laurencodyblog

[laurencodyblog]

This is a typical conversation with my precious Mama. Love them while you can.♥️

Mom: ‘what day is it today?’

Me: ‘It’s Thursday, Mama’.

Mom: ‘Thursday- I don’t know why I thought it was Sunday.’

Me: ‘’it’s not Sunday yet. In a few more days.’

Mom: ‘I miss my husband.’

Me: ‘I know Mama. I’m so sorry, I miss him too.’

Mom: ‘they tell me I’m protected here, and it’s safe, but I hear noises at night.’

Me: ‘You are safe, Mama. Wally and I would never let you live somewhere that wasn’t secure.’

Mom: ‘Did you say today was Sunday?’

Me: ‘No, honey it’s Thursday ‘.

Mom: ‘Thursday. So not church day.’

Me:’No, not today’.

Mom: ‘I miss my Mama.’

Me: ‘I know, Mama, I miss Grannie too, but she’s in Heaven with Daddy’.

Mom:’yes, no more suffering there.’

Me: ‘Yes, they are with Jesus’

Mom: ‘they tell me I’m protected here, and it’s safe, but I hear noises at night.’

Me: ‘You are safe, Mama. They have a night shift that cleans the hallway. That’s the noises you hear.

Mom: ‘is Wally coming tonight?’

Me: ‘Not tonight Mama, he came last night. I’m here with you tonight.’

Mama, ‘oh, that’s right. And tonight is Sunday.’

Me: ‘No, it’s Thursday.’

Mom: ‘Thursday ‘.

Me: ‘yes’

Mom: ‘they tell me I’m protected here, right?

Me: (pulling her in close and kissing her head), ‘You are safe, Mama. You are safe.’

Mom: ‘is Wally coming tonight?’

Me: ‘No, he was here last night.’

Mom: ‘Okay. Is today Sunday?’

Me: ‘No Mama, it’s Thursday...’

#alzheimersawareness

#dementiaawareness

#youhavenoidea

[laurencodyblog]

1993: me, setting the dining room table for our very first (of many) 'Fancy Dinners' for my new family.

Les and Chris watching intently as I stage the table expertly with a linen tablecloth, Grandma Miller's china, cloth napkins, too many forks in all the right places, flowers, candles, etc.

Les- 'Why all the fuss? '

Chris - 'Is tonight a special occasion '?

Me - looking into the blue eyes of the boys who stole my heart - 'There's no special occasion...there are special people. We're just having chili dogs on a Tuesday, but I'm sharing it with the most special people on earth.'

My sweet Mama taught me that. Thanks Mama...for teaching me that the important things aren't things after all. I love and celebrate you today and everyday. Happy Mothers Day!

[laurencodyblog]

When cleaning out my folks house, I found a homemade CD in my mom’s office with 16 songs - and ‘CARNES Family Singers’ on the cover. I think we made this about 30 years ago, and it features songs with my mom and dad, me, and my Uncle Francis and Aunt Rhae. If I remember correctly, I went to Lubbock with my folks to visit my aunt and uncle, and we recorded a cassette tape on a boom box (with my aunt playing the piano), for my Aunt Charlotte’s birthday (who was unable to make the trip).

I took it to listen in my car (my only CD player) to see if it was damaged before I gave it to Wally to make copies.

Wow! Listening to my father choking up singing songs about Heaven, all the while knowing that he’s living that moment right now... what a blessing!

And I may have just stumbled across the only recorded version with Daddy and Uncle Fran singing, ‘This is just What Heaven Means to Me’.

They are together now, and likely still singing this song.

And I listen over and over. And I throw my alto in the mix, over and over.

And I choke up at the exact same spot Daddy does, when he sings, ‘More than anything in this life, I’ve got to make it’.

And I smile and wink up at the clouds, because he finally did....

Everyone singing on that recording is gone now, with the exception of my nearly 92 year old aunt, and me.

We will join them

One day, but until then... I will sing...

#sharehiscross

#wherecouldigo

#newgrace

#preciousmemories

#Iknowwhoholdsmyhand

[laurencodyblog]

Chatting with some coworkers today and laughing about my overstock of antique furniture and china and my obsession with those types of things. Mama treasured her pretties, most likely because she grew up during the great depression and they literally had nothing. I think she had 1 or 2 rag dolls that Grannie made her, and never had any other toys her whole childhood.

