Painting

 

Beauty

 

Through grief, God reveals beauty I've never seen before. 

Cousins

 

A leaf

Living life

 

In the past three and a half years, cancer stole a lot from Naomi. There were many disappointments and limitations. 

One of the things I most admired, which I witnessed over and over, was the way Naomi responded to bad news. There were usually tears and sadness, but then she soon found a way to move forward and live her life in the fullest possible way.

This is perhaps best exemplified by her quilling business. 

Missing

 

 Naomi always wanted her siblings to be together. So, how is it that she is the one missing?

Sprinkle of red

 

At the Edge of Grief

 

I stand at the edge of my grief, 

frightened by its power. 

I will be swept away by its current. 

Can I wade around the edges 

without becoming submerged? 

My grief is too deep. 

It will surround me, 

cover me. 

It will suck my breath away 

for a moment or perhaps forever. 

It is immeasurably vast. 

I may sink and sink, 

yet never reach the bottom, 

with no strength to even struggle.

I have seen some 

who have drowned in their grief. 

But, there are others 

who clinging to the edge, 

become shriveled and withered.

I cannot stay at the edge. 

Trembling, I plunge forward 

into my grief.

Pressed flowers

 

Playtime

 

Journal

 

The little Christmas tree, with Naomi's quilled snowflakes, is behind me. I didn't have to get it out since it was in the back of Libby's car waiting for the next craft show. Nearby is also the card holder that Naomi borrowed for her show. There are three unopened Christmas cards on it. I don't know when I will open those missives of cheer and life and goodwill.

The twenty-fifth of December is coming. One day turns into the next whether we are ready for it or not. We dread it and yet long for it to be over. This is one thing we can quantify--the first Christmas without Naomi. The first holiday where the past is vivid in our memories and we catch glimpses of a future we long for and yet we are stuck in a present without clarity or direction. We don't know what we want, except the impossible, which is that the source of this pain and loss would be obliterated; that all would be put right, the way it is supposed to be.

And there is the irony. The truth of Christmas. The gasping cry that the source of our pain and loss would be obliterated and that all will be set right, the way it was meant to be.

That is why Christ came. 

Snow

 

Gummy bears

 We had gummy bears at the funeral dinner. When Naomi was having a rough day, she needed Albanese gummy bears.

River

 

Quiet

 

I found a corner of the conservatory, filled with light and growth, that was just right for reading a book on an otherwise colorless December morning. 

Flowers

 

The arrangements from the funeral were looking a little bedraggled, so we compiled a new bouquet with flowers that still looked cheery.

Memory

 

This photo was from Naomi’s phone.

Light

 

We lost electricity the other evening, so we used the oil lamps.

Baby

 

This little girl has spent a lot of time in her car seat traveling between Michigan and Pennsylvania in the past few months.

Back to work

 

And life continues

 

Photo bomb

 

A time to weep

 

Sunshine

 

Grief

 

Peaceful

 

At the lake

 

One of the highlights of Naomi’s summer was taking her little niece and nephews to “Aunt Naomi’s upper peninsula.”

I miss her so much

 

Sister

 

With Jesus

 

My sister Naomi went to be with Jesus yesterday.

Amaryllis

 

Game time

 

Snowy driveway

 

Activity

 

The shop was filled with activity on Friday, between wreath-making, truck-fixing, and dog-chasing. 

Playing piano

 

Green

 

Cousins

 

Stuffing

 

Butterflies

 

Naomi quilled this trio of butterflies for me some time ago, and I just recently hung them above my bed. 

Wreaths

 

Naomi made the first Christmas wreaths of the season.

Sunset

 

Wreath

 

Blue

 

Sometimes there is blue sky in November.

Sunrise

 

Green

 

Snowflake

 

Cards

 

Naomi has been busy crafting Christmas cards. 

Trees

 

Cedar