Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Oh Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting . . .
-Oh Captain! My Captain, Walt Whitman-Leaves Of Grass
It always seems surreal when this happens to us.
And it has happened far too many times.
My husband's father died last night, peacefully yet unexpectedly, in his sleep.
Godspeed Bill. Say hello to my dad for me.
I'm not sure when I'll be back, friends.
But I will be back because life begins and ends and there are all the days in between and it is in those days that I will try to find the right words, to capture it all.
Please keep us in our prayers as we journey north to mark the passing of a father, grandfather and husband.
In one of the stars, I shall be living.
In one of them, I shall be laughing.
And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing when you look at the sky at night.
-The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Today's Definite Download: Vince Gills', Go Rest High On That Mountain. Check out Vince's beautiful, heartfelt song of goodbye right here.
Life is eternal and love is immortal and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.-Rossiter Worthington Raymond
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67 comments:
Hugs, prayers and safe travels friend.
Dee from Tennessee
Just so sorry, so very sorry. A wee bit stunned and can't think - even though I know that there really are no words. Sending prayers from my neck of the woods and hugs to all. May the Lord give you His grace and His comfort.
Godspeed to him! Sending hugs and warm thoughts of sympathy to you and your husband!
"Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear."
So sorry for your loss...
So sorry. Travel safely. We'll still be here when you are ready to return!
I loved hulks comment. You and yours are in my prayers. Sending lots of love your way.
Truly sorry for your loss. Another member of the Greatest Generation has gone on to join the others.
"What the caterpillar perceives is the end, to the butterfly is just the beginning." Author Unknown
Sadie from BBPland
You all will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you have a safe journey up north. Hugs to you my friend.
Lovely words Hulk :)
Such a sad loss for your family. May he be remembered well, and often.
Wishes for safe travel and heart healing going with you.
I lost a dear friend earlier this month and this was recited as a graveside prayer:
When my sun of life is low,
When the dewey shadows creep,
Say for me before I go,
Now I lay me down to sleep.
Wothing more to doubt or dare,
Nothing more to give or keep,
Say for me the children's prayer,
Now I lay me down to sleep.
Who has learned along life's way,
Be it primrose Path or a stoney steep,
More of wisdom than just to say,
Now I lay me down to sleep
Now, we lay Bill down to sleep,
We pray the Lord, his soul to keep.
Oh Joann, Prayers to you and your husband and the whole family. I'm so sorry for your loss.
When my mom passed away last year we had this poem printed on her prayer cards:
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in the mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"
And that is dying.
Henry Van Dyke
I hope these words bring some small comfort. You are loved.
Jan
I'm so, so sorry, Joann! I'm thinking about your family.
So, so sorry for your loss. Safe travels, my friend.
oh Joanne, I'm so sorry to hear that. I'll be thinking of you and your family during this sad time. {{Hugs}}
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
I'm so sorry to hear about this Joann. My heart and thoughts are with you. See you when you get back.
Thinking and praying for you all.
He and your dad are appplauding you and your hubs. They raised you well and I am happy and proud to call you a friend. xo
Oh, Joann. I am so sorry to hear this. Thoughts to your husband and you and your children..
My dad's up there too..
xo
I'm very sorry. What a beautifully peaceful way to go,in ones sleep, but also very shocking to everyone left behind.
Thank God for memories.
Today is the second anniversary of my mom's death. She died unexpectedly and my dad, who'd been sick, died twelve days later of a broken heart.
My prayers are with you and your family.
Oh Joann... so sorry, my friend, so very sorry.
Find it in your heart to be extra sweet to your husband and to yourself. It's a hard road ahead, as you well know. Find brightness wherever you can. Immerse yourself in love. Remember him with all your heart.
oxoxoxo
Sorry to hear that. It's always such a shock when it's unexpected like that!!
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Oh honey, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Safe travels and sending you all kinds of strength to help hold your husband up.
I will pray for your family that you can find some peace in this sadness.
