When the line plummets

Ughh. 

If our lives could be plotted out as a graph it would be a very creative and multifaceted piece of art work, yes? Those sweet days that reach high up in the sky, and then the line can plummet. It's a part of our earthly life. I am not nearly as surprised by it, or frightened by it, as I used to be. No, instead I cautiously expect it, and just cling tighter to Jesus.

So here we are as the line plummets again. It's okay, and we will all be okay, and we all know the truth. But death sucks, and unexpected turns of events leave us reeling and breathless at times.

A little over two weeks ago my mom called and told me that her sister, My aunt Elsie, had suffered a stroke. I was all, "well, she'll be okay, right? I mean, I just heard the other day about some one who had a stroke and they had rehab and…"

No, it wasn't like that. Not this time.
The next day she was gone.

I didn't know her well, but enough to know that she was a wonderful woman. She was alot older than my mom and although they had a great relationship we just didn't see her that much. It was still hard. Mostly it was hard to know of all of the tough emotions my mom was going to have to enter into.

Monday night I was cleaning the house after I got all of my babies to bed, and got a call from my sister. My mom's brother, my uncle Jr, had suffered a heart attack.

And there I went again, "He'll be okay, right? I mean some heart attacks…"

No, it wasn't like that.
He was already gone.

Whew. Deep breath. 

Right now I am avoiding the work that has to be done in the midst of packing for a very short trip out west. We did this trip, for happy-family-times-and-holiday-joy reasons only 4 weeks ago.

It is with humble hearts and grateful spirits that we do this trip again. We weren't sure it would work out, and then we had some dear friends encourage us and make it possible for us to do so. We could not be more blessed with the support that surrounds us.

In summary, I just crave prayers. I know we already have had many spoken on our behalf. Thank  you!

My prayer is that God would use us in the next 4 days.
That we would listen to His voice and just obey.
That we would be able to be a blessing to my family.
That my family/extended family would be comforted as their new reality sinks in.
That the boys would be grace,
and feel grace,
and do grace,
and that we would be very patient with them as they process this quick trip.

My uncle Jr was such a pleasant, friendly man. He was a one of a kind. So gentle and caring. He was 59. And we are sad.

We also know that line will climb again. Although we live in this world full of yuck, there are also those moments that feel almost sacred in their beauty. A family will never be the same, I acknowledge that. But redemption wins.