Carrying One Another's Burdens

I believe in this Bible verse. I believe that you can take someone else's pain. I believe this because the I cried the least on Friday and Saturday. This was the time when friend's were praying and thinking of us. This was also the time I spent with family who was going through the same thing. Here are a few pics. We obviously didn't take pics during the sad times.
All ten of the cousins with their spouses, minus Sammy's hubs.

 This is my mom's best friend, Margo! She is amazing. She drove four hours, got a hotel room and sat during the whole visitation, ate dinner with us, then went to the funeral.  My mom was beyond happy to have her.  We all cried when we saw her...such a good friend thing to do.  Loyalty!

 This picture makes me cry! This is Joyce Anderson, she and Grandmother have been best friends four 60 years! They helped raise each other's kids and she babysat me! When I was little, I was close to her mother, Granny!  She lives across the street from Grandmother.  I saw her standing her, took this picture and went to ask her what she needed.  She said in a shaky voice, "Amanda, I just don't know what to do."  She is a widow and she and Grandmother talked every day.  I know she is so sad and devastated.  It broke my heart to know how lonely she will be.  Her family would sing carols to us every Xmas Eve growing up...they are part of our family!

 Tessa was a trooper telling ghost stories with the kids in the back!

 In grandmother's yard before we went over the church building.

 I am wearing a red jacket because, Grandmother LOVED red jackets.

 My precious Jamie! Oh she was my rock through this! I miss her so much, I am tearing up right now thinking of how much I miss her! Oh, I love her so!  Best cousin award!

 These are the four sisters and Madeline, grandmother's youngest sister.  She and Maudie are the only ones left of the five siblings! I love Madeline and always thought she was the most fun great aunt!

 The siblings with husbands.  Grandmother loved these men like her own children.  They loved her like their own mothers.  There has to be a correlation. 

 Dad's parents came! I cried hugging them...it was the first tears of the morning! It meant so much to us to have them there supporting us! Aunt Ria came too! Once again, they will never know how much it meant to us to have them at Grandmother's funeral.  It is beyond words.

 Pallbearers.

 Chad's parent's drove all the way over for the funeral too! I cannot tell you how big of a deal it was to see them there.  Not only are they part of our foundation, they were calmings in a storm.  I didn't expect them to come nor did I imagine they would take a whole Saturday to spend in a car for my grandmother whom they had only met once.. They did say they knew her through my stories of her. I guess I talk about her quite a bit...it is hard not to! Sandy brought some reading material for the family and it was such a help later in the weekend.  I cannot thank these darling in laws enough. I have super in laws! I love them to pieces.  Another cry while I write this! Sandy helped Kim watch the kids during the funeral, they went to the grave site, then gave us dinner on Monday night.  She has said the most comforting words and I have repeated them to other family members.  I am so blessed to have her as my MIL and friend.  Having in laws like this make me love Chad even more....I wonder if that makes sense??

 Mom and the Georgia(talk about a big hit)

 More family pics at dinner!

 Dad with his girls!

My favorite part of the weekend was after the funeral, before we went to the grave site.  It was just immediate family in the church with Grandmother and some of us spoke. It was my first time to speak at the podium of church;)   It was so sad because we are so bonded by this woman. My family is so close and connected with love because of our matriarch who is now with the True Foundation. I love my family so much and am ready to be on the road to acceptance.