Things seem to go really well, then all of a sudden, a word, song or picture will cause me to tear up and sometimes full fledged sobbing. I used to look at the crying emoji which shows waterfalls falling out of the eyes and think, who cries like that? I do.
The last two weeks have been more difficult because this is when we dealt with the diagnosis and his first treatment. Scary times, but continued hope for a total restoration to health.
Now, I’m facing the holiday season without him. I really did not expect last year to be our last Thanksgiving together, our last Christmas together…but then how does one prepare for that?
I’ve made plans. My daughter will come in for Thanksgiving and we’ll go to my niece’s new home. My brother and his wife will be there, as well as my sister and her beau, along with nieces and nephews. I’ll be surrounded by family for the day.
My daughter will help me decorate for Christmas, and we’ll do some Black Friday shopping. We do a lot of people watching and go out to eat. Christmas will be spent with my children and grandchildren.
Plans are great, but can’t prevent the memories washing in like a flood. This is the price of love, I cherish the memories even though tears accompany the memories. Norm and I had a lot of fun together. I married him because he made me laugh every day.
I am thankful for the almost 45 years that I had with Norm. He was a good man with a good heart.
I pray for those of us who will be facing the holidays without a loved one. Though the days can be tough, God is able to comfort us in our grief.
I rejoice that the season ahead gives us time to consider the hope that came with the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah who loved us enough to die on the cross so that we could walk in relationship with God.
Where’s the joy? It is in the memories, both good and bad. God blessed me with my marriage to Norm.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.
To declare Your loving kindness int he morning and Your faithfulness by night, with the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre.
For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
How great are Your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.
“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.” We used to sing that in the Girl Scouts.
The last week, so that I wasn’t home on Norm’s birthday, I traveled to PA to Montrose Christian Writer’s Conference. I used to attend when we lived in NY. I haven’t been for the last 9 years because they changed the dates to correspond with Norm’s birthday…and I wanted to go on trips to celebrate with him.
It had been a long time, and some of those I remember were not there due to illness. A few keep tabs on Facebook and spoke of Norm and how they enjoyed his photos. I made some new friends and enjoyed hearing of their writing projects. It was and continues to be a place where a writer can receive encouragement, teaching and challenges.
Someone wrote me a beautiful note of encouragement, signed with initials that I did not recognize. Even though I don’t know who it was from, it is a note I will keep to read again when I need encouragement.
After the conference, I headed on up to Clifton Park to see friends from the church we attended. They had faithfully prayed for Norm and encouraged us along the way. I met with a few one on one, but was able to greet and worship with a number of them.
Where’s the joy?
I am thankful for friends, old and new. They bless my life with camaraderie and encouragement. I feel their support each day.
I pray that I will be an encouragement to those within my sphere of influence.
I rejoice that God provides what is needed for us to not only survive, but to thrive as we walk with one another on this earth.
Where’s the joy? No surprise, friends, old and new.
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
Today would have been Norm’s 69th birthday. Last year we rode the Alpine Loop and enjoyed spending time around the Million Dollar Highway. No sign of anything seriously wrong.
I decided not to stay home and am heading to a writer’s conference. Today I get to meet up with a former pastor. Not sure how well I’ll hold it together, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to cry in front of others…can’t stop the tears anyway.
Where’s the joy?
I am thankful that I have outlets for my grief and I don’t have to go it alone.
I pray for strength and wisdom as I walk this week.
I rejoice in the God of my salvation. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Norm is celebrating in heaven with Him, having seen Jesus face to face.
Where’s the joy? It’s in the hope that only Jesus provides.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
Last night I went to our Good Friday Service.I thought about the Tennebrae Service that we used to do at Grace Chapel in Clifton Park. The word tennebrae means shadows, and we would go through the last actions of Christ before his crucifixion and with each shadow, the sanctuary would get darker until there was no light. We would leave in total darkness and silence.
For our service several people would speak about each shadow. One year our pastor met me at the door and said that one of the speakers was ill and would I fill in. So I read the Scripture passage, prayed and wrote a speech. Norm talked about it years later…just because of my opening line. “Death, the final frontier.”
