Family

The last week has been spent with family. Here are the highlights...

• tonight sitting in the family room with Steve, Ketsia, Matt and Abbie enjoying a movie and time together (the rest of the family are at a funeral which I'll refer to later.)
• talking about Latvia for my sister's Home League program as her last resort because their field trip was cancelled due to the funeral. The second choice was a joint Diaz/Merritt program but Ketsia had to have 4 wisdom teeth pulled and Steve's 1st priority was to take care of her. So, that left me. It was fun, the group was great and very interested. I was glad to be helpful.
• Listening to Chris's pastoral guidance with the mother of a murdered young man, whose funeral is tonight at their corps. Feeling proud of her and sympathetic to her difficult task.
• Last night we had our traditional Thai restaurant meal with my aunt Char and cousin Tim, Brigit and Myles and Cash (newest addition to the family).
• Playing 'Bang' - a card game - with Matt, who knew all of the secrets, Steve and Steve. Matt won every time but we all had fun.
• Enjoying our Monday evening get together with lots of extended family members, some who I haven't seen for years.
• Being at the corps Sunday with all of my family. Playing horn next to my sister in their corps band (because they were desperate). I'm not sure we've ever played together. Watching Steve and Chris lead their corps people, especially during the pastoral prayer time. They are great. Enjoying lunch at 'Kings' with a good number of the corps family, along with our family. The Dearborn Heights people welcome us as if we belong. It's a joy to visit there.
• Attending a funeral for my aunt LeEtta (actually a cousin, but best friends with my Grandma throughout their lives and mine.) Our extended family were together, which rarely happens and resulted in the Monday party. Hearing about my aunt LeEtta from the corps people. We thought that since she was 90+, most of the corps people would not come out. The chapel was full, including a band. We heard stories from former Girl Guards (my age), Sunday School members and Songsters. LeEtta influenced several generations of people at the Royal Oak corps and it was a huge blessing to hear those testimonies.
• Driving up to Michigan with my brother and sister-in-law in the middle of the night to get to the funeral. Those 5 hour drives always give us time to catch up and have some good conversations.

I thank God for my family and for this time we can spend together. Thanks for listening!