Dear Bob,

You were laid to rest earlier this month. It was a lovely cool sunny morning. We thought we might have rain to contend with, but God was good and he gave us a beautiful, sunny, breezy morning. The grass was so green, the sky so clear and blue and fresh. The flowers on your casket were bright and vibrant. There were gerbera daisies, gladiolas in bright reds and yellows, lots of greenery and of coarse the tulips you loved so much.

There were already a few people there as we arrived. We each greeted and introduced ourselves to each other. Even though some of us were new to each other, we all had you and your love in common.   There were plenty of smiles and the gratitude that each person felt for having known you was obvious.

A person cannot exist as you did, so full of love for each person that came into your life, and not expect such warmth and love to be present. The group was intimate, and amazingly consisted of family and friends from various periods of your life. A quilt if you will. Some had known you for a lifetime, some only months. Each person there had a story or a memory to share.

You would have enjoyed the service. Ray spoke lovingly about you. He spoke about how we were there that morning to pay our respects to your “physical body.”   It was simple and lovely.

I do believe your upcoming memorial service will be a “happy celebration” of your life. At 96 it was like you were just getting started. I think the hardest part for you near the end was that you couldn’t get out and about to comfort others. You let us all love you and care for you but we all knew you wanted to hop up and get out to tend to others.

As I sit here on this Sunday morning writing these words, I feel such a loss. I miss you terribly but I am so very thankful that we had the opportunity to re-unite. You once told me that you knew I would be back, you “welcomed me home.” Thank you for the love you gave to me and for the time we were able to share together. For our lunch time talks, our drives up and down the river, our visits to see the grand kiddos and for all the times we would get lost driving somewhere…promising not to share our mishaps with anyone and laughing about it.   And…Tres Leches cake will never be the same without you.

I leave you with this last thought. As you were nearing the end I ran across this Bible verse. It seems appropriate. It was written by the apostle Paul, about himself, near the end of his life. He viewed his approaching death as the “pouring out of his life as an offering to Christ.”

2 Timothy: 6-8

(6) For I am already being poured out like a drink offering. And the time has come for my departure. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

I can hear you now…”Right on”

With my love,

Your other daughter… Nancy