A time for everything...

I realize its been almost a week since I have posted. We have had so many wonderful and hard things happen.  After this post - I will do a few large Normandy posts to wrap up our time there.  We are now in Paris.  For starters, we received sad news Monday, that my Uncle David had passed away that morning.  When the kids found out, they all were so sad to lose their uncle who would always make them laugh and tell them jokes.  Jacob said, he would always call me "Buster bo busky" and then tickle us.  Rebekah and Ryan agreed.  Rebekah said he would always point to her eyes, then point to his eyes  and then point back at her with a smile to say I'm watching you.  I told them with eyes full of tears that I would miss that too & remembered as a child uncle David taking me to Six Flags at about their age and we rode the Shock Wave.  We have had lots of fun with him.  I can picture him on the roof of Uncle Big Paul's house with that sly grin on his face and water hose in hand ready to soak anyone who passed by.  Days at the beach in the summer, making yummy food in the kitchen, to sharing with me his egg casserole that I still serve every year to Chris' students for breakfast.  The kids, Chris and I are sending our love and prayers to all the family in Dallas and are so sad that we are not there with you. 

(From Left to right:  Uncle Philip, My dad - Steve :), Uncle Paul, Uncle David, & Grandmother)

My sweet Grandy went to be with Jesus in 2003. 

In the midst of grieving the loss of my uncle, we also celebrated Ryan's 11th birthday!!!  As I tried to process and grieve over here in France - I've just asked the Lord how to do that.  How to grieve, how to process.  We will miss David's presence deeply in our family.  When it was Ryan's birthday and celebrating his 11 years of life and then at the same time grieve a life gone....Ecclesiastes 3 came to mind.  There is so much there to unpack - but were sweet words to read and understanding there is a time for everything.  (I will post more pictures of Ryan's birthday soon - but couldn't help but comment about it now).  For now, I will end this tribute toward my uncle with the words he told my mom to tell us while we are here in France when she saw him for Thanksgiving. "Tell them to have fun!"  It's a mix of emotions to be here when so many family members are together there, but as we walk in thankfulness to the Lord for today, we are going to do just that - embrace this journey and soak up every second with joy for the gift the Lord had blessed us with. You will be missed, Uncle David!!