It seems that time passes so quickly.
The last time I wrote anything here, it was my mother who was so ill.
Since that time, it was my father who passed away. November 30, 2012. He died due to complications from a gall bladder attack. They could not operate due to his low blood pressure, and he became septic. As a family, we are still reeling from this loss. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't want to talk to my "Pops". He did have prostate cancer that had migrated into his bones. He didn't experience a whole lot of pain, yet, but it would have gotten terrible, so in a way, I guess, God spared him.
I'm off to morning Mass in 15 minutes. Two weeks ago I was laid off from my job at the Cloverdale Reporter. Loved working with some creative and energetic people, and I loved the community that I served.
But time passes so quickly.
The last time I wrote anything here, I hadn't travelled all over Europe.
Craig and Marcia, my brother-in-law and his wife, invited us to join them on a whirlwind, by van, tour of Europe. We started in Paris for a week, then all fix kids and four adults packed up in a van and drove then to Assisi (the slow route - only 18 hours) and from there, Rome for 8 days, Split, Croatia, Medjugorje Bosnia, Zagreb, Salzburg, Austria, Munich, Germany and finally in Amsterdam. That trip will have to be another entry. There's too much to write in a few moments. I made a video about the trip though. It's on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv-i20d2u2Q
Time passes so quickly.
I can't believe how much healing continues to occur. Since this blog there has been so much reconciliation and peace between brothers and sisters. Shelley, Dianne and I are going to Vegas together to celebrate Shelley's 50th. We were at Dad's bedside when he passed, and I know that he's praying for us.
15 years of praying for healing for my family at every Mass and I've really seen in these past two years many tears and hugs and hope abounding. I've gotten to know and love many nieces and nephews and I know that God's working in our family.
It doesn't mean that there won't be more struggles, trials, and challenges to forgiveness.
I suppose, what I've learned since this last post is to persevere and trust. Or better said, I'm LEARNING to persevere and trust. Some days I'm dreadful at doing either.