Those things were special to her, so they are special to me.

I remember sorting through their things after they died, and I just couldn’t part with a whole lot of it. The memories of that house and the only people that ever lived in it….

The linens, and vintage dishes carefully stacked in the cupboards…

The swept up pile of sawdust in Daddy’s shop that never made it to the trash bin…

We spent 6 months going through that house. In the end, we laughed more than we cried.❤️

Someday in the not too distant future, my grandchildren will be going through my things.

It will take months as well, I’m sure. And they will know how much I treasured those things. Not because of the material value, but because I treasured the ones that left them behind.

Londyn will be ordering around the other girls, Presli will be telling memories non- stop of everything she picks up, Alex will be quiet and sullen in the shop with Papaw’s things.

Turning 60 tomorrow has made me reflect so much as I embark upon another decade.

I can’t possibly be ‘middle-aged’ any longer.

So I’m entering this decade full steam ahead, focused on the important things, not sweating the unimportant things, and praying that I can build my life so when that day comes…

My darlings will remember me when they are tasked with going through my things.

And when they remember me…

they will laugh more than they cry.

[laurencodyblog]

Meet Me at the Table…

(Sorry, long post)

1 Corinthians 11:23-27

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, [c]“Take, eat; this is My body which is [d]broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

To be “guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (v. 27) is to treat as common or profane something which is sacred. The Lord's Supper is not just another meal. It is holy.

The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of what Jesus did in the past, (Look back) a symbol of our present relationship with him,(Look around) and a promise of what he will do in the future. (Look up) We’re going to look at these three aspects.

First, I want to set the stage:

It’s the end of the most significant week in the history of the world. A week of final moments. Jesus and the apostles’ last meal together. He knew it, and that’s why he wanted so much to be with the ones he deeply loved. They didn’t understand what was ahead. They couldn’t have. Even when he tried to explain it, they couldn’t possibly comprehend. These were final moments. The last time Jesus prays in the Garden. The confrontation with enemies. The betrayals. The final encounter with pain. This was his last and final teaching to them. That’s why this meal is so important.

For some, communion is a sleepy hour when you eat wafers and drink juice, and the soul is never stirred. It wasn’t meant to be like that.

It was intended to be an ‘I-can’t-believe-it’s-me’ -‘pinch-me-I’m-dreaming’ invitation to sit at God’s table and be served by the King himself.

When you read Matthew’s account of the Last Supper, Jesus is the person behind it all. It was Jesus who selected the place, designated the time, and set the meal in order. Matthew 26:18

And at the Supper, Jesus is not the guest, but the host. “And [Jesus] gave to the disciples.” That’s the message of the event: “he took…he blessed…he broke…he gave….”

And, at the Supper, Jesus is not the served, but the servant. It is Jesus who during the supper put on the garb of a servant and washed the disciples’ feet. John 13:5

• He fulfilled his role as a rabbi by guiding his disciples through the Passover.

• He fulfilled his role as a servant by washing their feet.

• And he fulfilled his role as a Savior by granting them forgiveness of sins.

It is a Holy invitation. And He meets you at the table.

And when bread is broken, Christ breaks it. When the wine is poured, Christ pours it. And when your burdens are lifted, it is because the King is wearing an apron.

Think about that every time you go to the table. That is why He said – this do in remembrance of me.

I looked up the Greek word used in Verses 24 and 25 – remembrance. It is Anamimnesko. It means – to recollect by going though a process. A journey to where remembrance leads. Literally – a re-enactment. Less reviewing the past – more reliving it. It is living history.

13 years ago, my little in-laws celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows. They married at 16 and 17 in front of the JP at the Rockwall county courthouse, so for their 50th – they went all out – and had a full-blown wedding with bridesmaids, groomsmen, a reception, formalwear, a honeymoon and the whole bit. Now they had celebrated 49 anniversaries before this one. And 13 anniversaries after this one. Some of those anniversaries they celebrated big with trips fancy dinners. But which anniversary do you think stands out the most to them? They can’t tell you what restaurant they went to for their anniversary in 1979. But they can tell you all about their 50th.

The one that stands out the most to them is the one that was a re-enactment of the main event.

