A Life Well Lived

 

It's true, Uncle Jim's life was a life well lived and we miss him so very much.  We spent the last two weekends celebrating his life - his funeral & celebration of life were last Friday, on his 53rd birthday.  Yesterday we traveled to Olympia for his inurnment, where his ashes were buried next to his brother, sister and dad.  Afterwards, we celebrated him once again with family and his close friends.  

Unbeknownst to many of us, he had created his own PowerPoint presentation that he wanted to be shared at yesterday's gathering.  As we saw the pictures and read the words that he had written to those he so dearly loved, we couldn't help but picturing him smiling and laughing...and thinking of us as he put this together in his final days.  What a precious gift.  What an amazing man.  

Children's Museum

 We don't get over to Portland's Children's Museum as often as we would like - going on the weekend sounds exhausting (picturing 150 children trying to use the scanner in the "grocery store") so we jumped at the chance to go on a chilly weekday morning.  As you know, I can't go anywhere without eating good food, so we made a breakfast stop at the Flavour Spot.  

 

Putting on her "make up" - I feel like she has seen someone do this before?

Claire's favorite spot - the water room!  We learned on our first visit that you go here last (unless you want to carry around a wet child). I like how she coordinated her make up to match the apron.  She is lovin' it!

Never Ceases

God's timing never ceases to amaze me.  Paul & I were thinking we may need to talk to Nate & Kristi about our desire to use our camping trailer (now that summer is approaching, yeah!) and were praying for an opportunity to do so.  It never came...instead, last Saturday Nate announced at breakfast that they had news - his mom had talked with several people at her church and had found a house for them to live in while they continue to wait out this visa process.  So, after exactly four months in our trailer, they moved to a nice three bedroom house!  God's timing is perfect and his ways are best.  We are so thankful.  Paul and I realized that the seven of us can now be "normal" friends!  They came over for dinner this week and we actually paid attention to them (Paul's words, not mine)!

Other fun news (and an answer to prayer) was getting to meet my dear friend Tara's first little munchkin - Griffin Bo!  Claire and I enjoyed holding him - just two days after he was born.  Look at that hair! 
So sweet. 

What we do best

 The past few weekends have been lovely.  I was reminded that yes, it is possible to get a sunburn in southwest Washington (and peel - gross!) in April.  On this particular Saturday, I noticed that Paul and I were definitely doing what we do best...

Claire and I started the morning at the park with Alisha and Emeri (donut holes and coffee included).  Then it was naptime for Claire and a chance for me to sit outside and finally (!) finish Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

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 After naptime, we were back outside for snacks (multiple) and a little walk.

 

All the while, my wonderful and hard-working husband was building a new carport for our travel trailer.  He's so good to us.  He did get a popsicle though - we had to take care of him too!

 

Despite my weekend activities, I do go to work - and I have the pin to prove it!  After waiting a long ten years, I finally received my first service pin from the school district.  I was pretty darn excited.

Spring~like

 Yes, that is my daughter sitting with a chainsaw AND an axe.  Paul channeled his inner "Bunyan" and took down one of the tree's that was obstructing our view of Green Mountain.  Actually, our view is currently obstructed by a certain travel trailer.  That is right, we are still a family of seven plus a dog.  The Sangers remain in limbo, waiting for their visas to be approved so they can make the big move to Kolkota, India.  They were recently advised by International Justice Mission to go to the Indian consulate in San Francisco to petition them for their visas, so that is where they are this week.  Please pray for a successful and safe trip.  

Anyway, back to the tree.  After some chainsaw work, a little axe work, and more chainsaw, the tree came down in a big cloud of pollen.  We have it on video - it was pretty exciting.  Claire was cheering the whole time while I still wasn't sure we should even be cutting it down!

