Four Moms and a Funeral

Patsy suggested the title. She offered several suggestions, in fact. I just liked that one best.
Yesterday was a long, fun, sad, glorious day. Several of us drove two and a half hours before dawn, to attend the funeral of Heidi's dad. Heidi, as you may recall, is my Very Dear Friend who moved to Virginia. That was very mean of her, but she has seen the error of her ways, and is nearly ready to repent.
Patsy drove. Kara rode shotgun. Jessie and I flanked little Samantha, Jessie's 2-month-old beauty, in the back seat. Sam cried nearly 200 miles on the way home. You gotta love babies.
Kara joked that the road trip was long enough that we could classify it as a vacation. She suggested that we should comb the obituaries in search of another suitable destination. I was thinking Hawaii. Do you know any recently-dead people in the Islands?
Heidi is the eldest of 12 siblings. These are beautiful people, after the manner of Eastern Idaho. Think classy rodeo queens: big blond hair, funky clothes, and dramatic make-up. They're gorgeous. The men are dang handsome, too. And about the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. Can you see Heidi in the above picture? She is the blond that is still beautiful, despite crying all day. The haggard looking blond is me.
These dozen conducted their father's service. One is a pastor, like his dad, and he gave the sermon. A couple others gave a eulogy. All 12 joined in singing the song "Daddy's Hands," which got the audience to sobbing like babies. I don't know how these kids pulled it off. "Kids"? Did I just call 30-somethings "kids"? Lord, help me... I am my Mother, after all.
Their dad was a dad worth having. He taught his kids that hard work is important, that they are loved, and that family is second only to God.
We sat and talked with Heidi and her husband until well after dark. Once the funeral attendees had left for their own homes, we had the whole church to ourselves. We talked about so many things. One thing that stood out was how these women have been there for one another during the defining moments of our adult lives. (Jenine, we really missed you, girl). I tell you that I have the best friends in the whole world, and this is one more evidence that it's true.
When the time came to leave for home, we hugged, and got all teary-eyed again.
Then we piled in the car and headed for the gas station.
While Patsy pumped the gas, we others emptied our wallets into her purse, secretly. We knew she wouldn't accept our offerings of gas money for the trip.
But, then, we drove thru McDonalds. Patsy insisted that we all buy her a diet coke (not knowing that we had given her all that money) and none of us had any more cash! We dug around in our purses for loose change and managed to put together what was needed. Imagine her chagrin when she got home and realized what we had done! I laughed much too hard about it. She totally owes us a diet coke, too, by the way.
The drive home was long, and would have been quiet, but for the vocalizing baby. Jessie, I loved talking with you over that beautiful child, for the two and a half hour ride.
Kara and Patsy talked and laughed in the front seat.
It was late when we got back to Boise. My kids had been home all day long without me. I hugged them a little tighter than usual, as you can imagine.
Who knows? One moment you can be chatting with the one you love, and the next moment you could be standing before your Creator. "The Lord gives, and the Lord Taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Be well, Heidi. God has given you a rich heritage. And He has given you friends who really love you.