Sunday, November 16, 2008

Giving Thanks




November is always such a crazy month for us! While most of the world is preparing for Thanksgiving and shopping for Christmas, our family celebrates MANY birthdays this month, prepares for Nutcracker, attends the Nutcracker Ball, and THEN Thanksgiving is here and then Christmas is fast approaching! GASP!






This year, we had a pause in all of the activity that fills our lives.....a time to pause and pay our respects to my step-father, Stephen Fox-Vincent. He passed away on Monday, Nov. 3rd, after a 10 month battle with lung cancer. My mom had written in her journal not too long back that "if God would choose to take him now, it would be in the Fall". During this beautiful time of year, where the world seems to glow with color and the splendor of God's creation, we remembered Stephen this past Friday, and got together with family and friends to recall the dear blessings in our lives. This November, all of the craziness just seems to have subsided. We have tuned into God's hand on our lives, to the many blessings we celebrate, to the family we have gotten to enjoy so much more than we normally do, to the friends that have blessed our lives...past and present...and have stopped and really taken in God's Glory here on this earth. Just like the prayer we all know says.....this really is Heaven on Earth! It reminded us to sit longer, laugh harder, hold tighter and love deeper. We will miss you, Grampy. We know you are at peace now and are healed from this world's pain....and enjoying this beautiful Fall from a different view this year.



Mom with her forever friend, Kelly.











Emma and I at the Nutcracker Ball

6 comments:

amy wright said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your stepfather's death. I know that we as Christians can look at death from a different point of view, but it is still heartbreaking. I'll remember to keep you, your mom, and the rest of your family in my prayers.

Unknown said...

you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. it is a hard road you are beginning, but you seem to have started it with a beautiful peace. to see this time of year as a wonderful time to leave this earth and start a path in heaven. God bless you all.

Anonymous said...

I'm writing this about 6:30 a.m. Grampy's favorite time when the sun breaks on a brand new day all fresh and crisp. Thank you, Jacque, for a beautiful tribute to a truly beautiful (in his own way) and passionate man. I'm hoping this void will feel less painful when I'm surrounded by my two beautiful daughters and their families. I love you all.

Anonymous said...

We were thinking of you all the time you were there in Kansas. Thank you for such a rich expression of Stephen's passing and the effect it has on your Mom and the whole family. We are all very blessed. Never, never forget that. Love and Kisses.

Tammy said...

My thought and prayers are with you and your family.

Unknown said...

i would love to be on you list. one favor: my last name is ogletree. i will add you to my list if you don't mind.