So sorry. You'll all be in my prayers.
I'm so so sorry for your irreplaceable loss, my friend. He was a great man indeed.
Joann, I'm so sorry for your sudden loss. Please share my sincere condolences with your husband and family. My prayers are with you all.
Joann, I'm so sorry. I know there aren't really any words, at least I do not know them. Keeping you all in my thoughts.
Sending good thoughts to you. It's so hard to lose people. I wish we didn't have to, ya know?
Safe journey.
Oh, honey...
Joann, Thoughts and prayers.
My heart goes out to you and your family. I'll keep you in my prayers.
Oh Joann..after all your MIL just went through? Wow. My condolences to you and your hubs...take good care.
I am so sorry for your family's loss.
I am so sorry for your family's loss. Take care.
Oh Joann. I am so sorry. You will all be in my prayers.
So sorry for your loss. I look forward to your return.
I'm not sure that I have any right words in a time like this.
I am praying for your family and sending you love. I'm so sorry for your loss.
I am so very sorry. I'll be praying for you, your husband and children. It's so hard to lose someone you love. So sorry that you have to make this sad journey my friend!
Oh Joann, so sorry to hear. Praying for you & your family. Peace be with you.
Sue
I am so sorry for your loss! My thoughts will be with you and your family during this time. Have a safe journey.
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
Praying for you...
So sorry for your loss. Make sure you spend some time these next few days sharing memories. Our loved ones really do live on in our hearts.
I'm so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts & prayers.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain"
So sorry for your loss. Sending good thoughts to your family.
I'm terrible at this. I want to so "so sorry" but everyone already said it.
But I am. So sorry.
Prayers to you and your family Joann. I am so sorry. I know everyone does say that. But what else is there to say? Take care and safe travels.
Such a loss to your whole family,Joann. I'm so sorry.
You have truly been blessed with having great people in your life.
I'm thinking of your MIL now.
She will be leaning on you.
What a sweet photo! My condolences to your family and may Bill's journey be peaceful.
I am so sorry for your loss. I know what it is like to lose a parent that you love (my MIL) and I will keep you all in my thoughts.
I am so sorry.
My sympathy to you and your family.
I will pray tonight. Much love to your family.
So, so very sorry Joann. Am thinking of and praying for you and your family.
Sorry for your family's loss! I will keep you in my prayers. Travel safe! Hugs, Traci
Sending Cheeseboy thoughts and prayers your way.
When I go, I hope it is peacefully in my sleep. Sounds like he was a great man. My sincerest condolences.
I am so sorry to hear your sad news. My deepest sympathy to you, your sweet Hubby, your Mother-in-Law and the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Oh man, Joann, so sorry. Peaceful is reassuring but unexpected is still a knife to the gut.
Take care of your family.
Beautiful song by VG and loved the other prose you posted
I wish you peace and healing
so sorry for your loss
that is all
Sending white light to you and your family.
Tell us some stories about him!
Joann, know that you, your husband and family are in my thoughts and prayers as you come together with other family and friends during this difficult time.
My heart goes out to you and your family.
I am so sorry. Sending prayers my friend. Xoxo
So sorry for your loss, sweetie. Sending your hugs and prayers.
Oh Miss Joann! I am so sorry that I missed this news, I have been a bit MIA on the blogs this week. I am sorry for the loss of your father in law. It sounds like he had a rich and full life and that is the best that any of us can hope for. Know that we are each praying for your peace in this time of sadness. And this is precisely why I always say, "Every day may not be good but there is something good in every day." Find your 'something good' and celebrate it.
Enjoy the day.
xox
Erin
Oh Joann, I'm so sorry. Please give hugs all around for your family. Having just been through all of this, my heart hurts for your husband and the rest of Grandpa's loved ones.
I feel like the most horrible friend and a terrible person that I have been missing in action and completely missed all of this.
I'm so sorry.
Hugs and prayers.
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