For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey: Hail hail the gangs all here

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Hail hail the gangs all here

It was a day that Gail must have been smiling on as she would have enjoyed a grand time. Everyone here, kids running around, good food, laughter and all the rest that make a family gathering so wonderful.
Here is our family for today. In a month there will be another added. We missed Gail so much. Grandpa gave everyone personalized calendars and the memories were touching. Mary gave Cynthia a book of mother that Mary made and it invoked laughs, tears and memories from years gone by. There was much talk about our Gail, honey, mother, grandmother and champion family person of all time. If she could have been here it would have been a perfect day but instead of the hugs, the kisses and the warm laughter there were "I remember....", "I can't believe mother did......", "I know mother would have ...." and the list could go on and on. I detected more tears, more smiles and a spirit of "if only" but no that can't be so we live on and we will move forward in honor of mother.
Everyone brought food again and many of us ate too much. My sloppy joe receipt was a keeper so I will have to remember how to do it.
What did I take away from this day? Well a few things are: life is changed and it will continue to change, we will miss Gail forever, Jesus is the reason for the season, grand kids are certainly grand, I am so thankful for my children and I am so proud of them and lastly I have kind of put some meaning to my love for Gail and her love for me. I am happy with the results of what God put together when we were married. Gail had her faults, I had more but in spite of those our intentions were good most of the time and God honored our efforts. I now have a better understanding of the physical side of love, the emotional side of love, the spiritual side of love and perhaps most of all the intangible side of love. Love is something not to be sought after but rather cultivated and nurtured when God gives it as his gift to each of us.
Travis, Henry and Liam are still here so I will end with one last sentence. When human efforts, when human work, when human plans fall apart there is always God's love that covers all.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: What a wonderful picture! Not quite complete without Gail but I'm sure she was laughing down at all of you acting goofy and making the most of your time together. You do have a wonderful family and so much to be thankful for. May you live to make new memories in the hearts and lives of all that you love and touch. There is still much to be done with your life I'm sure.

May the New Year bring you peace.
Love, Helen; December 26, 2009 at 8:31 PM

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The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

I know of no one who fit this better than Gail

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm.
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously:
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her;
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Well done good and faithful servant, your praise is much and your reward is to be with God forever.

Our Story

Our story begin in 1951, when Carmen was 4 and Gail was 5! We met as our parents were at a camera club. Fast forward--Carmen begin to attend grade school in town in 1957, the same school that Gail went to. Fast forward--We had our first date in the winter of 1964 in Gail's senior year of high school. Again--we were married June 1st of 1968. We moved to St. Paul in October of 1977 and lived at 2094 Niles Ave until Gail's death September 14 of 2009.
Gail first breast cancer was found in October of 2003. After surgery, chemo, radiation and infusions for a year she felt well and we lived life in our normal mode. Carmen retired in June of 2007 and shortly after that we quit doing the paper route as well. In the fall of 2007 we went on our dream vacation. We camped for 7 weeks in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and in the New England states. Sleeping in our truck and eating over an open fire we felt that we had experienced heaven. Then in January of 2008 we spent 3 weeks in Hawaii with friends and again had so much fun. In the fall of 2008 we did much work on the outside of the house and we were so excited to enter 2009 with big plans and dreams. In January Gail was diagnosed with new cancer. For the next 7 1/2 months we prayed, changed our life style, laughed and cried often. As the end of Gail's life drew near she was peaceful and family cared for her at home until she met Jesus. It was a journey that was wonderful, exciting, blessed, full of life and full of love but of course it was too short. Gail is so missed but I know she is in a better place so my journey must continue on without my true love.
I enter a new decade as the "I" that I never wanted to be but I have hope. Hope of things not experienced and hope that life will again, in 2010, become something that I look forward to each morning. My hope is based on our Lord who gives all, who is all and who gives love to all who believe. I enter this new decade with so many questions and so few answers but with faith that all will be well.

For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Hail hail the gangs all here

1 comment:

The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

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