Whirlwind!

This past month has seemed rather like a whirlwind!  The day after my last post, my 12-year-old granddaughter fell off her horse and broke her left leg in three places and her left shoulder as well.  She has a full leg cast with her arm in a sling but, thank God, no surgery was required.  She is in a wheelchair and I get to take her to school two days a week which gives us a little more time to spend together than we would normally have.  She’s dear to my heart and I’m so thankful her injuries were not worse.

We started October by celebrating Nathaniel’s birthday; it’s hard to believe he’s 23 and married.  He’s a great guy and I’m so very proud of him and know Eric would be so pleased with his focus, his heart and his determination. In the middle of the month we celebrated my beautiful daughter-in-law Kristyn who juggles the many aspects of her life with a smile and great attitude. A few weeks later we rejoiced as her parents celebrated their 30^th wedding anniversary at a special evening with family and friends, which included a renewing of their wedding vows and a special song Tim recorded for Karen

The first Sunday of the month was CT’s annual Harvest Home celebration.  Although the way we celebrate has changed over the years, it continues to be a great time of relaxed family fun and good food although this year it was quite cold so perhaps not as relaxing as we would have liked! This was actually Eric’s favorite Sunday of the year because spending the whole afternoon together meant he would usually have a chance to talk with everyone!  I missed his laugh this year and the wink he would send my way from across the crowd.

Along with all of that, since the first of the month I have participated in two women’s retreats and enjoyed a new twist on our annual Hallelujah Night (a Halloween alternative).  I have made new friends, reconnected with old ones (thanks to Facebook!) shared moments of spontaneous laughter and tears, had a few lunches with my girlfriends and a few late night chats with my daughter.  I have spent time laughing with my grandchildren and have swelled with complete joy when they are excited to see me.  I have had many blessings to count and have been well taken care of by my Savior.  I am blessed.  October has been full indeed.

Monday we usher in November.  We will vote.  We will celebrate Thanksgiving.  Our family has six November birthdays (!) and two anniversaries.  Ours is one of them; it will be 31 years since I talked Eric into marrying me (he’d love that line!).  I have loved and been loved; I am blessed.

I still think of him every day – several times a day.  Not in a way that keeps me from living in the here and now, not with bitterness or anger.  Sometimes I smile, sometimes I laugh out loud at a memory.  Sometimes I am sad or empty or wishful.  But when I remember, I know that I was cherished and I know if we were able to celebrate our anniversary we would share many, many smiles and enjoy our time together and I would know I was loved. He would know he’s my hero and the love of my life. There would be no doubt.

None of us can tell when we will be together for the last time.  Make sure those you love know they are cherished.  Make sure they will have reasons to smile when they think of you.  Make sure they know they are loved.  Make sure they know it every day.  It’s a gift that will definitely keep on giving; I know that for a fact.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I Corinthians 13:4-7