Jesus knew the suffering that was ahead of him. He knew the sacrifice he would be making for all mankind. From the supper to the garden, to being captured beaten and tortured for 9 hours. From being nailed to a cross hanging and dying for 6 hours – 15 hours of absolute agony - It wasn’t something he just wanted to do. He was in anguish over it – not because of the suffering he faced, but because of the weight of sin he would have to carry.

The final encounter of the battle has begun.

All hell is breaking loose.

And Jesus knew it. Jesus knew that before the war was over, he would be taken captive. He knew that before victory would come defeat. He knew that before the throne would come the cup of suffering. He knew that before the light of Sunday would come the blackness of Friday.

That’s why he wants us to remember – or re-enact. Don’t make casual the sacred. Don’t just enjoy a meal without thinking back to what it cost.

1. Remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross – Look back!

The death of Jesus is a tremendous gift to us. It is precious. It is Holy. So, the Lord’s Supper, although a memorial of a death, it’s not a funeral, as if Jesus were still dead. We observe this meal knowing that death held Jesus only three days—knowing that death will not hold us forever, either.

2. Our present relationship with Jesus Christ – Look around!

The death of Jesus has a continuing meaning to all who have taken up a cross to follow him. We continue to participate in his death because we participate in his life.

In the Lord’s Supper, we show that we share in Jesus Christ. And we do this with each other. Look around. We form a community that communes together with him. We are united in him.

3. Reminds us of Jesus’ return – Look Up!

Whenever we participate, we are reminded of Jesus’ promise. There will be a great “banquet,” a “wedding supper” of celebration. The bread and wine are miniature rehearsals of what will be the greatest victory celebration in all history. Paul wrote that “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). That is our promise that we know that he will come again.

Lauren Cody

#MeetMeAtTheTable

#theLordssupper

#ResurrectionSunday

#HeLives

[laurencodyblog]

March 2021

When you experience extreme loss, you end up dividing your entire life by that event. There is the time before the loss, and the time after. You are forever changed by that one moment in time that shook your belief system to the core. After all the stages of grief, you may then find yourself forever asking God, 'why'? We tend to hold on the the hope that some day - maybe only in the world to come - we will finally get the answer to our 'why'. I have my own 'why', as I am sure we all do. However, while in prayer this morning, I casually mentioned to the Lord that although I don't bring it up often to Him, someday I'd still like to know the answer to my 'why'. I acknowledged that I was fine if I didn't get an answer this side of Glory, but would be patient until He deemed fit to share His wisdom and understanding. Then I moved on to another topic of interest to share with Him as I continued my morning prayer. Toward the end, I felt Him drawing me back to my casual mention of my 'why'. I hadn't mentioned it to the Lord or anyone else for that matter in a long time. I have made my peace with the outcome. I have moved on without getting trapped in anger, bitterness and regret. I have held on to my faith and stood firm in the face of the storm. So why would He lead me back to that question? I wasn't demanding from Him an immediate answer, vindication, or retribution for my troubles.

Then it came to me. I was silent for a moment as I felt His presence in my car, and my answer came... but not in the way I expected.

It isn't about me waiting for an answer.

It's about me no longer having a question.

#faithisthesubstance #wipingtears #isurrender #thankyoufather

[laurencodyblog]

I totally understand the facility my mom lives in taking precautionary measures to protect our most vulnerable citizens during this virus situation. I get it, I really do. But tomorrow will be one week since I’ve been allowed to see my mom, and she isn’t doing well. Her hospice team have come to the conclusion that due to her out of control blood pressure for a few weeks, it appears she has had a series of rapid succession mini strokes, and throwing blood clots from her carotids (that do have blockages). Of course there’s no way to know for sure (a pacemaker means no MRI, and TIAs don’t show on a CT).

But her confusion and rambling unintelligible words, have not improved much since they’ve gotten her BP under control. She continues to try and get up and walk in her most confused moments, and has fallen 2 more times (for a total of 6 falls).

So naturally, my mind is bombarded with constant thoughts of her during her quarantine.

Does she miss us, or does she even remember we haven’t been there?

Is she scared and lonely ?

Is she in pain?

Is she thinking we abandoned her?

Will she even remember me when I get to go back?

Does she cry at night?

I am her daughter, but in many ways I fill the role of her mother too. When she’s at a level of deep confusion, she even calls me ‘mama.’

