I just came from the funeral home.  A woman that I knew all of my growing up years just passed away.  I went to the wake to console the family and to pray the rosary with the other ladies of my parish.  While I was there it suddenly occurred to me that all of my family was there.  Now by family I do not mean brothers and sisters and parents and by extended family I do not mean aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I mean a family that is just as real and in some cases much more dear to the heart.  Not saying that I don't love my own blood relatives.  No one could love them more.  But for many, many years my family has been gone from this area.  I am the only member of my immediate family who still lives where we were born and grew up. 

When I was growing up there were several families who lived in this same area who became for myself and others a kind of extended family.  I remember being annoyed with life because there was no where I could go that someone wouldn't know me and therefore if I was inclined to get into trouble I might as well forget it because it would somehow get back to my parents through the web of "spies" that they had out there in the form of the parents of the kids that I associated with. 

Later when I got older and got married there was this same network of families who were there of everything.  Weddings, graduations, baptisms, you name it there was always someone there from this extended family to rejoice and to help celebrate, or, God forbid to cry and console.  For many years I was the recipient of their love and care without really appreciating their presence in my life.  After my family had all moved away this extended family drew closer and closer as if they knew or sensed that I would need them even more in my life. 

About five years ago a man who is like another father to me had heart trouble and for awhile we thought that we were going to lose him.  After his recovery he and I were talking and I joked to him that he couldn't go and die because he would leave me an orphan and I didn't know what I would do without him.  Three years ago all of this became very real to me when another man who was also like a father to me and who knew my parents and siblings all of our lives actually did pass away.  I was stricken and have been a long time recovering from the loss of him in my life. 

Tonight, however, I have been reflecting on the blessing that these people are to me and how very much they have meant to myself and to the lives of my children.  People like Grandma June who was my math teacher in sixth grade.  Her love is so there and generous.  She never fails to let me know that she prays for me daily and she lifts my spirits everytime I see her with a kiss, hug and the words that I have heard hundreds of times but have special meaning to me "your looking good today babe!"  Grandma Teepell who is grandma to every kid who crosses her path.  When my husband and I were courting she was our cheering section.  When we got married you would have thought that it was her idea the way she was so happy for us.  She has lifted me up in my darkest times and loved my children when their own grandmother has been unavailable.  Grandma Vito my most beloved of "grandmothers".  Used to rock me when I was a baby and has rocked everyone of my six children.  She shared her husband with me and never grudged me the love he had for me and the special relationship that we had.  She has always considered me her third daughter and I am honored and blessed to have her in my life.  We grieve together at the loss of my Papa.  My beloved and special neighbors of many years when I was growing up Mr. and Mrs. Baker.  When I need to hold and hug my father but he's not here, Mr. Baker is always there to take his place and never once has he ever had a problem with being a stand-in for my real dad.  Buehner and Papa Buehner my number one other parents.  They have been there to care for my children when i was unable and now they are the grandparents to them that they don't have nearby.  Many is the time that Buehner and I have spent hours on the phone talking about nothing because I needed  to hear the voice of a "mom".  My Papa is there to put me back on the straight and narrow when I am not what I should be.  All he has to do is be a little stern with me and then he hugs me and I know that it is all because of love that makes him have to reproach me.

I give thanks to God for the blessings he has bestowed on me in these people.  And as each one does pass from this mortal coil into the reward of the next world,  it is with love that I will pray even more fervently for them and wish them all of my love and gratitude for all that they have been in my life.  To my Papa Buehner most importantly I say, when it is your time I will let you go because I know that it is because of the love that all of you have shown that I can survive being left an behind and I know that I will never be an orphan because of all who have loved me in my life.

Now I am no theologian nor am I very learned.  I often where my children got their intelligence because I'm not all that smart and my husband says he is just an ordinary man.  Anyway, I was talking with a friend the other day.  Now, she is a christian but not a Catholic christian.  She also likes to challenge me on the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church.  She will admit that she is not very knowledgeable about the Church but she likes to ask questions anyway.  So be it.  I think that God introduced us to strengthen my faith and my knowledge of it.

