Exhaustion

This is going to be a short update, as you can tell by the title.  My aunt has been in hospice since mid February.  Since then, I've been to Atlanta twice and had two good friends visit with me.  I'm so used to resting but I feel like I've been going non-stop by myself for a month.

So, to quickly catch you all up, my aunt recently passed away from cancer.  She had lived a good life and sometimes you just have to take quality over quantity.  I just got back from Atlanta yesterday.  I knew we weren't saying goodbye to her, but "I'll see you later". 

My father was terribly distraught.  He loved his sister so much.  I felt so honored my cousin asked me to say a few words and read some scripture.  The service was absolutely beautiful.  My sister and I tried to each stay with my father.  We felt he would collapse at any moment.  He's lost weight and we've been worried about him. 

He couldn't watch as she was placed in the mausoleum but took comfort on my shoulder.  I think my sister may have cried more than anyone though.  She has such a tender heart.  While at the cemetery, the cousins that came had the employees put flowers on our grandmother's mausoleum as well.

Although this was such a sad time, it was so good to see family that I haven't seen in years and spend some really good time with my sister.  Her husband is a marine at Came LeJune so we rarely see each other.  Her children were in one room so she and I shared a bed, like we were little kids again.  I loved every minute.  My mother was a real trooper with my crazy nieces, they are adorable but a handful! 

So, today, I'm going back to sleep now for a while.  I can't remember when I've been so exhausted.  Thank you for all your prayers for our family and please keep them coming. 

For one of the first times, I saw the fear in my sister's eyes about losing me when I got sick from my meds after the funeral.  In that moment, I didn't feel so alone and felt so loved.  We had one of those crying/hugging sessions and she made sure I knew that I could go live with her when Karley goes to college or I get sicker.  She also assured me I would never be alone.  It's so crazy how I went from the older, wiser, caretaker sister, to the one that needs help.  But I am glad she offered.  I love and miss her so much.

I know some people say they can't stand it when others say, "God has a reason for everything".  Well, for this I think He did.  He brought my sister and I closer and brought our cousins back closer.  It's all about the silver linings in life.