Until We Meet

Cory's dad passed away the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  This is the first loss of a parent for either of us.  In fact, between the two of us, three of our grandmothers are still living--with two of them being 89 years old.  His passing wasn't completely unexpected.  He had had heart problems for many years and this last year had really taken a toll on him.  I wonder if any of us knew how much he suffered the last little bit.  But even having said that, I don't think anyone was ready to say good-bye.  There would never come a time, no matter how much time we had, that we would ever be "ready" for this kind of parting.  However, I feel that there were so many tender mercies witnessed throughout this ordeal--too many to name and some too personal to share.  The blessing that has come from this experience for our family, is a deeper appreciation for our Savior, who made it possible for families to be together again.  We have a more personal understanding of the Plan of Salvation that I feel so grateful to know about.  And I think we have a greater desire to try harder to live better, so that one day we will be reunited, as a family.  Eternity just seems a little more personal.

There are many things I remember about Russell and the kind of man he was.  But when I see him in my mind's eye, I picture him as he was in this picture--happy, smiling and surrounded by a bunch of grandkids who adored him.  And we think about him everyday, especially when the kids run through the house belting out "I've got sixpence, Jolly jolly sixpence...".   We're starting a different chapter in our lives, just as he is starting a different chapter in his.  And while we miss him tremendously, we're anxiously awaiting the day when we will, indeed, meet again.  In the meantime, we hope he'll save us a spot. :)