Matthew 26:36–42 The Garden of Gethsemane
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
As I’ve gone through this time with Norm, first with his cancer and then dealing with his death, my talk a number of years ago hit on what I’m going to share now. Norm spoke to me about how he never understood about cancer. He did not realize how very painful it was, and that going through chemo, there are days one can’t rise up to do…and unless one goes through the experience, one doesn’t know.
That’s why it is important to have the support and encouragement of those who have been there. We can pray, we can sympathize, but we don’t really know unless we experience it.
I’m going through it now as a widow, my friends who have walked this road are a great encouragement…they know. I do appreciate the prayers and support of those who have not walked this road, and I would not wish this on anyone, but there’s a different compassion from those who have walked it before.
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and felt so weighted down by his coming crucifixion and death, he had never experienced death. He knew about death. He knew what came after death. He saw the effects of death. But he had never personally experienced death. He didn’t want to, we see that in his prayer, “If there is any other way, don’t make me go through this.”
His time on the cross did not just involve death. He took on the sins of every person who has ever lived. He took on our sins, past, present and future. He became sin for us, and took on the penalty of God’s wrath, so that we could become the righteousness of God. He, a man without sin, paid the penalty of death so that we could live eternally with God.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
As he took on all of our sins, he had another experience he knew about, but had never experienced. For the first time in all eternity that came before, he felt the absence of God’s presence. He cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46)
On the cross, Jesus experienced the weight of sin, the wrath of God, the absence of God, and death. Why would he do that?
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10
Norm explained the salvation provided by Jesus on the cross in this way. Think of an excel spreadsheet where all your good words and actions are assets and your wrong words and actions are debits.
When we all face God in heaven, we will be asked to give an accounting of our words and actions. Some think that if our good outweigh the bad, then we will enter into heaven…but that’s because we don’t understand a holy God. Sin cannot be in the presence of God, and all of us have fallen short of the perfection required to get into heaven.
But God sent his son, Jesus, who lived a life without sin. He lived a perfect life, loving others and loving God with all his heart, soul and mind. When he died on the cross, he took on himself all of our imperfections, and paid the penalty of God’s wrath and death for all of us.
When we come to realize that in our own power we are not good enough to earn heaven…since perfection is required…and none of us are perfect, then if we realize that Jesus paid that penalty, his excel spreadsheet of perfection can be copied and pasted on our spreadsheet, so that when we stand before the Lord, it is Jesus’ life of perfection that is revealed to our credit. Our words and actions, both good and bad are replaced by those of Jesus. His righteousness is credited to us and we can live forever with him.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
Where’s the joy?
I am thankful that Jesus came to earth as a man and took my sins on the cross, so that I can walk with him for eternity.
I pray for wisdom and courage each day to walk in the way that Jesus walked, loving God and loving others.
I rejoice that God loved us enough to send Jesus to us.
Where’s the joy? It’s in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For without the words and actions of Jesus, we would have no hope.
Tough week. The reality of Norm’s death hits me everyday. My friends who are widows say that it will get better…they know…they’ve been there.
I’ve started a new Bible study on hope because right now, hope is my lifeline. My hope is in God, who is my salvation. Tomorrow we celebrate, actually we remember the death of Christ on the cross. He took all our sins and all our sorrows, dying and paying the penalty for our sins and rejection of the creator God. Sunday, we celebrate His resurrection. He came to give us life, eternal life.
Because of what Christ did on the cross…I have hope. Hope that God will guide me while I remain here on earth, hope that I will see Norm again when I go to walk with God in the garden.
I read Psalm 42 today.
As the deer pants for the streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.
Our spiritual self needs God in our lives, just as our physical self needs water. Sometimes dehydration sneaks up on us, we aren’t aware of how thirsty we are, but there will come a time when the thirst cannot be denied.
My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God. When can I go to meet with God?
God hears our prayers, He is the Living God who actively hears and sees us. he is always present even when we do not sense Him in our lives. Norm is walking with God, fully aware of who God is and how much God loves.