Life has come full circle for both of us in that regard, just as it did with my dad.

I bet her hair and nails are a mess.

I bet no one is putting face cream on her.

I bet no one is singing with her...

There’s no Easter wreath on her door yet.

I know she is in an excellent place, and they love her and take very good care of her.

But they aren’t her daughter...

Hold on a little longer, Mama. I promise you I’ll be there as soon as I can.

I love you ‘all the much in the world’.

(I know you don’t get that, but it has always been our saying to each other since I was 2 years old).

#prayersformama

#bloggingmywaytheoughheartbreak

#ijustmissmymom

[laurencodyblog]

Today’s the day! Happy birthday, to the greatest, and most wonderful father a little girl could have ever been blessed to have. You have always been, and always will be my hero. Your integrity and character shine through every difficulty - and even though you may sometimes have difficulty telling me you love me - you always keep trying until you can. It would be easier for you to give up, lose heart, and fall into depression and despair. But you remain positive, upbeat and hopeful that better days are ahead. And I know that you do that for us: the family you have always provided for, protected and love more than anything. Thanks for never giving up! I pray that you have a wonderful, happy 80th birthday. And if love alone could heal you.....you would be well.

[laurencodyblog]

No one in the history of the world has ever wiped out in public better than I did today at Hobby Lobby. I'm talking, in the very front of the store - in front of the glass windows and about 25 shoppers and employees. I was walking up to the check out counter when my shoelace got caught on my shopping cart wheel. I bent down to free my lace, when my hair got caught in something inside the cart. So I tried to dislodge my foot by kicking the wheel with my free foot, which actually propelled the cart forward.... about 8 feet..... at about 40 mph..... dragging me with it, while hopping on one foot.

It was the most hilarious thing in the world! Not to mention that I was laughing like a hyena the whole time!

When I finally stopped and got disentangled, I stood up and said to the (quite large) crowd -'Seriously???? NO ONE videoed that??????

So if you feel like life has beaten you up today, just remember: I took a dive for you. Lol!

[laurencodyblog]

We are all busy people. For me, my M-F day starts at 4 am, a minimum of 3 hours to and from commute for work- and at least twice a week the 3 hours becomes 4. I have a fairly high pressure job with performance expectations that require constant creativity and fresh ideas. A typical day for me has me rolling into my driveway close to 7 and sometimes after.

We eat dinner every night with Granny ( that she lovingly prepares), and almost as soon as I finish eating and raise the recliner back, you guessed it- I fall asleep.

This pretty much happens every night, and we often laugh about my getting 10 minutes into a show before I’m out. The weekends are cherished, but I find myself trying to cram so much in 2 days to make up for the crazy 5 days, that by Monday when it all starts over again, I’m more tired than I was on Friday.

I’m not complaining.

I love my life.

I love my job.

I love spending time with Granny, the only parent we have left.

I love my husband.

I’m no busier than you are, I’m sure.

But on this Valentine’s weekend, I’m celebrating the love of my life.

32 years of the good, bad and ugly things- the trauma and the joy. The deaths and the births. He was holding my hand through all of it.

This weekend, we carved out a few days where I’m not falling asleep next to him on the couch during FBI international.

I’m not going to refuse to celebrate because I feel pressure to celebrate for a man-made holiday.

I am celebrating because I get to. Not because I have to.

And as busy as we all are- we all need a little reminding now and then.

Lester Cody, here’s to at least 30 more valentine’s days with you. My best friend, my partner In this life, and my choice to love forever.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

[laurencodyblog]

