Saturday 2: funeral

I went to another funeral today.  Ms. Anne, from karate, passed away last Saturday.  Although it was sudden, it was also expected.  About a month ago she got a horrible diagnosis and was given 10 days to live.  She did really well, health-wise, for about the next ten days and then slowly got worse.

As far as I knew, she wasn't a Christian.  I wondered how the funeral would go - I haven't been to many funerals but they have all been for people whose faith is in Jesus.  There was a minister officiating and he frequently used Bible passages.  Maybe I didn't read the situation correctly, maybe she chose God at the end of her life, maybe the family/minister just decided this was the way to conduct the funeral.  While the whole situation is very sad, I find myself not as sad as I think I should be.  However, I'm also going to give myself permission to feel how I feel and that's ok.  (I brought tissues this time but didn't need them.  A friend did, so I was glad to have them.)

At the same time, I want my funeral to point so clearly to God that there is no doubt at all that I loved God, He loves me, and he loves everyone there.

So, here are my current suggestions for items in the ceremony. They're only suggestions and can be skipped as appropriate.

1) Heidelberg Q&A #1: 

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

2) Westminster Catechism #1:
What is the chief and highest end of man?
Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever.

3) This is my Father's World, but only verse 3:

This is my Father's world:
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

4) Goodness of God (song)

5) Untitled Hymn by Chris Rice.  I like all of it, but this verse gets sung a lot:

With your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side

6) Great is thy Faithfulness

I still need some Bible verses.  There are just so many good ones - I'll need to think on those some more.

I'll also expect some stories.  I've been writing them all down for years now, so there are no excuses.  Well, maybe I have too many stories.  If that's the case, search for rice cooker...but I expect you can come up with something better.

Tuesday: rice cooker

I think I've mentioned that the rice cooker and I have a love/hate relationship.  Ok.  That's the backstory.

I asked Isaac to turn on the rice cooker today at 5pm because I'd be with Joshua.  He sent me a text while were driving home asking some questions about it.  I gave my phone to Joshua and asked him to send a text to Isaac: as long as the rice cooker is set to cook, it's good.

I got home and the rice was cooked properly, but Isaac and I quickly talked about how rice cookers worked.

Ben came home and checked the rice cooker.  What?  He knows I have problems with the rice cooker, but it was still an odd move.  Well, it turns out that Joshua had actually sent the text to Ben.  So, out of the blue, Ben receives a text about the rice cooker.  He just gave me a thumbs up.  I laughed so hard thinking about him receiving that text out of the blue.

Wednesday: this and that

I made curry today.  I almost only made a single batch and then half way through I remembered I wanted to make a double batch.  I was just going to deal with it, but then realized I had a half onion and a half bag of carrots and plenty of meat and potatoes.  So I started the next batch.  And I ended up with eight meals.

I continued through my to do list.  It's slowly going down, but never fast enough. :)  Cleaning the bathrooms took longer than expected so I didn't get quite as much done as I was hoping.  It was close though.

Joshua used Isaac's guest pass at rock climbing and had a good time.  It involved him climbing up the same route over and over because he enjoyed how I dropped him down on the rope.  There was some swinging and some hovering and then the owner came over and I thought we were going to get in trouble but instead Joshua learned some spinning!

I forgot to even get the rice cooker out for the curry.  Usually I just forget to turn it on, and once I forgot to put the rice in.  It's a real problem.  What I haven't done yet is forget to plug it in or put the lid on, so there are still many ways I can mess it up in the future.

I went to my first black belt karate class. :D  It was about the same as the other classes, but blacker.

Wednesday: rice cooker

We all know I have a problem with the rice cooker.  I frequently remember to get it all ready and then forget to actually turn it on.  It's a bit of a joke in our house now.

Anyway, we were having curry today and I was a bit tired.  So I got the rice cooker going, remembering to actually start it, and put the curry in the microwave to thaw.  I then sat down on the couch for 20 minutes.  I had been hoping for a short rest but the kids kept asking reasonable questions.

I finally got up and looked at the rice cooker.  I had forgotten the rice!  This was the first time I messed up this way.  I told everyone, but Isaac got the best laugh out of it.

Monday: rice cooker

I remembered to turn on the rice cooker today and really felt a sense of accomplishment.

Aha!  Take that rice cooker!

Tuesday: rice cooker

Seriously, after forgetting to start the rice cooker so many times you'd think I'd double check and make sure it's on.  But no.  I continue to forget to start the rice cooker time after time.