Purple Ribbons

The past four weeks have been about "good byes" and new realities.  My sister and I said our last "I love you" to each other in mid-March ... and she passed away a week later.  I miss her so much ... though, I know she's enjoying herself and waiting for all her family to join her in a better place.  I think about the 50s song ... "I gotta be good - so I can see my baby when I leave this place."  (Back when the "oldies station" played 50s music, I loved that song ... now, "oldies" means 80s music.  lol)

When we went to Maryland for Laura's funeral, her school "family" hosted a "Love for Laura" day and they decorated all the trees in the school yard with purple ribbons.  My brother-in-law, Clint, stopped by the school just a couple of days ago and sat in the parking lot looking at all the purple ribbons.  They've remained on the trees ... a reminder of everyone's favorite principal, Mrs. Guthrie.  Purple was Laura's favorite color and she wrote EVERYTHING in purple pen.

Here's a picture of my kids in front of "Laura's tree" ... This was the tree that was planted for her to celebrate her retirement in the fall of 2008.  It is located just outside her office window ... the school office that she was in for about 12 years.

Just a week after my sister died, my husband's dad died unexpectedly.  We knew he'd been sick ... but didn't realize how weak he'd become.  We got a call during spring break that he had passed away.  So, we loaded the kids up for another across-the-country trip to a family funeral.  Fortunately, we visited Bain's dad last summer for a week ... so the kids will all remember their granddad somewhat.

The "new reality" that we have is one without any grandparents for our kids ... and my "surrogate grandparent" in my sister is gone, too.  My sister was 16 years older than me and had willingly taken on the role of a "surrogate mom" to me after our mom died many years ago.  It's lonely without these family members and we miss them every day.  But, I guess it forces us to grow up a little and become the adults that we need to be.  Fortunately, we have strength in God's power ... and that is a pretty big boost of power ... something that can be much needed when trying to raise four little kiddos!  :)