For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey: I better be ready

Friday, December 11, 2009

I better be ready

Here is Gail at Uncle Hugo's cottage in 1964. My guess is she is ready to go to church. This is a picture different than any other picture I have of her. She again has that infectious smile.
Today is the open house. I THINK I will be ready. Cynthia will be over here most of the afternoon and Ernie R said he would come mid afternoon. I do want to go to Dick Berg's funeral at 11:00 so I best be working this morning. I have been praying for his wife Jackie and family. Dick had been suffering for a long time so he will certainly have a great Christmas but we do need to pray for Jackie, of course it will be difficult. I will meet John L for breakfast at 6:30. Getting ready has been an experience. I really am not doing a lot but my or my it has been difficult. I am hoping that I am using most of my emotion (sadness) up for this party. If the whole holiday season is this difficult the end of December can not come soon enough. I have been dreaming about Gail a lot, thinking about her a lot and feeling all of my inadequacies in getting ready for this open house. In printing up a note to put by the basket in case anyone wants to donate to the Gail Lee Camp Fund I just had to stop typing and have a talk with the Lord. I questioned God about his ways, his plan and most everything. In the end he simply said "I will not give to you more than you can do". I couldn't argue any more so I continued with my work. I am hoping that I did the right thing with putting out a basket for donations for the camp fund. I don't know for sure but what I did is done so we will see.
I better get dressed for breakfast.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: I do love those pictures. I might have to learn how to post pictures like that on the computer. I am pretty illiterate when it comes to doing things on the computer.
I remember that deer picture in the background at Hugo's cabin. Wonder if it is still there. Thanks for remembering my birthday. Mary and I are now both 55. Our family (Saunders) is really bad at remembering birthdays
and I just don't know why. Just the way we are I guess. Mary picks
up the birthday department in our family. She controls most all departments for that matter. I thank God every day for such a great gal. I am a lucky man.
Good luck with your open house. Mark; December 11, 2009 at 8:49 AM

Post a Comment

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

Friday, December 11, 2009

I better be ready

1 comment:

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

Our Story

Followers

About Me