A Blessed Release

My father called about 15 minutes ago to tell me that my grandfather had passed away in his sleep.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Lloyd.? Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.? Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.? Amen.

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me and my family in prayer.? Please continue to keep us in prayer, especially my grandma, my mother, and her siblings.

As for how I’m doing, I was completely calm when I got the phone call and I’m feeling like every second is eroding away the calm like a chisel chipping away at stone.? I’ll be OK — just please pray for me right now because I’m really going to need it in the next couple of days.

Home At Last

I said good-bye to my grandfather for possibly the last time on Tuesday afternoon.Â? He told me he loved me and I told him I loved him.Â? Since this is me, the tears were flowing.Â? Mom and I drove to Everett where she dropped me at the train station where the tears commenced flowing again.

I was all ready to get on the train at 5:45 but… that unfortunately was not in the plans thanks to a crane accident in Seattle.Â? I was stuck in Everett until 10 p.m. and around 8:45, I just lost it and started sobbing.Â? (There’s more to this story but it’s nothing I’m mentioning in a public entry.)Â? When I finally got on the train, my bed was folded down for me and the porters brought me food.Â? They got big hugs for that.

I got home around 4 this afternoon.Â? I am tired and a little too angsty about some things in my personal life to say much more.Â? At least I’m home with my black cat (and the others… and of course Jon).

Seattle-Bound

I’m heading to Washington on Thursday night to be with my family for a couple days.Â? Things are starting to wind down with my grandfather.

Pray hard.

Awesome Mom

I told my mom about what I was doing for the Green Blogathon and asked for any national park pictures she had.Â? I checked my email after being out for the morning and part of the afternoon and found some awesome pictures in my inbox from 14 (!!!) different national parks that she and my dad and brother had been to and had photographed.

My mom is simply awesome.