this weekend
has flown by in a
blur
of happy and sad,
birthdays, bittersweet homecomings
and sad goodbyes...
our girl turned 22 on saturday.
it is hard for me to wrap my head around this number.
where is the time going?
2 jobs, going to school, her own apartment...
no driver's license yet
{well... she is her mother's daughter...}
we are incredibly proud of her.
she came into this world stubborn,
taking her sweet old time
and not making her entrance
until she was good and ready...
and that's how she still lives her life today.
she's loud and mouthy and
strong and brave.
and i would not change a thing about her.
we weren't expecting to see her on her birthday
since she was just home last week
but she came home
for a wake and funeral.
i had not planned on talking about this here
because it was my husband's uncle
and i feel like it is not really my story to tell...
but i do have to say this...
as i watched my husband's family over the past
couple of days, i was struck by how strong
and closely knit and...well...how amazing that family is.
they accepted the unbearable sadness that came with having to
say goodbye to a man that was like a rock
within a much larger part of their family,
extending far beyond their family unit of husband and father
to father in law, grandfather, brother, uncle and close cherished friend to so many,
with the strength of coming together
as a family in such a powerful way.
goodbyes are always so damn hard
yet made bittersweet when filled with stories and song,
laughter between the tears, hugs and memories and so much food
passed around the family til late in the night...
and it gives me comfort to know that
yes, things are going to be hard sometimes
and goodbyes are going to have to be said
no matter how hard we don't want to say it,
no matter how hard we fight to hang on,
but watching each of them looking out for each other...
pats on the back, so many hugs, so many stories...
well...i think it's a testament to how he lived his life
and how he affected/influenced/impacted so many people in his life
in such a positive way
and that is the kind of legacy worth leaving behind...
you can't ask for more than that.
he will be incredibly missed by so many
♥ ♥ ♥
