As I went over the blogs recently written I realized a very important story was left out. We have had so many events happen so quickly that you think you have already written about it when actually you did not. This event happened just before Christmas, December 13 to be exact. Tom's brother, John, was on a trip with his wife, Marlys, when she had a terrible fall that took her life. We were all pretty much in shock and could not believe just 11 weeks from Tom's death we were burying another family member. She was a strong Christian woman who loved the Lord all her life so we have the wonderful assurance that she too is skipping free in heaven. She had a bundle of health problems in recent years and actually throughout her life. Many surgeries that probably did not help keep her mind in tact. She suffered in recent years from dementia. This was one of the reasons she fell as she would become disorientated at times and she went the wrong direction and fell down a step into a wooden chair which caused her spleen to burst. Her bleeding could not be stopped and very quickly her life was gone. The family all live close to us which is very comforting for all of us. We have always known each other well but in recent years did a little more together again.
My first meeting of Tom's brother and sister in law was after Tom and I were dating a bit. They were at a family gathering at his parents house to check out Tom's serious girlfriend. It was a nervous time for me, but as far as I could tell I passed. Later I did hear that Tom's parents had to check with my sister Sharon's in-laws who were close friends of the Grimmius family to see is those Schoo girls were okay.
I have so many fond memories of going to John and Marlys' house every Sunday afternoon when Tom and I were dating. (They probably were sick of us but never complained) She always made the yummiest desserts! She was an excellent cook and after we were married my dear husband did not ask me to cook like his mom, but like Marlys. Tom and John were always the best of friends and through the years kept close. They moved to Visalia first where John eventually left the cattle business and started selling land for dairies and ranches. It was a great time for the land to sell in the Central Valley and John became well known as the Ranch CO. We moved up in 1973 and my husband worked with his Grimmius Cattle CO. Those boys both loved business and never tired of sharing time together about how things were going in various things in the Valley. They grew up around cattle so they enjoyed comparing women to heifers in their child baring years. I thought it was interesting how Tom could figure out if a woman would have a hard time in pregnancy or child baring by how she was built! Of course many women didn't really like the idea of being called a first calf heifer or 2nd and later an old cow! So they would talk about those things very quietly! We watched our children grow up together and spent many times at family celebrations when their parents were still alive. As the years passed and we both became empty nesters the family times were less because it became harder to get everyone together. During this time we did more just the four of us for dinner on occasion. Tom and John kept us their visits and phone calls though. In recent years we decided it would be fun to try once a year to get all the kids together again and remember the years past. Our children started some reconnecting, even though they never totally separated since there were always weddings or graduations or various times of get togethers. Since Tom's and Marlys' death we have to say there has been even more reconnecting. Cousins that always had fun together discovered there is something very special about blood relatives that never ends even when we go separate ways. It's been a blessing to reconnect in all of our sadness. When tears are shared there is a bond that never ends. Sharing our faith is also huge. We all look forward to the day we will be welcomed by our loved ones in HEAVEN.
We are promised: Revelation 21: 4 - 5
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
I know I am not alone in sadness as I am praying for so many going through really tough things! May we all turn to the ONE who has the answers, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Now we must encourage each other to keep the faith and run our race till we reach the goal of our true HOME. I hope you are EXPECTED IN HEAVEN!
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