Easter

The days before Easter Sunday had given me reasons to remember the true meaning for Easter. I took care of a patient who delivered a baby much too soon.  Through the course of the week, I saw the five stages of grief take place within a few days, which are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Although I haven't had a situation like this. I can relate in some ways and I found myself thinking about my mom and dad. All that I can say is you don't really know until you are actually in that situation, how you are going to deal. Maybe massive cleaning and organizing? For me it was literally going through each of these steps and doing it again and again.

I love Easter, because it helps me to remember that the Savior overcame death. What a wonderful reassurance to know that we will all be reunited! April 23 is coming up. I can't tell you how hard it is to think 15 yrs have gone by since my Dad has passed! Seriously...it seems sometimes like i'm still 19 yrs old. I feel like sometimes that life has paused for me and for everyone else it has fast forward. I know that may sound weird, but its just how I feel.

This Easter was my last one with Grandma. She will be moving in with her son's family. They live in Dallas.  It has been a hard few months. And its been hard to know that she is in the twilight of her life. As much as I am happy that her son will be able to watch her more closely than I can, its really hard to realise that in a sense, she is my last immediate family member. And I am sad. But not yet. That probably won't hit me until she is on the plane. I know this, though. My life is a continuing story..this is one page of it. There will be tears, but also joy.

I found this poem on Pinterest about our dashes..

How do you live Your Dash?

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning- To the end
He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years. (1900-1970)

For that dash represents all the time,
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;  the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you would like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough..
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand how other people feel

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more.
And love the people in our lives, like we've never loved before
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash, might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy's being read, with your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

- Author Unknown