Anyway, she was asking about the Catholic practice of offering up our sufferings to Christ.  I think I explained it pretty well to her because she said she understood when the conversation was over but she was nonetheless convinced that it is a waste of time and totally unnecessary.  My prayer is that the Holy Spirit fill in where I was lacking in my explanation and help her come to a better understanding sometime down the line. 

While I was at Mass this afternoon it suddenly occurred to me that I had neglected one of the most important reasons for redemptive suffering.  We are all called to imitate Christ.  To be and to act as He did in order to become more sanctified ourselves.  Then the question occurred to me, didn't He give us an example of redemptive suffering?  The ultimate example when He died on the cross and offered all of that to His father.  Can we do no less?  Granted, whatever we suffer here on earth is nothing compared to what Our Lord suffered during his passion and death on the cross.  All the more reason to be able to offer the little we may have to suffer back to Him.  Didn't he suffer without complaint?  Without protest of his innocence?  Should we not do the same?

Next time my friend and I talk I will have to remember these thoughts, with the help of the Holy Spirit, so that I can share them with her.  Perhaps this reflection was the prompting of the Holy Spirit for just that purpose.  I know that I don't think on my feet very well, unless it is a smart comment. 

 After reading Amelias post, whispers of the father, I feel compelled to be as courageous as she.  For it is sharing these "whispers" that we truly witness to the love that He has for us and to show Him in all His glory to others that they might seek Him in their lives and find Him there.

In New York State the winters can be long and dreary.  The springtime too can be a time of very slow unfolding of the eventual beauty of God's creation.  Unfortunately I have a tendancy to be affected by this darkness in the cycle of the seasons.  Our Lord, being the loving father that He is sees fit to bless all of us and help us to overcome these crosses, if only we let Him and look to recognize His hand in our lives.

As a wife and mother my greatest evidence of the blessings of a loving father come in the form of my family and their presence in my life.  His first gift to me this spring was the assurance that my overseas soldier son was safe and sound and would be coming home to see us.  He arrived on the 16h of June, gracing us with his presence for three weeks.  What joy he gives by being with us and just being himself.  

Then, before the sadness could set in, as surely it would because he left to go back to the life that God seems to have ordained for him right now.  Another great blessing, the arrival of my sailor.  What a joy and treat to have two come home in such a short time.  I didn't even ask God why not together.  Simple peace and joy of being able to "mother" another of my grown children is a feeling that is indescribable.

But that time too was to be short and sweet.  We no sooner said goodbye to Adam when it was time to go see Jason graduate and to have him come home again.  Would the blessings never cease?  That I should merit such love and consideration from a good God.

And so we have Jason home with us to love and enjoy until he too must say good-bye and leave again.  And a new one this year, Mary-Kate will also be saying good-bye.  But amidst the supposed sad times, for they aren't sad really but times for all of us to grow, another blessing, he give us each other and the memories and closeness that we have developed with each other.

I love all of you because God has given me the example of his abiding love for us and I cannot but learn from him.

Vistit Peggy at http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com to see what other women are thinking and doing today.

Outside my window..... it is starting to rain, go figure!!!  It was beautiful until I got the last load of laundry hung out then comes the rain.

I am thinking.... that this has been a poor summer for the clothesline.  More days than not I get the laundry out and it starts to rain on my clean clothes.  Oh well, I guess National Grid is going to get their piece of the pie from us this summer.

I am thankful.... that we do have a drier and that Doug lets me use it as much as I do.  (No place to hang laundry inside)

From the kitchen.... there is chaos!!! We discovered a mouse in the pantry and now it has to be emptied of its contents and the little beast found and dispatched then we need to find out how they are getting in and stop that, pronto!!!!

I'm creating.... empty laundry baskets and that is as far as I can go today.  (still have "durango lag" from traveling last week)

I'm going.... to get done with the laundry and then, hopefully, work on Mary-Kate's scrapbook so she can take it to school with her.

I am wearing...... grey capris and a white tee shirt and flip flops

I am reading..... nothing at the moment since there is no time

I am hoping.... that Matthew survives the bee sting that he received this morning.

I am hearing.... the sound of Mary-Kates and Matthews music.

Around the house..... order is being created.

One of my favorite things..... the three of us working together to get things done.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you......

One of my many memories of our trip last week.  Matthew enjoying the falls in his own "Matthew" way.  He looks so serious.  My "baby" is growing up.