{{ 88 }} Ilayna Joy

There's a new girl in town and "on Margaret". Witnessed my first home birth and I must say my friend did a great job.

{{ 87 }} Help

The helping hand...the one that picks you up...holds you strong...gently carries you...this family holds tight.

{{ 86 }} It Begins

Labor begins. A home birth surrounded by family.

How precious to pray with your mom.

We have the new neighbor on her way.

{{ 85 }} The End

The end brought a great time with my parents, sisters, neices and nephews.

{{ 84 }} The End

The End brings family together, lots of food and for us laughter. We know where our loved one is....and we didn't lose her. We eat, laugh, eat, talk and then take pictures of the cousins in attendance.

{{ 83 }} The End

Sometimes the end reunites old friends such as in the photo. The next week I got a call from one of our Congressmen. He had saved a letter I wrote years ago recalling a memory. Most of his friends are "gone" and he is 87. He was looking for Daddy and asking about how he was getting along.

{{ 82 }} The End

Sometimes the end sneaks up on you and other times you know

it's in the future. You dread the day when you want to pick up

the phone and talk to your Daddy or your Moma and they

aren't there. Thankfully mine are. My sweet husband now

has only my family. What's mine is his.

{{ 81 }} The End

Mom came with Dad to his brother's funeral. The next morning she was headed over to see her sister.
The end came at 5:00 am...totally unexpected. Sometimes it sneaks up on you and you don't get to say good-bye.

{{ 80 }} The End

One tradition is the pall bearers laying their boutonnieres on the casket. I wonder where it started and why.

{{ 79 }} The End

We have traditions in the South. I am grateful for that. As I have travelled to other 

parts of the U.S.  lately I find them lacking.

Difficult as it may be I'm glad the family rides together in a big shiny black car.

That we remain next to our cars while the casket is in place and wait

for the family to go next. We shake their hands, hug their necks and

let them know how much we also loved their "loved one". 

{{ 78 }} The End

We've had two funerals lately. It's the end of Aunt Gerri's earthly body and for that, we grieve. It was the instantaneous beginning of eternity with Jesus and for that we rejoice!