A Fond Farewell and a Close Shave

Last year my goal was to post to my blog every week. This year I'm settling for once a month. Marv has my camera in for repair as a birthday present, so please excuse the weak pictures from my cell phone.
January has been a month with great opportunities for me. I was blessed to be with my dear friend Kim Booth before she passed away after her battle with breast cancer. I felt the love of her family and friends as I visited before her passing and as I attended her subsequent memorial service. I thought it said a lot about her (and her boys) that some of the boys' elementary school teachers were in attendance! Education really mattered to her. She was such a great person. To say that I miss her hardly captures my feelings. I've experienced sadness, anger and frustration about the situation, but overall gained renewed hope and faith in Jesus Christ. Here are some other tender mercies I experienced: Lyle was able to speak to her by phone, but she was very weak. He told her how much he loved her and how he thought of her as a second mother. Her response was, "Lyle, my son." I caught her in a lucid moment and said, "Do you know I think you are a wonderful friend?" She said, "Now I do." Bryan traveled from LA to sit beside her, but she was already slipping into a coma as he spoke to her. It was still so good to have him there. Kim's son Ryan led us in telling favorite stories and memories around the bedside the night before she passed--I hope to take some time to record these.

Her family published a published a beautiful obituary in the Modesto Bee:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/modestobee/obituary.aspx?n=kimberly-anne-lee-boothe&pid=138741218
Somehow, time marches on, so I celebrated another anniversary of my 29th birthday on January 28th! I couldn't help but think of a few of my loved ones who have already passed away. It certainly seems the good ones die young, so I must be hanging around to learn something. I was humbled to be remembered by so many friends on my special day, and my family took good care of me as well, as you can see by Diana's post. She didn't mention that she, Mac and Luke showed up on my doorstep at 7:15 on my birthday to make me breakfast! It was delicious--a layered bowl with yogurt, granola, berry smoothie and topped with sliced banana. Lucky me!
Yes, Peter has passed a milestone--his first shave! He's hairy at this age than all his brothers combined. He's such a cutie.