 

 After the excitement of the tree we visited the neighbors and their four new calves.  They were not interested in us what-so-ever, but we enjoyed watching their little black and white faces as they "jogged" around the field.  Any chance we get we are outside taking a walk and enjoying the farm.  We have noticed a couple trillium orchids, which are beautiful early spring flowers.  It's a challenge to spot them in our over-grown woods!

 I love magnolia trees.  We stopped by Ms. Mary's on Saturday to deliver her phone and a pair of shoes (I think she has several at our house).  Her and Dick were outside enjoying the sun and their beautiful magnolia tree.  They snapped this picture of Claire and I before we headed out to dinner with my sister and her four kids.  I honestly don't know what we were thinking - but somehow we managed - we were quite the sight to see!  Let alone the waitress couldn't even reach the table because the twins were both in high chairs.  Pretty fun.

 

The park is the best, especially when Daddy is there to help Claire master the monkey bars.  There was also little red head boy that day who enjoyed going down the slide with Claire.  He kept telling his mom he was "waiting for his girlfriend."  Say what?! 
The sunshine is beautiful and the down time together is even better.  We've been busy (pre-school next year or no pre-school?  Two days? Three days?  Where?) but also thoughtful as we get ready for Uncle Jim's celebration of life on April 27th.  Anytime we have a wave of sadness, Claire reminds us that Uncle Jim is in heaven and that Jesus took his bandaid off.  You're absolutely right little bear.

A profound experience

I want to write this post, but it is filled with so much sadness that it seems impossible to put it into words.  Paul's precious Uncle Jim entered the gates of Heaven on Tuesday, April 3rd.  He battled for so long - being diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer the summer of 2010.  Chemotherapy, major surgery, exhaustion and so much pain.  He never gave up, but he also knew when his fight was over.  A week before he died he fell at home and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.  He always said that if he could eat and drink on his own, then he would continue fighting.  While he was in the hospital it became clear that he was not able to do this any longer.  Friday, March 30th he was placed in a beautiful hospice house in SW Portland.  Thus began five days of an incredible gift that he and Martha gave to all those that loved him.  No one was turned away.  Everyone (family and friends) were encouraged to sit with him, hold his hand. share memories and just be with him.  That is what is so amazing about Uncle Jim - just being with him made you feel loved and valuable - we wanted to be near him as long as possible.  Even in his final days he put all his energy into acknowledging people - a raise of the eyebrows or a squeeze of your hand.  Sunday was one of the last days that his eyes were open.  Claire and I were in his room at the foot of his bed and with all his energy he whispered, "my Claire bear..."  Oh, our Uncle Jim.  How our hearts ache for you.

 On Saturday, Paul began a four day vigil beside Uncle Jim.  He wanted to be there to see him to the end, and he was.  In his last few hours, Jim was surrounded by his family as they spoke such sweet words of encouragement...it's okay; you're doing great; you've done an amazing job; you can go home...Paul said it was as if it were a relay race, Jim's family on earth handing him off to heaven as the gates swung wide to welcome him. As Martha says, "it's not good-bye, just so long for a little while..." 

As the twilight of last week fades, the hole left feels so deep.  Paul has lost his best friend.  Martha and Mariah have lost their husband and dad.  The family is rallying and taking care, as Uncle Jim would want us.

As we worshiped at Easter service yesterday the reality of what Christ's death and resurrection has done for us was extremely acute.  For if it were not for his sacrifice, there would be no hope or comfort.  But we can be comforted and we do have hope.  As the congregation sang, "In Christ Alone," this truth flooded over me:

No guilt of life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

:

 

There is still JOY

Exploring a new park

 Though the posts/pictures may not be in order, I want to remember that March has also been filled with so much joy.  God is good to us.  I am overwhelmed by His love and so thankful for His grace.

 

How can they be one?!

Sweet John and Grace

A quiet moment with Claire and Mariah

Coffee shared with my dear friends

The girls - love them

Easter morning - HE is Risen!

First Easter egg hunt - loved it

So excited to find those eggs...then proceeded to hide them all again