Home again

We had a good weekend in Ohio for my grandmother's funeral.  The funeral service was a wonderful celebration of grandma's life, and I got to see all of my aunts and uncles, and nearly all of my cousins.  (No small feat, when you consider that my mom has 7 siblings, and there are 16 of us grandkids.)  The weather was cool and perfect - I feel like I got my first taste of fall.

My younger sister Jenita and my mom.

My nephew Tanner (who looked 5 years older over the summer), my aunt Carol (who looked 5 years younger), my sister Janelle (did I mention that she's almost 40?), and my daugher Natalie.

Me and my older (nearly 40!) sister, Janelle.

My daugher Marissa, with some Colorado cousins: Riley, Walker, and Landen.

We also had a 50th birthday party for my mom's youngest sister, Carol.  Carol doesn't have any children of her own, but she has been an awesome aunt to all of her nieces, nephews, and now grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Mom (3rd from right) with her three brothers and four sisters.

Aunt Carol (in the middle) with a pile of nieces and nephews.

When grandma passed away, she was sitting in her wheelchair with her Bible in her hands.  As I listened to the stories people shared about her life, I couldn't help but to think of the fruits of the Spirit listed in the Bible...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Grandma embodied all of these, and more.  She loved to study her Bible, and it makes me smile to think of her having all her questions answered at Jesus' feet.

We were also able to visit with my wife's family, and we took a walk with her grandmother and our nephew along the bike path near her parents' house.

Marissa with her cousin Camdyn, on the bike path.

Enjoying a beautiful fall day.

I am blessed to have such a great family!