A time for every purpose

I just love that passage from Ecclesiastes 3  (it was one of the readings at Mike's mass), "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die....a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.."
The last week has been a HUGE one in my life, not unlike the week between Christmas and New Years two years ago when my mom died.
It's a lot of work to lay a loved one to rest. It's a lot of tears/laughter, remembering/looking ahead, details/gestalt.
And it's a lot of quality family time. Such a blessing.
Yesterday, I walked up the aisle of the church with Sue, behind Bucky and Downtown Sue who were behind Marie's casket. I saw the gloved hands of the pall bearers who were her two surviving sons, her two grandsons, and her two granddaughters (gender neutral! just like Grandma would want!). Such a beautiful sight. Then I looked to my right and I saw Susie, Jenny, Kjell, Arne, Beth, Abbie and Nina (from my family of origin, as Grandma would say!) and I felt so incredibly blessed.
Jack and I are so fortunate to have been raised by parents whose legacies will live on for many generations because they are legacies of love and devotion and loyalty.

December 2012, view from breakfast room