Catching Up

Mom and Dad Yoshimine came up to stay with Devon and I between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. This was a welcome and timely visit for us this year. I work on Fridays of Thanksgiving weekend, so there are no trips down to SoCal for Thanksgiving. Since our move to NoCal, Thanksgivings have been small gatherings. It was a treat to have Mom and Dad with us. With Dad being almostg 85 and Mom over 80 now, it is really something for them to travel, but they do. And it is a big deal to us. This visit was a perfect segue into Christmas 2008, which was particularly lonely for me.

We didn't talk a whole lot. Their love was a quiet love, but it spoke loudly. We sat in the same room doing our own thing, keeping each other company as time passed. Theirs was a comforting presence to Devon and I.

The loss this past year, felt more 'in your face'. I felt empty, moving on into a New Year without my love, facing an uncertain future. I began to realize who and what I had lost in my relationship with Gail. I felt extremely 'poor'. Then God stepped in...in fact Mom and Dad's presence served to remind me of God's presence with me.....memories of how good God has been to me and how he had blessed me with such a wonderful, loving and fun woman, kind of overcame me...and filled me...It was his continuing revelation of his enduring Love.

I read Luke 2 before Christmas as the angel reveals some bewildering and amazing promises to Mary. He talked about the future and Mary's part in His plan. I love her response to her Lord: "May it be done to me, as you have said." I prayed this prayer about my (our) future with Him.

God gave me such wonderful encounters with family and friends during the visit to family down in SoCal. A nice walk to the Huntington Beach wetlands with Mike Toguchi, Vince Chiya, Devon an I. Touch football with the family. A lunch with guys that I met with for years when in their high school years. The annual Hunt Tamale New Year's Eve party and visiting with friends. A breakfast @ Corner bakery in Brea with Jeff Sano, Steve Yahata, Jordy, Devon and I to talk about the June Lake Fishing trip. Breakfast and a walk with Brian.
All needed. All good.

Then later in January, 2009, the Lord opened up other opportunities to share conversations with other widows and widowers. This has been very helpful for me because we are able to understand one another. I had a lunch, a breakfast, a visit, E-Mail conversations and a lasagna dinner with Devon and another family. A grief group is starting up at my church soon. I plan to attend.

Devon may have a similar opportunity. We recently completed an intake for Devon for a grief group of teens that have lost parents. I hope that Devon will have this opportunity. Please pray that this, or another opportunity.

Please pray for our Bible Study Fellowship study of the life of Moses. It has been the best study yet for me, even in Leviticus and Numbers!