Friday, September 23, 2016

Friday Foto Friends
and a difficult week

...hatred
stirs up strife
  but love covers all wrongs
..Prov 10:12
On Wednesday my oldest daughter was returning from a business trip to New Orleans and today she is leaving for Oslo and then London.
That same afternoon my oldest son called to tell me his Dad had passed away from a bad bout with pneumonia. We had thought he was healing but he took a bad turn on Wednesday and was gone suddenly.  The body can only take so much.
It hit me harder than I can tell you...I almost fainted on hearing the news... because I always held out hope for him to come back to his senses and seek the family he had thrown away for another.
It was a complete fantasy, of course.
It never happened and he had no part in his children's lives choosing someone else's children to be with instead.
In life we often grieve for what never was and what we hoped might have been.
So, it has been a hard week for my kids even though he was a non-presence in their lives growing up and never saw them or  really seem to care to.

I remind my children that decisions people make sometimes are hard to understand but I suspect that some people's own background cripples them in some way making it hard for them to do what it right at times.  It isn't an excuse, but it is a reason.

We all make mistakes and wrong choices and I believe we must be compassionate and understanding of one another's weaknesses and ready to forgive.
So we choose to remember the good times. The happy times, the laughter and the love.
 After all, isn't that what we all want...to be remembered for the good we have done and to have the rest cancelled out?
No person is all one thing. No one is simply one kind of personality type,etc.  People are intricate and complex and thank God for that.
Each person is unique and special beyond words.


Photos for Debbie's Friday Foto Friends:
and each photo can be clicked to enlarge to full size.

Family dinner....



Portrait of an afternoon visitor:


Raindrops on the Bay:






10 comments:

  1. Hi Annie. Thank you for your visit to my Friday Foto Friends today! I want to say that I am sorry for your family's loss, even though there are mixed emotions - or should it be mixed-up emotions? Still always sad for what might have been. Your honesty is refreshing. I enjoyed the photos you shared with us!!

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  2. I would love to give you and your family a hug today. This has been a hard time for all of you, and I pray that God will give you comfort and grace at this difficult time. Thank you for your openness and candor. May God give you peace in your heart. Love the photos. Lovely table setting...A seagull to cheer your day, and raindrops on the bay somehow give comfort to a sorrowful heart. May you be wrapped in God's love today.

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  3. Annie, I am so sorry for the loss you all experienced this week. I especially pray for comfort and peace for your daughters. It is sad when choices made hurt others. He lost years with his daughters and they have lost a father.
    I love the sea gull photo. I'm always fascinated with them. I recognize the china pattern there! Beautiful. Hugs

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  4. Throwing his family away for another, resonates so soundly to me, as my SIL did the same thing to my daughter and her two children, after 23 years of marriage. It cuts deep, and I kept secretly hoping one day, he would choose to return to the fold, but no, he remarried. The children are the ones who suffer most, although that being said I am sorry to read of your hopes being dashed.
    Condolences to you and your beautiful family.
    I love your china pattern, Royal Albert, Old Country Rose, I bought mine as a young bride in England.
    Hugs,
    ~Jo

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  5. I'm very sorry for the losses you and your children have experienced. It is very sad when people walk away from their families like that. But as you say it is good to remember and try and to focus on the good and remember the best of people. It gives us an idea of God's unfailing mercies toward us.

    Your photos are lovely. I've always liked Old Country Roses pattern.

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  6. My heart hurts for you in this loss and the hopes that were dashed and the hurt you all experienced. It's hard to understand those things, but I know we humans certainly messed up God's plan for the family. So many children have experienced the loss of their fathers and our society just accepts it as normal. You are right to remain positive. God bless you and your family

    I do like your photos and those gorgeous dishes.

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  7. Sorry for your loss. It's amazing how big a part people are in our life even though not present. I will keep you in my prayers.

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  8. I'm so sorry for the loss in your family. It sounds like there's been grief for many years. This is a perfect example of how our choices affect others. But, your attitude is amazing. Thanks for sharing the story and the pictures. Sorry for being so late to visit. Thank you for linking up yesterday.

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  9. So sorry for the loss. Sounds like a very tough week.
    Lovely pictures!

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  10. Oh,my dear,I am so very sorry for your losses-those past and the recent one,as well.I can only echo the thoughts of the other ladies...so eloquent and compassionate.
    You are right...we each bring the effects of our previous experiences to ongoing relationships...good and those not so good,and they affect each person we interact with.I am grateful for all the good you have brought to my life.May you and yours be comforted by all those who care about you!

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