Tender Mercies Around Dad's Funeral (Part 2)

Even before we left the hospital, we started the funeral arrangements (or started supporting Mom, as she arranged everything!).
(in continuing the list of Tender Mercies):
7-Once we made the decision to stop the life support machines, we had just a couple of hours with Dad, which was a good amount of time without all of the beeping lights and monitors, but not so long that we were left not knowing how much longer to wait/stay
8-Even in a family as varied and big as ours, everyone felt good-and unified--about the decisions that had to be made--nurses commented later on how rare that is; such a blessing to be free from contention during an already difficult time
9-There was time enough to put the funeral together, without dragging out the preparations longer than necessary
10-small moments of humor, like a frozen in time funeral home out of the movies, working around Dad's "original" requests like no viewing, watching Pridays take pictures, and just being with 5 brothers!

10/16/2013

Dear Luvvies,

Here's a picture of a restaurant we had a quick lunch at today--called the "Red-Eyed Mule"-where the uncles had hamburgers with eggs on, and Grandma and I split one with cole slaw.  It was a hilariously cool place (with a garage door INside, and has been on TV, even though it's super tiny.  The other email is a picture of the sign that was outside --love the "ISH" Emily?!

We all went to the funeral home (think the movie Bernie, Brian) together this morning, to work out all of the details about the funeral, with a very Southern gentleman named Arlis :), who called Grandma "Miss Carolyn.  We got to have dinner with all of the family here at Grandma's, and then their Bishop came over to help plan the details of the program. 

Hope you all had a great day today! Love you tons! Love, Mom :)

Though exhausted by the time we got to the Visitation and Funeral, it really was such a lift to be surrounded by people who loved Dad (and us!).  I really did feel like all of the prayers in our behalf were physically tangible.  It was also tremendous for me, getting to hear all of my brothers--who incidentally, have grown into such great men (I can barely say the word "men", they have been "boys" for all of my life!)--speak and bear their pure testimonies.  I was so humbled by who they've all grown to become!
11-With aunts and uncles, siblings, and friends/teachers/neighbors surrounding us representing a span of over 30 years, Eternity seemed SO POSSIBLE and SO NEAR, as though time had frozen (or didn't matter) enough to allow so many worlds and times to intersect like that.  It was an amazing thing.
12-It was also comforting that Dad and Mom had been preparing for a mission, so that so much was already in order--in so many ways it feels just like his going on that mission--except that NONE of us were guessing right on his location!!

I did end up getting to spend my birthday in GA, and with dear friend Carrie Madsen close by, she (and team) treated us all to gourmet Chicken Cordon Bleu, garlic mashed potatoes, veggies, rolls, and gourmet chocolate cake--and I was sung to by more relatives/friends than I can remember in a long time.  Then, to come home to a new (to us) refrigerator, another week of dinners, family gifts, and lunch with friends--was quite a week of (almost surreal) celebration!

So, even though the plans were not ours, it is impossible to deny the Lord's hand in everything that our family went through that week.
13- Even the timing--with 3 grandchildren less than 2 months from being born--was a blessing.  (No one even questioned my ability to fly!)
14-Dad having spoken at a funeral just 2 weeks before, where he bore his testimony of the purpose of this life (and which notes he had left by the computer for all of us to see), but mostly,
15--just having a knowledge of the Plan--in reading Moroni 8 this week, I was struck by how many times the words, "Mercy, Charity, and Power" were used in reference to Christ and the Atonement--that even though it often makes NO logical sense, it is a plan of LOVE!

We sure do love our Dad/Grandpa, and from that week of witnesses to the Lord's plan for each of us, AND how close we are to the Spirit World, I feel more motivated than ever to always be and do my best, and to be a part of "Hastening the Work"(like Dad surely is) as much as possible.  The contrast of all that pain and frustration I felt before we went to the temple, and peace I felt afterwards, leaves me wanting to do whatever it takes to always have that Spirit with me, so as not to be left alone to that suffering again!