Remembering Dad

It is just over a month since Dad died and there are times it seems like only yesterday and then on other days a lifetime ago.  It all seems very strange indeed and such a lot has happened in such a short space of time.

Thanks to Mum's kindness we were able to stay in our home town for the week of the funeral, this meant we were in Church when Dad was received on the Wednesday evening, followed by the funeral mass, crematorium and gathering of family and friends the following day (Thursday.)  On the Friday we shared our time between Mum H and my parents and on our last day (Saturday) at the Premier Inn we invited, Kath, MaryGrace, Sara, Tom and Oliver to have breakfast with us.  Throughout the course of that week, sorrow was sprinkled with real moments of joy; from the sharing of funny stories to reconnecting with family members, some not seen since childhood.  I think Dad would have been pleased with the whole event.

 Nanna and Pip sharing a quiet moment after the funeral gathering.

Premier Inn breakfast on the last day. 

I made this card for Mum since Dad would have been 80 on that date.  

Mum chose this passage as the reading during the Requiem Mass:

" If I could speak all the human and angelic tongues, but had no love, I would only be a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, knowing secret things with all kinds of knowledge, and had faith to move mountains, but had no love, I would be nothing.  If I gave everything to the poor, and even give up my body to be burned, If I am without love, it would be of no value to me.

Love is patient, kind, without envy.  It is not boastful or arrogant.  It is not ill mannered nor does it seek its own interest.  Love overcomes anger and forgets offenses.  It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in the truth.  Love excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love is eternal."

1 Corinthians 13 v 1-7

We didn't manage to have all of us in the post funeral photo as above, Emma was with us in spirit (Spain) and Sara and Tom had to leave early due to car issues.  

The following images were taken on the day of his birthday which was five days after the funeral; we did not want Mum to be on her own and therefore made a return journey to Cumbria. We left the house at 7:30am  to be in time for the early morning mass followed by a yummy coffee and hot chocolate treat in the Thorntons coffee shop:-)  We spent the day with Mum and I came away with a bag of pretty cottons and some of Dad's old shirts with the aim of making memory quilts for the kids.  I chose a simple yet effective design and I'm hoping to begin cutting and sewing at some point over the weekend.

 Minestrone Soup with Cheesy Soda Farls

The Roundabout Quilt

On Thursday of this week we made another return journey to attend another mass for Dad and to also be around when the gas fitter was calling later in the day.  Andy and Dave weren't sure if a valve was causing problems with Mum's heating but thankfully all was in order.  This will be our last visit for a few weeks as all the travelling back and forth has taken its toll on my health and we need to return to a regular home school rhythm.