Goodness and Kindness

I think we all want to be thought of as good. As kind. I do, and I certainly want my children to be thought of in that way, too.

I'm pretty sure most people like to be remembered well. Haven't we all thought about what people say in our absence? What people will say if we were to die?

I know a man who was so good. So kind. He called his wife "beautiful" a lot. Such romance! He treated her like a precious pearl. His children? He was hopelessly devoted. So in love with his family. He did fun, crazy things to make them laugh and to make sure they knew....

This man taught at his church. He was beloved. He was a teacher, a role model. My children? He taught them how to launch many many paper airplanes at a dance studio and smiled like a boy when the dance instructor demanded "WHO DID THIS?". She laughed. I picked up airplanes at my house for a bit...found behind furniture and atop the fridge.

We will miss him at the studio. He will be missed at his church, at his work place, by anyone who knew him. His family will ache with the loss. But, you know what? They have such faith. They know that they will be with him again some day. They are brave and strong. And good. And kind.

Benefiting the Summers Family

Duane Summers passed away on Monday. I don't feel particularly "bloggy" at this moment, but I wanted to share this information. If anyone is willing to help out, I can think of no more deserving family. These are his children: Ben, Hannah, Molly holding Emma, Katie, Grace and Jack.
Here are some details of how you can help.

SUMMERS’ BENEFIT GARAGE SALE/BAKE SALE All proceeds will go to the Summers Family. Saturday, November 15, 20087:00AM- 3:00 PM1701 Hickory Ave, Broken Arrow Please donate baked goods and gently used items to sell. All unsold items will be donated to Goodwill after sale. Drop off items Saturday morning or contact Heidi Roberts for further info: toddandheidiroberts@hotmail.com--Summers’ Benefit Silent Online Auction. All proceeds will go to the Summers family. December 1-3, 2008Monday-Wednesday. Please donate new items or a service to be auctioned.(example items: handmade items; event tickets; gift baskets; craft items; services i.e.: baked/cooked goods, babysitting, yard work, home maintenance, floral arrangements; Professional Services i.e.: painting, haircuts, carpet cleaning, haircuts; 72 hour kits; cookbooks; etc.)To bid on items go to: www.sallyrollins.blogspot.com. To donate & participate, please contact:Sally Rollins at mailto:sally.rolllins@gmail.com Danielle Olaveson at daosunshine@hotmail.com-The Summers Family Fund has been established to help this wonderful family with the trials ahead. If anyone would like to help, please inquire at any Bank of Oklahoma or mail donations directly to:The Summers Family Fund Bank of Oklahoma PO Box 2300 Tulsa, OK 74192. Read about Duane and Becky Summers here and here.

Volunteering is for Woosies

The next time someone asks me to volunteer for something, I think I'm gonna say no. If any of you out there hear me agree to doing something, you know, FOR THE KIDS, please slap me. I mean it. I need one of you to slap me HARD! Any volunteers?

Sometimes There Are No Words...

I have learned a lot in my time here on earth. Sure, I have a lot more to learn, but the early days of learning to ride a bike, conjugate a verb, change a poopy diaper....those days have passed. The things we need to learn as adults are hard. And they suck. We have to learn how to let our kids decide their own fate and find their own way. We have to learn how to say good-bye to a grandparent or beloved friend. We have to learn how to help our children learn how to deal with loss and disappointment.

We also have to learn how to help our friends deal with grief. Today I stood in a hospital room with a friend whose husband is seriously ill, fighting the battle of his life with cancer. As we chatted and laughed about our kids, the room phone rang. Her husband's doctor was calling to tell her that, though her husband made it out of surgery, more cancer was found in him. Being in that room, right in the instant that her very tenuous hold onto hope flew out the door... it was the worst thing ever. Her heart is breaking. Her mind reeling....what to tell the children, how to continue to pray. I have never felt so useless. I didn't know what to say or to do. I am very bad at grief and even worse at knowing the right thing to say. Luckily I was not alone with her and others did and said the best things they could do/say. I know it's not about me, but I want to help. I can't. All I can do is pray, and I'm not very good at that, either. Why isn't there a manual for things like this?

Please help me pray for this family. I wish you all knew them. They are some of the finest people I know. God broke the mold when he created Duane. And Becky is the person I want to be when I grow up (and she's about ten years younger than I am). Go to her blogs and see for yourself. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. And it will make you hope.....

www.sevensupersummers.blogspot.com
www.mysupermanskryptonite.blogspot.com