This week has been full of unusual events – that is, events that are not part of our usual week.

We had an inspiring Easter Sunrise Service and breakfast at the local community church, and an awesome experience in worship service. There are some Sundays that are just too magnificent for words, and this was one of them. From the song worship to the Resurrection message, it was a lovely and uplifting day. The sacrifice made for us as mere humans is so overwhelming; sometimes I can’t even comprehend it.

Earlier in the week, I attended the funeral of a man just a year older than I am – which is certainly a bit unnerving. It was the father of a young man Alex went to school with; we knew the family from that relationship, but not very well.

The funeral was held at the local Elks Lodge and attended by more than 200 people. I should be so blessed to have that many people attend my funeral. There was plenty of camo and Carharts, but there were also suits and dresses. The music was not typical (Stairway to Heaven) but the message was the same – comforting.

Often when I sit at funerals, I think about other funerals I have attended - and I’ve really been to a bunch in my lifetime. My father is a minister and I went to lots of funerals of people I knew, as well as people I really didn’t know. I’ve also attended funerals for several close and beloved family members. Unlike my beloved husband, who informed me on the way to our daughter’s funeral that he had never been to one before.

We sometimes talk about what should go on at our funeral, when we should pass from this world. Marc’s favorite is he wants a jazz band to play, and a big party to celebrate his departure. Me, I’m not sure, I’m just hoping some people show up!

Weeks like this remind me to appreciate the magic of ordinary weeks – those weeks where the best you can say is that you worked a full week, made it through the grocery store without incident, and by Friday night you can fall asleep in the chair watching some old movie!

I remember the day we picked her up. Alex, our middle son, was about 10 years old and pining for a dog after we had to give our beautiful white Akita away (she was a bit too aggressive for children). We had called about a dog that people were giving away because of their move out of the area. The dog was an Australian Shepherd, as I recall, and on our arrival began its hyper-active jumping - which continued the entire time we were in the back yard.

Another dog, however - who looked like a black lab and was a much larger dog - immediately attached herself to Alex, quietly following him around the yard and sitting while he petted and talked to her. In those days, Alex spent more time talking to animals than people, and she seemed to enjoy that greatly.

So, home she came with us, greeted by two other boys and a very small yard. That was until yesterday, when the painful decision was finally made to put her at rest from the last few years of arthritis, old age and general pain. We had postponed this decision for many months, even after we lost another old friend and her backyard companion.

To describe her as a member of the family doesn’t really do it. She didn’t sit at our table and only occasionally was fed table scraps, but she did sleep inside the house most of her life with us, at the foot of Alex’s bed.  She could hear his diesel pickup coming from down the street and immediately ran to the gate to greet him. She made hundreds of camping trips riding in the trailer and sleeping under it while boys went bicycling, 4-wheeling or jeeping.

She chased sticks until she could no longer walk, she dove into the lake as soon as we arrived at the camping site, and she barked appropriately at strangers to protect her family.  She was a friend and companion to our whole family and many of our friends, and we will miss her terribly.

In the end, we all die. I know that. I accept that, and on some days even look forward to that final journey. And I hope that the title of that fun movie is true - All Dogs Go To Heaven - so that we will see her again!

Rest in Peace, dear Sadie.

Well, it is Thanksgiving day again, 2009.  I hate that the months just zoom by in my older age…I just want to slow it down a bit! I have so many things to be thankful for- my Lord and Savior, my husband, children, grandchildren, family, friends, work, play, a warm home, beautiful blue sky, health, prosperity, etc, etc, etc.

I hate those kinds of lists, because I always leave something really important out! I do know that I am most thankful for the giving I receive from others. Many times it is so much easier for me to give to someone else, than to graciously accept the giving of another person. It is humbling to just accept a gift (whether a package or a compliment), without either some excuse or pass.

For many years, we spent Thanksgiving at Marc’s parents, (Ed and Dorcas) because we spent Christmas at my parents. When you marry into a family, you also must learn to adapt to other customs.  Dinner was always “dinnertime” at their house, so we learned to adapt by eating a large breakfast, and snacking throughout the day.

The tablecloth was always the same. Gold, with cornucopia’s on all the corners and leaf pattern down the sides. I know this well because today that same tablecloth is on my table, awaiting the turkey and trimmings.  It is probably 40 years old now, but when you only use it once a year, it can last along time!

She always made stuffing differently than I was used to - one year my brother spent Thanksgiving with us, and we still comment on that stuffing every year at Thanksgiving.

I miss her now - miss both of them - and today I made a Pork Pie…another old family recipe that she handed down. It made me thankful that I received so many gifts of love from them over the years.  It was a privilege to have them live with us for five years, and I am thankful that my children were able to know their grandparents.

Especially now that I am a grandparent, I am thankful for grandchildren. They are the best! Good thing I didn’t kill my own children, so that I got the reward of grandchildren!

So thanks to all my family - those around and those not around now, for giving to me! I am forever humbled by your graciousness, thoughtfulness and undeserving love!