A Whirlwind Week

I know I have been so neglectful of my blog lately.  It isn't because I haven't wanted to write.

Life has thrown us a few curve balls lately.

We started off on Fall Break with big plans.  We were going to enjoy Blake's soccer game, have a few days at home and then head up to Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati for an overnight visit to Great Wolf Lodge.  We were going to take the boys to the Creation Museum and the Lego store.  Later in the week, we were going to enjoy a lazy weekend with only Noah's flag football game to go watch.

Well you know what they say - "the best laid plans...."

On that Tuesday, I was working at school for a little while.  Blake and Noah were there with me and playing in the gym with some friends.  I got a call from my sister and she was crying and hard to understand.  She said, "Mom" and I asked what was wrong.  I immediately thought something had happened to my Mom.  Jenny had gone with her family to South Carolina for fall break to my mom's house.  Then Jenny said, "Pappaw is gone" and for a second, I didn't register what she was saying.  Eventually, I realized what she was saying.  I quickly rounded up my things and boys and called my husband.  Since I was the only one in Kentucky at that point, I knew I had to go be with my Mammaw.  Some good friends of ours volunteered to come over and keep our boys at our house so Greg could drive with me.  My grandparents live about an hour away from us.  We got there and my Uncle got there about the same time.  My Pappaw's sister, brother and sister-in-law came.  One of her friends was there and a good friend of our family was there also.

We coasted through the remainder of the week.  I confess I was in a bit of a fog.  Our plans were shifted and Greg ended up taking the three older boys on to Great Wolf Lodge for two days.  I went and stayed at my Mammaw's.  Mom and my sisters came back from South Carolina.  Funeral arrangements were made, calls started and pictures were gone through by the dozens.  We made some displays for the funeral home.  Jenny and I decided to speak about the wonderful man Pappaw was.  Laura had to sing.

We made it through the visitation and the funeral.  Mammaw did really well.  At one point, she was crying and my Mom said, "you had 64 years together".  Mammaw's response was, "it feels like 64 days".  Isn't that amazing?  They had been married that many years and she still felt that way about him.  She said when she saw he was struggling to breathe and the color drained out of his face, she told him, "Don't you leave me - I'm not ready for you to go!".  But he looked at her and then took his last breath - sitting in his favorite spot - his recliner.

We have a hope and a peace because we know Pappaw loved God.

My words at the funeral were all about how he was a servant.  He served his family - helping to take care of younger brothers and sisters at the young age of 13.  He served his country - he was a marine in WWII in the Pacific.  He served his children and grandchildren.  He served his neighbors and his church.  I firmly believe Jesus greeted him in heaven with, "Well done, good and faithful servant". I only wish I had one more chance to tell him how much I appreciated him and loved him.  I hope with all of my heart that he knew that!

Marshall Emanuel Williams
10-18-1923 to 10-9-2012

We love you Pappaw!