The Brightest Star

Our little resident rooster, Bailey, cockadoodledooed me awake this morning before six and I decided to use the extra time before Sophie woke up to call home. Sometimes news from home is good, sometimes it knocks the wind out of your sails, like today.

It never gets easy being away from the ones you love, the ones that played with you when you were a child and now play with your kids. It isn't easy realizing that they are getting on in years. To see the flecks of grey in their hair, to hear their bones creek when they move, to hear the waiver in their voice. They hold you just a little tighter and ask youto linger just a little bit longer, as if they know time is drawing close.

It is even more difficult to be away from family when you lose someone. I wish that I could be there to say good bye to gather up those that remain and hold them and tell them I love them. For even in bad times or times of sorrow, our family is strong- helping, crying, healing together.

My Aunt Violet passed away on July 24th at the age of 79. She was kind, funny and warm. She lovingly called her sisters, "sis", she was a member of her local church, taught Sunday school and even had her own beauty shop. The light of her life may have faded, but her star is shining brighter than ever in heaven. You will be greatly missed.