Saying Goodbye

The kids' tae kwon do belt test was only the first of several activities this past Saturday.  The rest were not nearly so much fun, though!

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, an acquaintance and fellow homeschooling mom from church lost her battle with cancer a week ago today.  While she and I were not friends, we had many connections.  Her husband is our kids' pediatrician and is one of the kindest doctors I have ever met.  Kim taught Charlotte in the children's church program at Richwoods back when we lived here before and was very involved in the homeschooling community here in the Peoria area.

Her services were this past Saturday, so we stopped by for the visitation.  There were many, many people there, a great testament to her impact during her too-short 39 years on this side of heaven.  There were photo albums from her wedding and of her children, and several handwritten notes from her sons graced her coffin.

It was unbearably sad. 

I haven't been to many funerals of people my age, maybe a handful.  I don't think that anything else makes me question the fairness of life and God's sovereign plan more something like this, though.  It just seems so unfair that a woman in the prime of her life with a husband and three young sons who need her would be taken away.  Given that Kim was more of an acquaintance than a friend, I honestly don't know what I'll do when I'm facing this situation with someone to whom I am or was close.

That being said, I have to still believe that God is sovereign and that He does have a plan bigger than I am.  Kim is healed now, and she wouldn't trade where she is.  But I don't think this makes it any easier, at least in the short term.

After the visitation, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and then ran Jeff out to the Peoria airport.  He left Saturday afternoon for two weeks in Grenoble, our old French stomping grounds.  I must say that I'm a bit jealous!

I did price tickets, but with school and our other responsibilities here and how much it would have cost, going with him wasn't in the cards this time.  So he'll have to have fun for all of us.  He's got a list of places he has to eat and, of course, of things we'd like him to bring back.  (French Christmas candy, anyone?!)

But quite frankly, we've really gotten used to him being around all the time, so I'm happy for him but not so happy for me.  Sigh.

After dropping Jeff off, we had to hustle to church for Christmas play practice.  Charlotte has one of the lead parts, Elijah has a bit part, and I'm halfway in charge of the angel choir, with my friend Robin.  Since she attended Kim's funeral, I was actually all the way in charge Saturday, which was interesting!

But the "angels" have worked hard to learn the music, so it was fun.  For the actual show, I will be playing the piano while Robin directs the angels.  It's coming together nicely.

I ended up going to bed at 9:15 that night and sleeping for nine hours.  Hopefully, that will be the last day like that for awhile!

Talk to you soon!