Until We Meet Again...

On May 8th my Uncle Mike died.  He was a man I had a bond with, that for me was deep, abiding and strong.  He taught me so much, but mostly how to give of myself or serve others with a joyful heart.  It is still too raw for me to write much, so I will borrow from my cousin Mike Bess, (known in the family as lil Mike, because his son is young Mike--we have lots of Mikes in our family)who writes eloquently what I am feeling.  I wish all of you could have known the great man my Uncle Mike was--for me he lives on, and the best way to honor his memory is to pass on his stories and his love.

Uncle Mike--always a smile!

Dearest all... the final sitrep from the Pacific.

Of all the finest men, ...the finest father, the finest grandfather, the finest friend, the finest husband, the finest companion, the finest person,... he made the list. Chief Michael R. McComb. For me, my Dad. To you, your loved one. Our so very much loved one. The man who took me under his caring kindness from the days of my youth until the day of his final sail of the Pacific he loved; who taught me directly over and again what charity means by his example. He loved me, he loved us, with the deepest kindest love. Such a heart, such a tremendous heart.

I have considered over the years what I would be, what I would not have now were it not for him. So much...I would not have my wife, my children, grandchildren; for it was by him I crossed the globe to the Islands of the Philippines where I met my future wife. It was by him that my mother was convinced to let him and I bring her to the states for me to marry even though I was still young.  If there was ever a question of any kind about life matters, he was there. He has always been there. Always.


It is written that Charity never faileth, and indeed, his never did. Neither failed his love. His love of family and friends. Oh how he loved us, and us him!  Please consider him now... and all the wonderful reasons you love him; for he surely loved you. And yes, he still does.  My faith is that he lives now on the other side of the veil and I know I will see him again and I so, ...so very much already, ...long for that day.  What joy I will have again then, to see that ever smiling face and feel that so loving embrace... of my Dad.  It is my faith that you too shall see him again. Remember him throughout your lives now in the best way; be as loving and charitable to all.


Collect your pictures, your memories, your stories. Tell them to your children and your children's children.

May we never forget this sailor... Chief Michael R. McComb


He sails ahead of us and no doubt will be working some way of preparing and arranging great things for us. You know he will. He always did.
Carry on Chief, carry on McComb, carry on Dad, carry on Gpa, carry on GGpa, carry on dear brother, carry on dear beloved of us all who remain...With tears, and smiles and hearts overwhelmed with love for you,.. as you did with us,... we bid you Adieu


Michael R. McComb January 15, 1946 - May 8, 2011.


May the wind always be at your back and may you have following seas


Adieu

Uncle Mike



Uncle Mike and Aunt Jeannine



Snow . . . . .

Snow is falling on the ground
On the rooftop, all around. . .

I don't think I can properly express just how tired I am of winter.  It has been a harsh winter here this year.  Lots of snow and ice.  I so long to see beautiful flowers pushing up through the ground......

School is going fantastic.  We just finished up bones in A&P.  Now I get two weeks to learn all about muscles.  I just wish that the names were easier to say and more importantly for my tests, spell.  In Microcomputers, I am learning so much.  I have always loved working on the computer, but learning even more about word, excell, and powerpoint is tons of fun.  Sometimes I forget that it really is a class.  HIT is going well.  I am calling this semester so far "Alphabet Soup."  So named because of all of the acronyms for the various government agencies, programs, and tests that health providers use.  Funny thing about HIT stuff though--it is as if someone is just reminding me of things I always have known--like a door opening in the brain.  Mandy says that I am hardwired for HIT--Josh just says I am becoming a HIT MOM.  I think he is going to dress up as a Mob Boss for my graduation--sometime in the "I can't see it yet" future.  It makes me smile.

Snow + Boots x Walking = Pain

It is a fact, that I haven't really left the house much in the past few winters.  I have had my hands full taking care of Ethel and being sick.  So when it snowed, I thought "no problem, I have boots--really good ones too."  Feeling confident in having proper outdoor walking equipment--(I have special gripper spikes that go on my boots if it is too icy, as well as my boots) I went to school. 
College students study
as they walk and walk and walk,
College students think
as they walk and walk and walk. . .
Anyway, after 3 days of criss crossing the campus, wearing my super, duper, 5 pounds each, boots--didn't need the spikes--well I have a lot of pain in my tookus, and my legs, and my lower back and my lower abs. . .Guess what?  On Monday I will put those boots on again.  Dad said no pain, no gain.  I don't think he meant from walking in boots!  Wait!?!  Could this be a new exercise program hidden by the boots?  Someone pass the naproxen please.

And So It Begins. . .

I went to my school email address yesterday.  No real reason, just curious to see if anything important might be happening.  There it was sitting in my inbox--an email from one of my professors.  Yep I have a test on the first day of class.  Time to study.

Dear Knitting,

My have we been productive during this break.  You and I have made 3 scarves, 1 hat and 1 1/2 mittens.  Oh how nice it has been to have the yarn run through my fingers and knit up into pretty things. Knitting has been such a joy, however we have a problem. . .

So here is the plan
1.  We are going to donate some of the yarn to a worthy project that our friend is doing.
2.  We are going keep an ongoing project in the the little knitting bags that our Bill got us for Christmas that fit in my school book bags. (the elevator incident wouldn't have been so bad if you had been there with me)
3.  Knitting between classes is a good study break--I know I need to do that--and won't make me miss you so much. 

Hopefully this will help to build up stock, use up yarn and keep me sane.

Lots of Love.

The Gate Of The Year

A friend had this poem, I felt I had to post it.  To all of you who are like me, standing at the gate of the unknown, move forward standing steadfast and our Father in Heaven will guide us all. 

~ THE GATE OF THE YEAR ~

by Minnie Louise Harkins

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year

'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'

And he replied,

'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God

Trod gladly into the night

He led me towards the hills

And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!

What need our human life to know

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things

Both high and low,

God hideth his intention."

May 2011 be filled with many blessings for all of us, dear friends, as we remember that Heavenly Father sees the entire plan, while we only see a small part. 

POD Children

I am pretty sure that aliens have come and replaced my three younger children with POD look alikes.  Either that or they have contracted some weird "I am doing my chores without being asked" virus.  For the past few days, Jessica, Josh and Daniel have been getting up, fixing me breakfast in bed and then doing all of their chores first thing in the morning.  Anybody who has teens, knows this is so not normal behavior.  Even though my teens are pretty much more helpful than most teens, this is not normal behavior even for them.  Now the conundrum--wish for my teens back, or keep the POD children?  I must think this through carefully!