Today is a link-up with one of my favorite bloggers Jennifer at Overflowing with Thankfulness. I love following bloggers who are just a few steps ahead of me in life’s journey, and Jennifer is one who is especially encouraging and God-honoring as she shares about her (sorta almost) empty nest stage of life.
Today she hosts the “Currently” link-up, but I was struggling to want to write the post when I just shared my “Let’s Chat, Shall We?” post last week. So today I thought I would take a bit of a different spin on the Currently link-up, by answering the questions reflecting on a life well lived- my Grandma, Jean DeValve.
I just got back from her memorial service this past weekend and it was a beautiful time of celebrating her long and well-lived life.
Loving
I loved the memorial service and the private burial that we had for her. In fact, I think that the burial was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. I also learned a lot about my Grandma from the stories that were told during her service. Like the one time that there was a hurricane/flood and they drove over a bridge and were the last car to get safely across before it collapsed. Or the fact that she lived in Cuba, Turkey and Nigeria as well as all over the United States. And the fact that she was the main breadwinner for her family (while her husband was in ministry) in the 60s and 70s when that was not really a thing- AND she still raised her four boys. And I was encouraged by the fact that she had four rambunctious sons. Even such a wonderful woman of faith didn’t have perfect children. Phew.
Looking Forward To
I am looking forward to building a legacy for future generations. My Grandma died four days before her 99th birthday, and at the memorial service (some of) her great-grandchildren recited Psalm 23 by heart. It struck me that having great-grandchildren recite Scripture at a memorial service doesn’t happen by chance. It happens by intentionally building a foundation for my children, which sets the tone for my grandchildren, which sets the legacy for my great-grandchildren. Of course, children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren all have free will, and I can live in the freedom that having “successful” children is mostly out of my control. BUT, the things that are in my control are the daily moments that I don’t often think mean much of anything at all. But all those moments build up to a legacy, where maybe my great-grandchildren will be reciting Scripture at my memorial service because I was diligent in prayer and beneficial habits in my 20s and 30s.
Enjoying
I really enjoyed spending time with my parents and my brother! It has been 12 years since just our party of four were together without any spouses or children. Of course, we love our spouses and our children, but it was fun to have the OG together for a brief 30 hours. In fact, my sister in law and their kids were supposed to make it to the service, but their flight got cancelled very last minute and my brother had to scramble to find a flight. His flight landed at 10:30 and the memorial service started at 10:40, so he made it about 10 minutes late- straight from the airport!
Seeing
Lots of extended family. My brother and I have always gotten along well with our cousins, but it’s been years since we’ve been together. It was fun to get together again- this time we are all parents and had kids running around. We had some great conversations and catching up and laughing about life and all that it has to offer.
Lounging Around In
We lounged around in my Uncle Tim and Aunt Laurie’s house all weekend! My parents, brother, and I stayed in a hotel, but we were really only there to sleep. Aunt Laurie fed us all all weekend and let us just sit around and reminisce. And eat! We ate nonstop. I am so thankful for that!
I did end up taking Orion with me, and that was quite the adventure! I’ve never flown with a lap child and it was exhausting!!! On our return flights my first flight was delayed and I had 15 minutes to get to my connecting flight- clear across the airport. I left my umbrella stroller on the first plane (because they hadn’t even unloaded it yet), and sprinted as fast as I could across the entire airport – with a baby and a backpack strapped to me. I made it just as they were calling for last call to board the plane. That was so close! I got on the plane and had a little cry with relief.
It was a beautiful weekend and I’m so thankful that we got to celebrate such a life well-lived. Well done, good and faithful servant.