Transitioning

Getting back into the swing of things is not easy.  It's hard to be one day burying and the next just pick up and move on.  It's cruel actually.  Life shouldn't be that way.  We need time, we need to mourn, to remember, to grieve.

The boys are going back to school today.  They've missed 3 days now and will have work to make up over their Christmas break.  Eli wanted his birthday treats today.  He didn't like the idea of waiting and celebrating  after break.

Ministry is hard too.  It's hard to transition back and yet there are demands.  A 98 year old parishioner fell and broke her collar bone, another gentleman had a serious surgery yesterday and a sweet lady lost her sister.  All phone calls received hours after walking through the door.  Difficult to transition!  In fact it seems impossible and yet we lean on each other, draw strength from the Lord and minister to others while we grieve ourselves.

I've thought several times in the last few days about what Ryan is doing now.  The pain that he has had for years is gone, the physical limitations are no more.  He is free to worship Jesus and there is no other agenda. Just sit in the Presence of the Almighty and soak it in.

We soak in our memories and cherish the things we remember!  We focus on who Ryan was and his life!  I remember the last time I heard him talk and how he told Ron and I his dreams.  Things he wanted to do when he got out of that hospital bed.  It is hard to swallow.  There was so much more he wanted to do for the Kingdom, so much that was left undone.

So we are remembering and will continue to remember!  We hold tight to our memories!

Family

Brothers

 Deep in thought

 Fun Uncle

 Buddies!

 Hard doesn't seem like the right word.  Unimaginable how life just continues.

We love and miss you Ryan!

Jesus give us strength.  Give us understanding where there is none.  Give us peace in the midst of this storm.  Help us to lean more on You and draw from our relationship with you.  Ryan would want that.  He would want his life and death to bring about stronger relationships in YOU!  We know that in life there are no certainties and yet we feel thrown for such loops.  Life and death are such mysteries and so we seek You, Jesus, for the answers.  We pray for your peace that goes beyond our deepest understanding and beyond.  Help us Jesus and fill us with You!