Many of you have asked how we are doing. Through last week, life has kept us pretty busy and distracted with family being in town, friends inviting us over for a meal, and social gatherings we planned to attend even before Mom's passing.

Since last Thursday it has really begun to sink in (for me) that Mom will not be with us here on earth for the rest of our lives. During the day, part of me still feels like she is on an extended vacation (as Shannon told me, she is!). Then the sun goes down and I remember well that my mom isn't there in her chair at the table for supper, by my side as I wash dishes, to go for an evening walk with me, or enjoy an evening's reading of a book read aloud together. The end of the day was our time to catch up on the day's happenings, talk about things we were pondering, and sharing dreams about the future.

Life is forever changed. There is no going back to our once normal life, but we are trying to find what our new normal will be without our beloved.

The Lord has shown Himself faithful amidst the storm. Our friends, blood family, and church family have wrapped us in their love and care by simple words of encouragement, praying with us, shedding tears with us, laughing with us, reminiscing about Colleen with us, providing a meal for us, or even just giving a silent hug, to name a few.

I often ponder what my mom is enjoying this very moment in Paradise. I'm not sure words or any earthly picture could ever express the glory and splendor of Paradise and the life to come, especially the joy of walking hand-in-hand with our Savior. One thing I have no doubt about is that Mom is singing with all her might in the choir. Music was such a large part of her life. I remember in my childhood days mom would go to different churches all over Iowa using her voice to minister to others by singing praises to the Lord. I remember the quiet songs she would sing to herself as we traveled in the car, her humming about the house as she served her family, or the goofy songs she would sing and dance to to make us laugh. =) What a wealth of memories and love she left with us! How grateful I am to the Lord for allowing us the honor and privilege of having her as a mother, wife, daughter, grand-daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and friend. I'm ever so thankful that I was blessed to still be at home over the past three years to be with and help care for my precious mother. The Lord's plan is perfect! He knew that I needed to be here, and that my family needed me. What a great God we serve.

My mom often enjoyed reading from Rev. William Jay's "Morning Exercises" and "Evening Exercises" that were given and introduced to her by a dear friend in Virginia. I have my own set that was later given to me by dear friends in Iowa. I wanted to share a bit from the August 11th entry in "Evening Exercises":

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance." The greater includes the less. If He be mine, what is the substance of my portion but His fullness, the measure of my portion but His immensity, and the duration of my portion but His eternity? Yes this is the truth of the case: in the everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure, He has been pleased to make over Himself to His people, and with all He is and all He has. "I will be thy God. I will pardon thy sins. I will sanctify thy nature. I will supply all thy need. I will be light to thy darkness. I will be strength to thy weakness. I will bless thy bread and thy water. All my ways towards thee shall be mercy and truth. All things shall work together for thy good. I will guide thee with my counsel, and afterwards receive thee to glory.". . .

"God is the strength of heart, and my portion for ever." And He ought to preserve a sense of this in his mind. He ought to live nobly. He ought to feel contentedly in whatsoever state he is. He ought not to envy others [the rich and the great] their good things, nor sink like others under losses and trials. When their lamps are put out, they are in utter darkness; but the Sun of righteousness arises upon him [the humble Christian]. When their vessels are broken, all their comforts are gone; but he has the fountain of living waters. They have no God; but "the Lord is the portion of his inheritance.". . .

No earthly inheritance can yield the possessor every thing he wants; but God's riches in glory, by Christ Jesus, can supply all the Christian's need.

There is a time and season for tears and mourning (Ecc. 3:4) our earthly loss of Colleen, and some of the aching we realize may never go away. However, we are taking comfort in the great God we serve; and are anticipating the day when we, too, will be called Home--leaving behind our immortal bodies, returning to dust once again, so that we may enjoy eternity with Christ and receive our inheritance Above, free from the bondage of sin. Glory Hallelujah!

Life here on earth is merely a vapor that is here for a moment, then will vanish forever. Treasure your loved ones, seek to mend broken fellowship with thy brother, laugh often, love thy neighbor as thyself, go out of your way to make someone (even a perfect stranger) smile... Draw nearer to Christ and pursue His glory. Without Christ, all our efforts in this life are in vain.