MEMORIES

In our last post the highway directed us to Suwanee, Georgia, to assist our youngest daughter, Lauren, to open her new office, Suwanee Spine and Wellness Center. Dr. Lauren Millman's office opened on schedule, but we left one day before opening day.  Guess this picture reflects Lauren's excitement the day the exterior sign was installed.

 Next stop was to help Dr. Kristen (the other chiropractor in our family), and Harold, daughter and son-in-law in Green Cove Springs, FL,  complete their exciting new venture, "Junque In The Trunk", an upscale furniture consignment store in Fleming Island, FL.

Junque In The Trunk - Fleming Island, FL

Upon arrival in the Jacksonville area in mid-July, my stepmother, Doris Knapp, 92 years old, was admitted to the hospital.  After several hospital stays in a very short time, Doris came home and entered hospice care.  Our family, close friends,  and loved ones, were with her until she passed on August 4 at her home.   Her funeral service was a beautiful tribute to a lovely Christian lady who will be missed by all her family, amazing friends, church family, community and Eastern Star (which she belonged 50 plus years).

Doris Knapp Collage

In this same time period, our sister-in-law Sheila Knapp, age 63, Jacksonville, FL, had to come to terms with a progressive, debilitating and fatal disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and died unexpectedly 14 days after Doris, on August 18.  While her family knew Sheila's condition was deteriorating, we felt her doctors could control the symptoms her body was having difficulty handling.  We praise God Sheila no longer has to suffer, but it is hard to believe she isn't with us.  Earlier, Sheila looked radiant at Doris' funeral, and none of us quite realized what an effort she put forth to be present with our family.  A memorial service was held September 15, and she would have been happy with the tribute that was made in her memory.  Sheila and my brother, Jesse, were married 45 years, and have a son, Alex, and a daughter, Kim, as well as 5 beautiful grandchildren.

Kim, Sheila and Jesse Knapp  - 2012

All of us know we aren't going to live forever, but when death occurs in your family, it is always hard to accept.  The reality of dealing with the death of a loved one is always difficult and sad and impacts all of us in different ways.  We must consider our loved one is no longer suffering, that they are in a much better place, and that as Christians we have God's promise that we will be united with them again.  We are incredibly blessed to have many wonderful memories that we can share for the rest of our lives, and although that won't bring our loved ones back, our loved ones would want their memories to be cherished and preserved in a positive and meaningful way.

We are on the road again.  We need time to reflect and come to terms with some things, and it was hard to leave our family, but we will be back sometime in mid-October, and guess what?!  We're going to make some more memories.

RV and MH - RV There Yet?

We're on the way to Red Bay, AL, again.  Yes, again, for more upgrades and modifications.  Today, we drove from Perry, GA, and we are almost to Birmingham, AL, and it's raining cats and dogs outside - consider how easy it's going to be to sleep tonight with our fiberglass roof magnifying the sound of the rain.   Can hardly wait!!