BF

That time came for my friend's beloved brother. He passed on into eternity. His life will reverberate for many years to come--through his beautiful wife and two daughters but also through his siblings. And beyond even that, he worked for the Helen Keller Foundation. He was brilliant at his job and many, many of the programs he set in place for the deaf/blind will go on making their lives better.
I want to post about my friend later. With pictures. But I have to say here, I have never known another family with such intelligence. There are 5 siblings and they are all overachievers. Amazing people. As a teenager, I always felt that they were so much smarter, I'm not even sure how to describe it. And they have each become adults who use their intelligence--no wasted lives.
The funeral service was moving. His family were gracious and kind in the midst of their sorrow. I will carry loving memories of my time with them all for the rest of my life. His faith was strong. He finished as much as he could for his family and his work. He comforted them. His life will give them strength in the days to come.

My mother

A long-distance friend who is near and dear to my heart asked recently about my mother. She knew the one-year anniversary of her death was approaching. Because this friend and I have not seen each other very many times--and only twice in my home state, she never got to meet my Mama. I wish they could have met. So here is a picture of my Mama. This is one of the last taken. I sometimes look at it and wonder if I should have been able to see earlier indicators of the disease that took her. She was almost 83 years old but she was full of life and active.

This photo was taken at Mama's 80th birthday party. Those folks are her siblings. She and her sister to the right are both gone on now. And her oldest brother died several years ago. Fun looking group, aren't they?

My life will never be the same without her in it. I saw her at least once a week for the past 25 years--except for a few times we were sick and missed a week here or there. This spring our roses have been exceptionally beautiful--and it is bittersweet. Every spring we carried armfuls of roses to her to share. She's not there to share with now. She is beholding more beauty than I can imagine. But that does not stop us missing her.