Life has Changed

I'm pretty sure the five of you who read my blog are aware my Daddy died suddenly on March 20. To say we are crushed with grief would be an understatement. I have found great comfort in the Word of God and the prayers of friends.  The photo at left is a stack of cards that have been in my mailbox (or given to me, as is the case with the envelope on the very top) since that day - such sweet words of prayer, thoughts and encouragement from friends. I am very thankful for them.  Some of them are store-bought sympathy cards. Some of them are handmade. Some of them are blank notecards with handwritten notes. All of them are a treasure to me and have been a salve to my broken heart.  

These cards have also reinforced my thought that a note during a difficult time is appreciated by the person affected and I need to be more intentional about sending these kinds of notes. That's a good reason for me to get busy stamping - time to make more cards.

Another thing that has come to mean a lot to me after my Daddy's passing is the guest book from visitation.  Rather than use the traditional guest book, our family decided to go for something more personal. As we discussed the funeral arrangements we were all pretty appalled that a guest book was $100. No, we weren't "pretty appalled" we were astounded. Daddy would have been horrified - and livid if we'd spent $100 on a guest book. I said, "I want something more than names on a line. Friends have been sharing memories on Facebook. I want something like that." So, I suggested that we do a 6x8 Project Life album with lined journaling cards. Thankfully, my family (mom and siblings) liked the idea. We laid out both 3x4 and 4x6 journaling cards and  invited people (by way of a sign the funeral home printed for us) to share a memory of Daddy, or share a passage of Scripture or words of encouragement for the family. They could also just sign their name on a card if that's what they chose to do. People were packed around the table where we had this set up.  I saw many pick up a card and then take a seat to write.  I look through that book every time I'm at Mom's.  I love it.  I used the Project Life Heritage Core Kit as the accent pieces in this album. The colors in it are perfect for the somberness of the occasion - and an added plus is that my Daddy was a genealogy buff. I like that this kit gives a little hat tip to that part of his life.

 It has been three weeks today. As I look outside, it is a beautiful spring day. Not a cloud in the sky so the sunshine is almost blinding. The birds are singing. It is a glorious day.  And then I realize that the beauty out there today doesn't even begin to compare to the gloriousness my Daddy is experiencing in Heaven. I'm so thankful to know that he is in the presence of God!  It is the greatest comfort of all.