This week is hard. The memories come fast. The tears come even faster.

Three  years ago, on March 31^st, we found my mother-in-law ‘asleep’ at the table we shared many a salad, scrambled eggs, and story about her amazing grandchildren.  Her birthday was the day before on March 30^th. This woman knew me before I knew myself. We grew up together.

On April 1^st my Daddy was escorted to his Heavenly home before my very eyes. The best and worst of days for this Daddy’s girl. From 1am-3am I sat in the presence of our sweet Jesus as He took two entire hours to gather the spirit of this larger-than-life man only 14 years ago.  I have his laugh, his booming voice. He told me first about Jesus. His head was always full of ideas and nothing seemed impossible. I like to think that my voice and Jesus’ voice overlapped as Dad moved from here to there.

My father-in-law’s birthday is April 3^rd. It’s also #1 Son’s spiritual birthday, accepting Jesus as his Savior at 5 years old. Frank went to his Heavenly home on April 4, 1994, the day after Ben decided to follow Jesus.

This week is hard. The memories come fast. The tears come even faster.

Yet the Lord can redeem a season of loss.

Mr. Yummy, our first grandchild, turns 7 this week on April 6^th. Amazon has already delivered a rebounding soccer ball, the board game Sorry, and a box of foam swords.

#1 Son and the most amazing Daughter-in-Love & Law will celebrate their 3^rd wedding anniversary on April 23^rd, the same wedding date as my in-laws.

Miss Precious, second grandchild, delivered by her super-hero Dad on the side of the road during rush hour traffic, turns 5 on April 24^th. I was surrounded by 70 of my best-girl-friends-in-Lord that evening and she made international news. We also mailed our Son-in-Love & Law a cape the very next day.

As I dust the frames of our family pictures on the wall this week, the memories come fast. The tears come even faster.

A dear friend gave to me a copy of Rockstar Grandparent written by Chrys Howard for my birthday.  Chrys Howard is Korie Robertson’s mom of Duck Dynasty fame. They live in Louisiana. She shares, “Your life is like a one-million-piece puzzle. The good – no, great – news about this stage of life is that your corners are probably pretty secure. You’ve raised your family, worked forever, and established yourself in your church and community. Gone are the days of wondering what you’ll be when you grow up or how you’ll handle the death of a loved one or the loss of a job or the betrayal of a friend. Chances are you’ve experienced similar scenarios in life and conquered them. But there are still a few pieces missing from your puzzle.”

Lord, I pray that the few pieces still missing from our puzzles will be filled with stories retold, new celebrations to experience, and we are smack dab in the middle of Your will and purposes for our lives. May our legacy be Christ-centered, lived out in the local church and in our homes, in joyful obedience to Your Word.  And may we welcome the tears and memories as a direct result of the depth of our love for one another.

“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3