I've never been big on New Year's resolutions, mostly because they are always abandoned by mid-January. But this year, I have been doing alot of reflecting, and there is one area in particular that I will make a noticable difference. My sweet, precious father was diagnosed with Alzeheimer's over a year ago. Out of respect for his wishes, our family kept it quiet all this time. Due to noticeable impairment and increasing symptoms, he has decided that we needed to let friends in on his situation. Over the last year and a half - after I heard the doctor's words ringing in my ears while holding his hand -I have done more than my share of 'fit-throwing', questioning God, and whining and complaining. 'Why him' has come up in more convresations and prayers than I can count. If you know M.J. Carnes, then you know him to be the sweetest, most kind and loving person on earth. He loves God, and loves his family more than anything. He was born a 'problem solver' able to fix anything broken - from a car, appliance, piece of furniture - to a broken heart. When we got home from his diagnosis - (which he took in stride with a few jokes and smiles, of course) he went straight to his garage. A few minutes later I followed after him. I could tell he had been crying. I just hugged him and tried to be comforting even though I was dying inside. He pulled back and looked me in the eye and said, 'It isn't supposed to be like this'. Pointing back to the house, he said, 'I'm supposed to take care of her - not the other way around.' Tears welled up in both our eyes. 'It's okay, Daddy. You've got a lot of good years left, and none of us are promised tomorrow.' He held my hand and said, 'I know one thing: I know I'll never forget you.' I knew he meant that with all his heart. After all, I am his baby. I know I've let him down plenty, but of that fact - he is very proud. I've always been a Daddy's girl. I knew he meant it, but I responded with the only way I knew how: You can't make that promise to me, Daddy... but I can make it back to you. I'll never forget you............

I am drawing strength from a memory of him singing a song in church with his beautiful, clear - tenor voice. He is so overcome with emotion that his voice is broken, and big crocodile tears are bouncing off his nose....'Farther along, we'll understand why.....'

In 2012, I resolve to cherish every single minute with the greatest man I have ever known. My hero.... my dad.....

[laurencodyblog]

While sitting at home with the hubs watching TV tonight, the show we were watching had a small insignificant scene that showed the starring family in a swimming pool. This opened up a discussion between us about the pool game, 'Marco Polo'. How did this game originally get named, and what is the link between the game and the explorer? I can't find an answer despite all my research on the subject (Google and Siri) to my satisfaction. Marco Polo clearly wasn't blind... And that brings up another question: is the 'it' person in the game Marco? Or, is the 'it' person searching for Marco? And, if the 'it' person is blind, and searching for Marco - what kind of sick society do we pretend live in, that would try to trick a blind person desperately seeking Marco, deliberately throwing him or her off track? I mean, what are we teaching our children? What's next? Where will this end? Are we going to start kicking the crutches out from under cripples and calling it 'Magellan'?

#stopthemadness #ilovefridaynights #yesiamthatcrazy

[laurencodyblog]

When I was a little girl, I was terrified of the dark. There were times at night after I fell asleep that I would wake up from a bad dream in my (somewhat) dark room shaking with fear from being in (you guessed it), the dark. I would immediately cry out for Mama to come to my rescue and she always did. She never lost patience with me and let me just cry it out.

Looking back, I’m sure it was exhausting for her- being a busy mom and sleep deprived. But she always came to me and crawled in the bed with me and would tell me stories and sing to me until I fell back asleep.

I felt so safe with her.

It was still dark, but it wasn’t as scary with her in the room. She never turned the light on- because that wouldn’t address the fear. It would just temporarily mask the thing that made me afraid.

Finally after many difficult nights in a row , I’m sure she was at her wits end, and just started a conversation with me.

She told me that nothing in my room was different in the dark than it was in the daylight. Nothing has changed at all- other than the way I saw it.

It really stuck with me when she said, ‘Baby, look at your lamp. Really look at it. Give your eyes a minute to adjust, and you can see it.’

And she was right. We spent the next few minutes pointing out different things in my room that I could easily see now that I gave my eyes a chance to adjust to the darkness.

The pink lace curtains.

The big white chair.

My digital clock from aunt Charlotte.

My record player.

We laughed about the state that my toy box was likely in left from a day of playing, but thankfully it was behind my closed closet doors.

I promised to straighten it up tomorrow.

My teddy bear and Miss Bunny that were always in the bed with me…

My Chrissy doll on the chair.

The glass jar on my dresser filled with blue rose soaps…

I was amazed at what I really could see even in a dark room.

While replaying this half a century old memory in my mind tonight something hit me.

This is exactly what has happened to us. As believers- more than ever before we find ourselves in a place in history where we are witnessing the most unbelievable atrocities and lawlessness that no generation has seen before us. What we are seeing today is being shoved down our throats as ‘normal’ while we are surrounded by chaos. That chaos surrounds us and is inside of us.

We are navigating through life groping through the darkness desperately trying to find our way by adjusting our eyes to the darkness.

‘If I give it some time, I’ll be able to see.’

And therin lies the problem.

