Monday, March 29, 2010

Is Spring finally going to get here?

I have been thinking about spring since December. It was such a cold, wet, and dreary winter. Up until last week everything was still so brown and dead. I see and feel the change coming though. I see more and more green grass. I see the beginning of color on the azaleas bushes. The nurseries have lots of bedding plants

Although the mornings and some days can be quite cool, I do believe spring is trying so hard to make its appearance again. Spring is my favorite season. It is a symbol of hope and new beginnings, something we can use all year round.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Cousins

My cousin Dennis died Sunday. He was diagnosed with cancer last summer. He would have been 58 in May, so about 9 years older than me. His mother is my mom's sister. He is her and my Uncle Robert's only child. He and his wife were married for 38 years. I was in their wedding as a candle lighter. They have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. It is hard to understand why someone and their family have to suffer a disease and lose their life to it.

He left this earth on a blue skied, sun shiny day. According to everyone there when he left here, he left here with a smile on his face. He had not smiled in months. He smiled and took his last breath. I can't help but believe he saw something or someone that made him smile such a joyous smile. Another cousin commented as he died, "what a beautiful smile". I do not know for sure what is on the other side, but I believe we are greeted by someone or something that welcomes us. I told Randy Sunday night that I wanted to believe he saw my grandparents(my mom's parents). My grandfather died before I was born and my grandmother died before I was 3 so I do not remember her. What is weird is that Monday evening I was talking to my mom on the phone and she mentioned how Dennis had smiled before he died. She said she thought he must have seen someone. I told her I thought it was her mom and dad. She was silent a second and told me she had not told anyone but my dad that she felt the same thing.

Did he see my grandparents? Did he see a sight so glorious that it filled him with joy? Was he just glad to be back home? Only he knows. I will see Dennis again some day. Maybe he will greet me. God be with my family today as we celebrate his life. I pray for comfort to his parents, wife, children, and grandchildren.