. you know get all my tests out.

Tears

Me:  At first I thought I would be able to read it, but figure it might be too hard when I’d actually try to get up there and read it.  So thank you!

Friend:  Anything my sister!

 

Emails:

• From Nana to a friend:

Kari forwarded your email to me.  Thank you for the encouraging words!  I am doing well so far, except for waking up too early every morning  with too much to think about in preparation for [the service].  I’d like to skip the whole thing except that I want to honor [Papa’s] memory and the LORD.  We have incredible support here with our church family–more than I ever imagined.

I am sorry for your uncle and all you are going through.  I trust you are feeling the peace and presence of the Lord also.

Love,   [Nana]

• Between me and a friend:

 

My Reflections:

This week is a busy blur of activity.  Family coming into town, appointments at funeral home and florist and church.  Programs, slideshow, and photo boards to arrange; family meals to organize, help to recruit.  Texts, emails, cards and meals flooding in.

The load is a shared one, the tasks divied up among our family and friends making the week so much more manageable.  We’re in awe and so grateful for the support and tangible help offered up by so many.

Mark and his family stay with Nana and help out enormously with all that needs to be done.  My life-long friend flies in and immediately takes on the motherly duties to my little brood, so I can attend to whatever needs attending to.

 

 

 

 

It’s a jam-packed week with a million little details to take care of, but it’s amazing to see what can be accomplished with so many kind heats and talented hands pitching in to help.