Bittersweet passing.

How do I begin this post? I found out that my aunt, who has suffered for years with MS, went to be with the Lord last night. Her passing is bittersweet... bitter because she'll be missed by so many, including her son and two daughters. And sweet because her suffering is over, the chains are broken and she is free in heaven with her Lord. Death is so much more bearable when the person knows Jesus. I'll be making the trek up to NorCal on Thursday night. The funeral is on Friday in Woodland which is about 30 minutes past Sac Town. I'll be on the road a lot this weekend. I would have flown but airfare is outrageous! I will be nice to be home tho... even if it is only for a couple days.

Hmmm... one of my favorite memories of Sherri (my aunt) is that we shared the love of Dr. Pepper! Only difference is that she loved when it went flat... ick! I never understood it but that's how she liked it :) She also made the best sugar cookies known to man!

My aunts death coupled with the anniversary of Patrick's death (my brother's best friend who I'll explain in an upcoming blog) is heavy... I'm not going to lie. October 15th marks the tragic accident that killed Patrick and left his girlfriend Tamara paralyzed (my brother was in the accident too). This year marks 3 years. When October rolls around and especially when the weather changes it's like a grey film covers me. It's kinda like the marine layer that rolls in... first covering the beach regions and slowly moving to the inland extremities until the entire county is encased. It's not everyday... just depends. That's me in October, I get this thin layer of gloom that rests over me. And to be completely honest, some days are really hard and I get really sad... and somedays I'm okay. Although things can get gloomy for me leading up to October and thru the month, I still feel God's overwhelming peace and love. I can feel Him close to my spirit, guiding and protecting me. I give Him praise for who His is and for never leaving my side.

Times such as these are reminders to appreciate life and all that's given to us including the people we love! I am so blessed and grateful for God and the people He's placed in my life. The people who have prayed for me and my family... the people I pray for. The ones who are just there to listen... or to offer words of encouragement. Life is so incredibly precious and time on earth is not endless. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of that truth so we walk everyday with the understanding that the people we love know it.