In an earlier post several weeks ago, I wrote about not believing in coincidences, that with God life is purposeful and He has sovereign control over paths of life even when I or you take a detour derived in selfish desires or curiosity. This week in March, from the 21st to the 24th, is forever etched in my memories because of significant events that have been life changing for me and DO confirm that God has a plan, one that is often unseen as He weaves lives together, writes stories, knits new life…This week in March houses the date my parents married…the dates each was called “Home”…I’d love to write about what this week means to me as it rolls around every year…

It’s 1945, a warm March day on the 24th. Dad is in the midst of a 30 day leave from his assignments serving in the U.S. Navy, a break from wartime battles…to come back to Saginaw and marry the gal he met when she was a mere 17 year old graduating from high school. In about a month’s time a wedding was planned. She purchased her gown at a cost of $27.50, flowers were ordered, food and beverages for a reception held at her parents’ modest home were made from loving hands. The sun shone brightly with a light breeze to comfort the guests, mainly family. Following a brief honeymoon dad returned to his duties and mom began marriage living and waiting for his return….

In the fall of 1998 my mom began experiencing pain in her abdomen and began losing weight. Having survived breast cancer already, I know she lived in denial for a few months that “something” more serious than aches and pains associated with aging  was a silent culprit. A visit to her physician and several tests confirmed our fears…a second cancer had come, this time attached to the bladder and slowly invaded the health of her kidneys. After two rounds of an invasive chemotherapy medicine, she stopped treatment. She left the hospital on a Thursday to be home, the house she and dad built together in 1953/54…on Sunday, March 21 she was called “Home”….when planning her service we were asked if the funeral was okay for March 24…my dad was in a daze and when I realized the date I asked “Dad, that’s your anniversary, are you up to it?” “Let’s do it”, he said. Once again, mom is separated from the man she married, but living and waiting….a new living, a new kind of waiting…

In February of 2012 it was obvious that my dad’s life was truly waning, the ravages of age and dementia taking their final tolls. My brothers and I got Hospice in place and living final days or weeks with our dad became the focus of our thoughts. On Saturday, March 24, my brother, his wife and granddaughter visited dad. By now he was non responsive, sleeping most of the day and night. They left for home late afternoon and 20 minutes into their drive, a caregiver called to tell Mark dad had quietly slipped away. He was gone….now “Home” with mom, parents, relatives, friends, war buddies….mom’s waiting for her “Johnny” has arrived in the twinkling of an eye…

Though their deaths have given me a lot of sadness, even in that I cannot help but smile to think how God orchestrated a wedding, two homecomings that centered around an earthly union on the 24th…how He wrote the final chapter in the lives of two people who were together just over 50 years, now together for all of eternity, living and worshiping the Lord they both loved and served…no more waiting.

Yes, this is a hard week for me, but it’s also a good one, full of wonderful memories along with examples of how to live, how to love, how to let go but not forget. How to look for and recognize God’s Hand in my own life…how He’s directing my own steps…weaving and writing my own story…one that I hope and pray leaves my children and grandchildren feeling the same as me…grateful for who God gave me as parents…grateful for a heritage of faith….grateful that though I miss both of them tremendously–admitting that at age 68 there are SOME days I long for one of dad’s hugs or mom’s quiet voice telling me “It’s about time you got here” (when we walked through the door every time we came to visit)….I. Am. Grateful. With a heart that is both empty AND full, I marvel at God’s timing. It’s perfect every moment, every day, every week…I can kind of hear God saying sometimes as He guides me through life “Let’s do this…..” and all the voices of loved ones who went before me joyfully proclaiming “It’s about time you got here!”. When the twinkle of God’s eyes and gentle voice calls me “home”.