On Monday, August 3, 2009, we buried my Mom. There were about 60 people there as her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and friends rose up to call her blessed. My son preached the message, my sister gave the eulogy, and a minister-cousin officiated, welcoming people, leading the singing, and generally conducting the service. Then her grandchildren were her pall bearers as they carried the casket out of the church and laid her body to rest next to my Dad's, in the cemetery right next to the church. The grave site is nice and peaceful, between woodlands and pasture, and deer often wander through it in the cool of early morning and late afternoon.
She was a good mother. As painful as it was to let her go, it was far more painful to watch her remain in the state she was in for the last years of her life. She is better now than she has ever been in her life.
Matt had some friends over today to help clean up our back yard. How badly did the back yard need cleaning? Well, the pause in the action in the photo is because cleaning out the wood pile evicted two possums and an armadillo from their living quarters.
On Monday, August 3, 2009, we buried my Mom. There were about 60 people there as her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and friends rose up to call her blessed. My son preached the message, my sister gave the eulogy, and a minister-cousin officiated, welcoming people, leading the singing, and generally conducting the service. Then her grandchildren were her pall bearers as they carried the casket out of the church and laid her body to rest next to my Dad's, in the cemetery right next to the church. The grave site is nice and peaceful, between woodlands and pasture, and deer often wander through it in the cool of early morning and late afternoon. 
Many of you are already aware that my mother passed away peacefully under hospice care at 6:00 this morning. Knowing the end was sooner rather than later, local family members got to spend a lot of time with her this final week. My daughter Emily and I spent several hours with her last night, holding her hands and talking to her. My sister Vanita and her husband were there quite late, as well. 
