Saying Good Bye to 2008!

Today we attended our fifth and final funeral for 2008. Wally lost three family members this year and we also lost two friends. Today's funeral was very sweet. The Bishop summed it up in his concluding talk when he said something about "attending a funeral and walking away from it wanting to be a better person." And it was so true of this one.

Eunice was a special lady and to hear her family talk about the wonderful person she was and to have known her smile and her humor, it really does make you want to be more like her; more optimistic, more joyful, more compassionate, and more thankful.

I think we are truly blessed in our lives by the many people who cross our paths through out the years. People that leave an impression on our very souls.

As we sat in the chapel today I was reminded that we do not always get a chance to say good bye to these people. Sometimes the situation is simply unavoidable. Knowing this we need to always make the most of the moments we have together.

At the end of another year, (where does the time go?), I want to wish all of you the very best for the new year ahead of us.

In 2009

May your hearts be happy and your burdens light.

May you always know that you are never alone.

May you find joy each day.

May you understand that it's about people not things.

May you really look and see the sun rise,

the flowers bloom,

the snow fall, the rain drop,

and the smiles that are all around you.