Catching Up

We have been around the world over the past 3 weeks so I have some catching up to do.

6 April 2013

The last big event we had here in Kuching was the Music Program Recital on 6 April just before Elder and Sister Nielsen left the mission after 23 months.  They are missed.  Their replacements, Elder and Sister Boyter arrived the week before the Nielsen's left so they participated and got their feet wet with food and culture very quickly. 

8 April 2013

The Monday after the music program I asked the Sisters to take me to the shop they bought their little beaded purses from.  I wanted to get something in the mail for Aubree's birthday in May and I knew it would take time so I was anxious to get that done.  As it turned out I was able to hand deliver the gifts for Aubree, Autumn and my mom, but we will get to that later.  Along the way in the Waterfront District where the shop is we met the cutest little girl.  I haven't seen a girl this young in the muslim head scarf before.  She saw us going by and her parents prompted her to say hello to us in English.  She didn't hesitate and was so cute I asked if I could take her picture.  She was so sweet and her family was all smiles that she was getting such attention.

14 April 2013

After being notified of the death of Ed's mom we decided it was important for both of us to return for the funeral.  We made our reservations to return to the States.  We flew to Singapore Saturday night  and began the long flight to Philadelphia Sunday morning to arrive in Fort Washington on Sunday night about 7pm.  I didn't sleep except for about 20 min. on the short jump from Wash. D.C. to Philly.
It made for an interesting week trying to adjust.

Much was in play for preparing for the funeral and the arrival of family.  One granddaughter, Chelle Derbyshire Bruno had flown in from Colorado and was so well organized it was a great help to her mother and the rest of the family.  She did a great job coordinating all the little tasks and matching them with available people.  It made the process go very smoothly. 

My assignments were to organize photo boards of Marie's life for display at the funeral.  I began but when Dawn Derbyshire the professional photographer arrived she went into professional mode and got the photos cropped and printed.  Everyone then helped lay them out and we ended up with 5 wonderful boards celebrating Marie's life.  It was great to work with family members and feel the support from each other. 

After the funeral came the difficult part.  Family members had to begin returning to their jobs, etc. and the process of cleaning out the house began.  It was difficult for many who had grown up in the house, both Marie's children and her grandchildren who she had over to her house (without parents) every Saturday and Sunday for many years.  It was a great bonding time for them so those grandchildren who lived close by felt that the house was part of them also.  Ed commented many times how strange it was (and sometimes difficult) to be staying in "my mother's house without her here; to know that she is gone and I will never see her again in this life; and knowing when I leave I will never see the house again".  

We are very grateful  to know that we will see her again, and Mal and Ellen and that we can be a family forever. The gospel of Jesus Christ, His Atonement and His Grace, the Plan of Salvation all provide a great comfort for us as we go through our mortal lives.  I am so grateful for Ed and his strength and love.  I am grateful I could be with him during this time and that we have been able to share thoughts and feelings together as we face the fact that we are growing old together and that we are now the "older" generation.  I am grateful for my mom and that she is still with us and in good health even with the aches and pains of aging.  Although I know she wonders why she is here and when she will be able to move to the other side of the veil, I am grateful that she is still able to talk with us, to share her stories, to laugh with us, to play the piano while I sing,  to find great articles to share or books to read, to play with her great grandchildren and watch the grandchildren become parents.  She is the matriarch and she is marvelous.

(Photos are not downloading right now for some reason so I will put them up when I can and continue.)