My tears have been my food, day and night, while men say to me, “Where is your God?”
It’s true, my tears fall down my cheeks, often unbidden, but there all the same. I’m never sure when they will overflow.
I don’t have anyone asking about God’s presence in my life. Indeed, I have a lot of encouragement from others of God’s faithfulness.
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitudes, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Songs of joy and festivity are not a part of my worship. Instead the worship songs bring tears to my eyes that pour down my cheeks.
Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in god, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to weep and a time to mourn. I’m in a time of weeping that will not last forever. There will be a time when the memory brings a smile, not tears. There will be a time when the songs I sing to the Lord will be joyful, not full of sorrow. There will be a time when the pain of loss will be wrapped and sealed, occasionally breaking out with a new wave of pain, only to be resealed by love and good memories.
Where’s the joy?
I am thankful for the 44 years I had with Norm, and I’m thankful that I miss him, it reveals he meant a lot to me.
I pray for grace as I take the time to grieve my loss.
I rejoice that Jesus Christ came to earth as a man, to die on the cross so that I can have hope in the resurrection which leads to eternal life.
Where’s the joy? My joy is in the Lord…even when the tears fall.
We are coming up on a month since Norm passed. The celebration of life is completed. Aimee left two precious joys with me for a few days. They are keeping me busy.
Last night, Sawyer awoke, crying for his mommy. At first I tried to soothe him, but then I just joined him in the tears. How will I do this?
I have a number of widow friends, encouraging me…by just telling me they are praying. They’ve walked this path, some of them a couple of times. The only path is through the grief, embracing the love that grief reveals, and loving those who are still walking this earthly road.
At one point during Norm’s cancer and treatment, he said, “Everything has been taken away from me…except love. I still have God’s love, the love of my wife and children, the love of family and friends. The love they have for me does not depend on what I can do for them. Right now, I can do nothing except be a burden and they still love me.”
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
1 John 4:7–21
Where is the joy?
I am thankful for my family and friends who continue to encourage me in this walk.
I pray for the strength and wisdom to show love to others, not only by my words but by my actions.
I rejoice that God loved us and sent Jesus Christ to enable us to enter into God’s presence without fear.
Where is the joy? It is in the love of family and friends who are there in the good times and the bad.
Norman Douglas Lathrop, 68, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at UT Medical Center, with his wife and daughters present.
Norm was born in Hammond, Indiana to Charles Sumner and Marilyn Francis Lathrop on July 14, 1956. He spent his childhood at Sharon Center, Ohio with his siblings Brian Keith Lathrop and Joyce Ellen Lathrop Davis. He graduated from Highland High School in Medina County, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering at the University of Kentucky. He was a mechanical engineer for over 30 years, specializing in jet engines, steam, and gas turbines.
Norm loved spending time with his family. He married Patricia Jo Akers Lathrop on June 21, 1980. He often took his children, Jennifer Joy Lathrop, Aimee Elizabeth Lathrop Woodin, and Robert Michael Lathrop on hiking adventures and various museums. He was a doting “Poppop” to Sierra Mae Woodin and Sawyer Robert Woodin whom he entertained with stories of his adventures and those of his children.
Norm was a man of diverse passions. He explored history, expressed himself through drawing and storytelling, found solace in hiking, and captured beauty through photography. After retiring in 2014, he embarked on a journey to visit every U.S. National Park, successfully completing those in the contiguous United States and Hawaii, along with several in Alaska. His keen eye captured breathtaking landscapes, earning him photography awards. He also dedicated years to crafting detailed Civil War uniforms for 1/6 scale action figures. During the pandemic, he discovered a love for woodworking, creating cherished items for family and friends.
A devout follower of Jesus Christ, Norm shared his faith through teaching Junior High Sunday School, leading Bible studies, and engaging in thoughtful discussions about scripture. In his final days, his deepest longing was to walk and converse with the Lord in His garden.
He expressed profound gratitude for the compassionate care provided by the doctors, nurses, and staff at UT Medical Center, who diligently worked to extend his life.
