Life and Death...

I will take a similar format to my friend's recent blog post and throw two subjects into one post. I know it has been a long time since we have updated anything here but I do intend to keep this blog somewhat alive!

On life: We are planning the arrival of a new gift in early April! I feel so blessed and am eager to meet our new son or daughter. I have been feeling "so-so" as I near the end of the first trimester. I will plan to update my "Mommy" blog once again on our progress.

And on death: We said goodbye to our pastor's wife Teddi Nelson on Tuesday. She left to be with the Lord on Sunday, the 13th. She battled pancreatic cancer for eight months. Damn you, cancer. I found her funeral very touching and a wonderful tribute to her amazing life. Many, many, many people attended. I could not even participate in the church. I watched from a satellite location in our church's Activities Center. I agree with Abby on how incredible it is the number of people brought together surrounding a death (and also a wedding).

I was moved to tears by her drawing printed on the back of the program with happy, pastel colors of a rainbow and clouds, which read, "I am filled with the peace of the Holy Spirit. - Teddi." She drew it the day she went into hospice care. Pastor Dave, who says he could not say "no" to his wife of 33 years, gave the sermon at her funeral as she requested him to do. (Can you imagine what that must have been like for him?) He shared of a day not long before she died when she woke up in her room where religious music was playing. She asked the caregiver to turn off the music, stating that the angels were talking to her and she wanted to hear what they were saying. I truly believe she is now with our Lord and Savior and is finally at peace. What an honor.

Teddi was special to me and our congregation and, as a PK-K teacher, was passionate about children. She attended Zyler's church baby shower and I will always remember her by the wall hanging she gave us for his nursery.

Pastor Dave presided at our wedding. In fact, ours was his first wedding in Virginia. We think quite fondly of him and admire his strength and leadership throughout this obviously trying period.

I will close with a short prayer...
May God bless Pastor Dave's son James' wedding this Saturday! Bring peace and healing to Pastor Dave, his family, and our church in our time of grief. And God, thank you for this new life we are eager to welcome. Watch over and protect the new baby and my body as I carry and nourish it during such a crucial time of development. We are truly blessed and humbled. ~ Amen.