The Winter Time Blues

Many of you have seen this sort of scene outside your windows this week.  At least if you live in the middle part of the country.  Our little town received 11 inches of snow yesterday in a virtual "white out".  I took both of these photos from our front porch.  And our puppy, who had lots of places to go to get out of the snow, chose to sit on the porch and look pathetic.  And pathetic is the way many of us have been feeling this week.  I believe most of the people I know are tired of winter and all it brings.
This was not the best week in my neck of the woods.  I found out that our agency did not get (re)funded for a program we have operated for 12 years.  The funding all went to the more urban areas of the state.  We lost a retired co worker and my husband's aunt passed away.  In fact, this week could have been called two funerals and a snow storm, since the storm collided with the scheduled funerals.  I made it to Aunt Joyce's funeral, but not the deceased co-workers.
Funerals are odd things.  There is almost a sense of relief when the one you love has ended her suffering.  On the other hand, the grief and sorrow the family feels is heart wrenching.  Aunt Joyce had 5 children.  They are all good people with good families.  She leaves a husband of 50 years who is lost without her.
Joyce welcomed me into the family with open arms 35 years ago.  She made me feel welcome and took me under her wing when I needed love and support.  You see, my husband's mother passed away just weeks before we were to get married.  She was 45 and had been in good health.  I felt like I had lost a second mother.  Joyce was a comfort and blessing in my early married years and helped ease my sorrow and pain.  Even though we didn't stay as close as we had in earlier years, I admired Joyce and her abilities and the love she gave to her family.   Joyce could cook up a storm and often fed dozens of hungry hunters during deer season.  She could sew and craft almost anything she set her mind to.  She was indeed a wonderful homemaker and a kind and loving person.  She will be missed by all who knew her.
Joyce's daughter, Toma, gave a loving, humorous and heartfelt tribute to her mom at the funeral.  I am not sure where she got the courage to write and read what she did, but it touched me deeply.  The memories Toma shared about her life growing up made me realize that the memories we make with our family are really the best legacy to leave.   I pray that the family can enjoy the sweet memories and overcome the pain of the loss.