Saying Good-bye

Abbie (r) and her oldest sister, Barb, stand before the casket, reminiscing.

We've now been in the States about 10 days. My father-in-law's funeral was a week ago today, and the family asked me to conduct the services. There is comfort in knowing that Dad's pain is over and his mind is clearer and sharper than ever now. 

The rest of the week was spent going through the things Abbie's parents had left behind. She, her three sisters and one brother had to decide what each one wanted or could take, what could be sent to be used by charities, what needed to go to recycling, and what was simply to be burned or taken to the dump. The week was a drain physically and emotionally on everyone. Only Abbie's brother lives nearby; the sisters all  live 8-14 hours away by car in different directions, except Abbie...about 20 hours by air. So everyone worked to get as much done before having to return home.

We're headed for Colorado Tuesday. Mom spent two weeks in therapy and got to come home Friday. She's getting around with a walker and is determined to recover as completely as possible from her fall. We won't be out there more than 10 days or so to visit her and my brother and sisters, then we have to come back here and get ready to return to Madeira. There'll be more good-byes... not as final as the one last week...but the kind of good-byes this life is full of. Even saying good-bye to Abbie's father was not final in the truest sense. For those who have eternal life in Jesus Christ, it's more of a "So long, we'll see you later."