Norm wanted everyone to know that he fought as hard as he could to survive the cancer. He appreciated all the prayers and good thoughts of his family, friends, and people he did not know. He was amazed and humbled by the love shown by so many.
Norm’s absence will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the National Park Service, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or another charity of your choice.
Yesterday, we had a Celebration of Life service for Norm. It all went beautifully. We displayed some of his artwork, photos, and some artwork by his granddaughter, Sierra.
Several stood to share what Norm had meant to them, and stories of his humor, his storytelling, and his dedication to the Lord. My children spoke of how great he was as a father. His friends spoke of his living life to the fullest and how he encouraged them.
I didn’t speak…couldn’t trust myself to keep it together. But I loved hearing how he ministered and cared for the people around him. After the service, several who had prayed for Norm, but never met him, wished they had met him.
I am amazed that I was able to get through the day. I have a theory: When we come together to honor someone who has died, I think God takes the grief that would fall on the family and spreads it out among all who attend, or who had desired to attend, because the grief on that day would be too much for the spouse or child to bear alone.
I know that the continued prayers of family and friends are giving me the strength I need to get through these first few weeks. There is so much that needs to be done. It’s overwhelming at times.
But the tears are flowing easier now. My family has been a real blessing, my children and siblings have made sure I’m not alone. Twenty-one of us went to one of Norm’s favorite restaurants for lunch, Hot Rods in Alcoa, TN. It was a great time together.
I feel his loss…I cry for me, he’s much better off, walking in the garden with the Lord. God still has more for me here.
I read Norm’s pondering while he was in the midst of chemo, and it looked like he was going to survive and be able to get out and do. His question, “What will I do with my extra days?”
As I continue on this road as a widow, it is a question for my own life. “What will I do with the days that God has granted me?”
He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.
Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6
Where’s the joy?
I am thankful for all the people who came to Norm’s Celebration of Life, to share what they knew of Norm, or to support me and my family in this time of grief.
I pray for wisdom to walk this path, allowing myself to grieve, but not to shut myself off from the people whom God will place in my path, either for my benefit, or theirs.
I rejoice that God’s plan is good and He will be faithful to me and my family as we walk this path of grief.
Where’s the joy? I find joy in the people that God has placed in my life, family and friends, and others I have not met as yet.
I finally got through to Norm’s pension plan. I’ve tried to call for over a week and kept getting a busy signal. I found a number on one of the letters he had received, they gave me the number I needed. So I think I’m set, I’ll know if it all went through in a few weeks.
Then while doing taxes, I found that I needed a form from a financial company. They said click on this link to get the form. I needed an account number and a password, which I could not find. I called the number on the site. Since I didn’t have the required information, they said I needed to email another group for them to get permission to give me the form I needed…and that group said they no longer handled that particular financial issue. So…what to do?
I’ve handled our finances for quite a while. In fact, I was trying to make sure Norm knew where all the accounts and numbers and passwords were located. I thought I had what I needed for Norm’s accounts, but no. Suggestion for those of you with a spouse, make sure there is a copy of all your accounts and all passwords in a place that your spouse can find and that you have the same from your spouse.
As I deal with the financial aspect of Norm’s passing, this Saturday we will have a celebration of his life. I went through his memory box and found some high school memorabilia and some of his award photos and a newspaper article about him. I need to figure out the best way to display those…but there are a few things missing from his college days. I’ll have to see if there is another box somewhere.
It’s been a busy day, some success, some failures. Tears come at unexpected times. I miss Norm’s presence. I miss his wisdom. I know he’s in a better place, doesn’t make me miss him any less.
Where’s the joy? Not in paperwork…
I am thankful that I finally got through to Norm’s pension.
I pray for wisdom as I plan the service for Saturday, that it will honor the Lord, and celebrate the life Norm led.
I rejoice that God knows what I need and has it all under control.
For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Do not worry then, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear for clothing?”For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I’m a widow. In just one day I changed my demographic, no longer married…a widow.
