2012

I went to 5 funerals between August 31st and October 30th. I am 37 years old. It is not strange that I have known people who have died. But 5 in 2 months was a lot for my soul to bear.

This has been heavy on my heart for months now, and I just don't think I can close out this year without paying tribute to these people.

The first one was a grandmother of one of my best friends. Nanny. Nanny lived alone, walked for miles everyday, gardened, cooked, babysat, drove to church, and was fiercely independent until her last day. She lived until almost 100 with not a bit of assistance! She was babysitting her great-grandchildren right up until her death. She got the last one sent off to Kindergarten and decided she was tired. She is now at home with her Savior.

The second one was sweet Sara Walker. (If you have not read her story or blog, please stop and do so now.) 35 years old.  A mother of 2 boys. A wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. A disciple of Christ. Her life ended too soon, but oh to be able to make an impact like she did. The world has not heard the last of the life of Sara Walker. You just wait.

The third one was the mother of one of my best friends. (I am not ready to start attending funerals of my friends parents.) I spent many nights at this woman's house. I ate her red velvet cake and her rotel dip. She drove my pre-teen age friends and me to football games and listened to us act like idiots. She has a son and a daughter and a beautiful granddaughter that all need her. She left us too early.

The fourth was a friend of mine from church. A lady I sat next to in my women's Bible Study group. I attended a book club at her house. She was not a close friend, but someone I knew and admired. Her death was a result of the horrible meningitis brought on by the tainted steroid shot she received. Her story has been on the local and national news. She has 2 sons and a husband that desperately need her. She left us too early.

The fifth one was a cousin of my mother-in-law and husband. I did not know him well. I probably only met him a few times since I have been married. He was a husband and father to 3 children. A son. A brother.  And a grandfather to one precious little boy who really needed him. His life ended too soon and he has left a gaping hole in their lives.

All these people were missed this Christmas. Their absence was felt by many. All these people have friends and family that have to wake up everyday and realize they are still gone. Radio stations still play Christmas music. Children still have to go to school. Bills still have to be paid and dogs still have to be fed.

I think about these people and I pray for their families. I try to be thankful for the family I have and tell the people in my life how much I love them.

When things happen like the shooting in Newtown, CT I feel numb. I feel like I cannot even process the hatred and the wrong. The evil that exists. I did not watch any news coverage and I still don't know many of the details. I can't. I can't or I won't be able to drive my boys to school.

And then I remember that death is not the end of the story. Death does not get the last word.
That is our hope. Our only hope. Death does not win.

I wish you peace and love in 2013.


4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
(Philippians 4)

Dawsons go to Disney

**I wrote this post a couple months ago and never published. I am trying to post some to finish out 2012. We'll see how it goes.

We went to Disney for Fall Break this year. We usually go to the beach for a week with my parents, so this was a big decision for us. We waited to take the boys until the were both big enough to: a. ride all the rides b. not need strollers c. not need naps. Wow! We are so glad we waited! They both rode everything! It was wonderful!

I must admit, John Will and I were both Disney skeptics. We are not big into crowds or the whole Disney-esque world of fabricated atmospheres. We are happy sitting on an uncrowded beach every October. We both love to travel and want to take the boys many places and expose them to different parts of the world. Our parents both did this for us and we really believe it makes for a well-rounded, cultured person. But, Disney was not super high on our list. Our boys have been to New York City, Washington D.C., St. Louis and Atlanta well before Disney.

But, we bit the dust and went. And it was amazing.  It truly was magical. Someone asked me the other day: "Why, Ginger? Why was it so great?" I don't know. I don't know if it was the place we stayed, or the weather, or the low crowds or just the entire experience. I don't know, but it was awesome. It was one big happy-smiling-from the time we got up til the time we went to bed-family vacation.

This was the view from our balconey at the Polynesian. That is Cinderella's castle across the lake. Every night we could see the castle lit up, hear the music, and see the fireworks display. Two nights we saw the electric boat parade.

Our first day at Disney was at the Animal Kingdom. (We got to Orlando a day early and went to Legoland first. So, we were there 5 days. 4 days inside the Disney Parks.)

More days to come.........maybe :)