Oct. 5, 2014 - It was the Best of Times, it was the Worst of ...

It was the Best of Times, it was the Worst of ...

Well that was all I got last week. It's been a week full of emotion. Last Sunday Rudy took a turn and we knew the end was close. Although Rudy dying is a good thing, it's never easy to go through that door. With such a large, strong family there are a lot of opinions and desires. He passed away Monday evening.  Then the funeral plans began. 

The Best of Times- well that's obvious, definitely being with George. To see the end of life and the beginning of life, family and what that means.... 

It's really about FAMILY. We have such an amazing family. I don't know of any other family like ours. We care, we sacrifice, we love. You all know that I would do anything for you, it is my life's goal. I think of how dad leads and works and provides. I think of every moment of everyday (and sometimes every night) that I spend building this family and keeping it connected. And I think of each of you kids, taking what you've been given with gratitude and learning and growing and sharing to make the world a better place, looking for opportunities to bring others closer to the Savior. I couldn't be more proud. Are we perfect? Are we wonderful? No, but we're pretty darn amazing! And part of that is because we ARE there for each other. We support each other and help each other. 

It's the little things like this blog, or Jamie recording songs to surprise me. It's Carly playing the piano and singing in times when I could be comforted no other way. It is Danny lifting Norma out of the tub while letting her keep her dignity. It is Katie making me a birthday card and writing me a letter, it is Cassie being her unique self, to assure me that I'm not the only one in the world who thinks like I do. It's Julie being a big sister to Katie at times even though she is the little sister. It's dad who puts gas in my car cause he sees that it was low. It's Jon would plays games with Julie and Michelle caring about Danny's friends. 

And it's big things too. It's Jamie being Katie's Mommy when I couldn't because I was serving Aunt Lisa. It's Danny who shows patience and forgiveness when I just can't and therefore softens my hard so I can change. It's Carly having to be the grown up when her Grandmother can't when she was 13 years old. It is Jon who continues to climb the mountains in his life showing strength and compassion. It is Cassie who has such a huge heart that she takes on the world when Norma dies, her mom has cancer, school and cousins have turned on her. It's Katie who is always teachable and loving and makes me laugh. It's Juju who all she wants is to be together as a family when she was little, who would have me carry her to kiss everyone goodnight and have sing everyone's lullabies. She doesn't express a lot of her emotions but we know how deeply she feels. It's Michelle who loves and marries Danny even though it wasn't ideal. Who cries when he's in so much pain because she loves him so much and she doesn't know how to help. It's Dad who gives his life and works so hard so I can give my life to you kids.

Maybe that's what life's about. Maybe that's what family's for. In families we give all we have because of the bonds of love we feel. We want to. We spend our time making life better for each other. This is the way we become like the Savior. He spent his life doing all he could to show us the way. He saved us so we could be together forever as a family.

We've almost made it home for the funeral. It's been quite the week. But because we have each other, because we have family, it is the "Best of Times!"