We are Blessed

Hey Y'All

Last week was a tough one .

My Country Boy's Dad passed away .

2 weeks before his 90th Birthday.

We knew he was declining . His memory wasn't what it used to be . But we were still shocked . It's been pretty hard on my Country Boy.

When life gives you blows , you also realize your blessings . We both agree our two biggest blessings are our family and our friends . It's tough times like these when you find out just how much .

The grandchildren ( our nieces and nephews and children ) all came home ( we were missing one ) and it was really a special time for them . Watching them all interact as adults is amazing to me . Wasn't it just last week Dan and cousin Ryan were playing lawn darts ( REAL lawn darts ) at Grandma and Grandpas ? Or yesterday that Raychel , Dan, and cousin Scott  formed a band and were putting on a show for us . Or my crazy Brown girls were pulling in the yard with their Mom , cat in tow , for the weekend ?

The stories , some we had never heard before , (like the lawn darts ) and the memories had us laughing through the tears .

My niece Tisha ( our jazz singer ) , sang a beautiful song for her grandfather's service called "The Field Behind the Plow " . Music has always been a huge part of Garbes life . It was fitting tribute to a man that spent his whole life farming. This is my favorite verse .

For the good times come and go, but at least there's rain
So this won't be barren ground when September rolls around
So watch the field behind the plow turn to straight dark rows
Put another season's promise in the ground
Watch the field behind the plow turn to straight dark rows
Put another season's promise in the ground

As special as the song was , so was the poem her sister Lara read .

Pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in the room . 

Close the Gate

For this one farmer the worries are over, lie down and rest your head,
Your time has been and struggles enough, put the tractor in the shed.

Years were not easy, many downright hard, but your faith in God transcended,
Put away your tools and sleep in peace. The fences have all been mended.

You raised a fine family, worked the land well and always followed the Son,
Hang up your shovel inside of the barn; your work here on earth is done.

A faith few possess led your journey through life, often a jagged and stony way,
The sun is setting, the cattle are all bedded, and here now is the end of your day.

Your love of God’s soil has passed on to your kin; the stories flow like fine wine,
Wash off your work boots in the puddle left by blessed rain one final time.

You always believed that the good Lord would provide and He always had somehow,
Take off your gloves and put them down, no more sweat and worry for you now.

Your labor is done, your home now is heaven; no more must you wait,
Your legacy lives on, your love of the land, and we will close the gate.

Nancy Kraayenhof

We are blessed ....

With Friends 

With family 

With tears

With laughter

With memories

With tomorrow