We’ve been silent and squinting in the darkness.

But we were never meant to adjust and be accepting of the dark.

We were meant to shine.

I’m reflective on this Christmas Eve thinking of 2025 which is now just days away.

Lord, my commitment is to shine.

It’s time to lock arms and be the light we were called to be.

Merry Christmas.🙏🏻

[laurencodyblog]

It’s so hard to believe you’ve been gone over 4years. Out of habit, I suppose, I still grab my phone to call you to tell you when something funny happened. Or sad. Good news or bad. To laugh with you and to cry with you. I’m sure raising a tiny daughter that was as wild as the wind was full of challenges, but you parented with prayer and let the Lord lead you in taming this wild and emotional heart.You did so well.On what would be my 5th Mother’s Day without you (you were in Covid quarantine your last one on earth), I don’t want to cry today. I’ve done plenty of that since you left us and still sometimes do. On this day, I just want to remember you. Everything about you. I would say the good and the bad, but I can’t really think of anything bad .I wouldn’t have wanted to change anything about you, except the date that you died. I would still be pushing that date out, but that would be for me and not you. For you- you are in the best possible place you could ever be. No more vascular dementia, no more confusion, no more strokes, gangrene, sepsis, arthritis, gout and all the other things that brought you pain on this earth. You are free.I’ll still miss you until I see you, but I promise to keep telling stories about you so your great grandkids will know who you were before they get to meet you face to face. I love you, darling Mama. And if I could take your Mother’s Day wish and use it, I still wouldn’t wish you to be back here. If you’ve taught me anything, it was definitely that this world is not our home. And it’s definitely not good enough for Joy Carnes.♥️Kiss Daddy for me, and Happy Mother’s Day sweet Mama. I’ll see you soon.

[laurencodyblog]

Everyone who serves the Lord has different times of day that works best for their devotion and encounter time. I just happen to be a morning person, and love to get up hours before I have to be at work. I usually have a litany of tasks I like to check off my list before the day gets chaotic.

It’s not unusual to find me pulling weeds in my flower bed or prepping dinner at 6 am.

During this time of morning, I also love to have my encounter with the Lord. It just works best for me.

Every morning when I walk out my door loaded down with my purse, lunch bag, water bottle, coffee, etc. to begin my hour long (or more) commute and start my day…

It gives me peace that I’ve let the Word speak over me before the world gets a chance to.

I’m praying for you today.♥️

[laurencodyblog]

Everyone who serves the Lord has different times of day that works best for their devotion and encounter time. I just happen to be a morning person, and love to get up hours before I have to be at work. I usually have a litany of tasks I like to check off my list before the day gets chaotic.

It’s not unusual to find me pulling weeds in my flower bed or prepping dinner at 6 am.

During this time of morning, I also love to have my encounter with the Lord. It just works best for me.

Every morning when I walk out my door loaded down with my purse, lunch bag, water bottle, coffee, etc. to begin my hour long (or more) commute and start my day…

It gives me peace that I’ve let the Word speak over me before the world gets a chance to.

I’m praying for you today.♥️

[laurencodyblog]

The death of my mother was the first sorrow I ever wept without her.

I think of both my parents daily, especially during my prayer time. The memories flood back every morning, and I allow myself a few moments to get lost in them. They are mostly happy or funny, and make me smile or laugh out loud. But once in a while, the memories drift over to their last days and of suffering and how much I miss them. Maybe because thanksgiving is so close, yesterday was one of those days, and this year will be just one more thanksgiving without them.

Grief hit me in the face like a ton of bricks, and for about 30 seconds I was overcome by it. Then, I felt the comfort of the Lord, and His assurance that He had them and they were happy and whole.

I talk about them, not because I am stuck or can’t move on. I talk about them because I am theirs, and they are mine, and it’s sometimes chilling to realize that no one else on this earth will ever love me… quite like that.

And sometimes, I just miss them.

No passage of time will ever change that.

I guess I just don’t know how to stop being a daughter.

Thanksgiving has become a new normal for us, no longer having Daddy, Mama and Pop. I know we will have a wonderful time, but I couldn’t let this day come and go without at least mentioning 3 of the people for which I am the most thankful.

Mama and Daddy, and Pop, just so you know… you are still so loved.

Enjoy your pecan pie.♥️♥️♥️