It’s not like I’m going to run around and tell people, “I’m a widow now”. I will comment about my husband, sharing stories of our life together. But for the rest of my life on those forms we fill out ad nauseam, I will have to mark “widow”.
For some reason this realization is hitting me hard. It’s weird. It identifies me as someone who was once married, but is no longer because of death. And I’m not sure how to deal with it.
The term, widow, draws up images of “Gone With the Wind” and the Scarlett dancing in her widow’s garb. In the English movies, the widow is either a scheming bitter woman who speaks poorly about everyone, or a senseless dowager who needs constant watching.
There are some widows in the Bible. Naomi, who called herself Mara, because of bitterness, but had the grace to find provision for her widowed daughter-in-law Ruth.
The widow of Naan, for whom Jesus raised her son to life. In those days children took care of their widowed mothers and if she didn’t have that protection, she could be reduced to begging. Jesus gave her not only her son, but her provision.
Anna dwelled in the temple for 70 years as a widow, and gave witness to Jesus Christ as the Messiah alongside Simeon.
Jesus praised the widow, who in her need, gave all she had to the Lord.
The only non-widow in the women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy was Mary, his mother. But by the time Jesus began his ministry, she was a widow.
The prophets criticized the leaders of Israel for not taking care of the widows or orphans and not hearing their causes. Jesus commented that the leadership of his day “devoured” widows houses (Mark 12:40). James tells us that caring for widows and orphans in their affliction is a part of pure and undefiled religion.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
In America today, most widows are not as reliant on their children as in the past. Most have Social Security or a pension, either from their own job or their husband’s. Of course, this does not apply to all widows, some do need to rely on their children or the state for their provision and care.
Now that I am a widow, I see that I didn’t see the needs of the widows, not that I ignored them or didn’t help…I just wasn’t aware of some needs.
1 Timothy 5 gives some guidelines for caring for widows. The first responsibility falls to the family, children and grandchildren. Then it falls to the church. Younger widows were encouraged to remarry.
There are cautions mentioned: don’t be idle, don’t go from house to house just being idle, don’t become gossips or busybodies talking about things not worth mentioning. (1 Timothy 5:13)
As a widow, I am to fix my hope on God and continue in entreaties and prayers. I am to be devoted good works, showing hospitality to strangers, assisting those in distress, serving the Lord in the church, teaching the young women…all the things I should have been doing all along…
Paul also has guidelines for the widows and the single women. As an unmarried woman now, I can focus more on the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.
The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:24
I am a widow, and in that role I have some responsibilities before the Lord. It should be interesting to see where this path takes me.
Where’s the joy?
I am thankful for the people who have rallied around me during this time of grieving and readjustment.
I pray for wisdom and courage to walk in the path that the Lord has set before me.
I rejoice that God cares for those who are needy and somewhat helpless, so much so that he calls his people to care for the broken and hurting.
Where’s the joy? The Lord continues to have a purpose for my life and will reveal his plan as I seek His face.
I went through some of Norm’s items. I’m finally unpacking what I brought home from the hospital. It reminded me of what a roller coaster the last five weeks have been. It not only held items for his hospital stay, but also clothes for him to wear when he came home.
Sometimes, it’s as if he’s just away on one of his camping trips, at any minute he could walk through the door…but then, the reality of his being gone hits. Lunch with a friend and a few card games with my nephew provided some distraction, but the reality is always with me.
The memories are all good. I know there were times Norm frustrated me, but what I wouldn’t give to have him back, even on the most frustrating of days.
I’m preparing for his Celebration of his life. I love looking at it that way instead of as a memorial or funeral. He blessed a lot of people. His photos took people to places they could not go on their own. His storytelling never failed to entertain. He could talk to anyone about pretty much anything, his knowledge covered a number of topics.
Where’s the joy?
I am thankful for the extra four months with Norm that the Lord gave to me through the effort of several doctors.
I pray for wisdom and courage as I walk this path.
I rejoice that God gives us memories to enjoy and to share with others.
Where’s the joy? It’s in sharing the stories, not only of Norm, but of what God has done.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
TRICIA LATHROP 