Nana

Last Friday night, our little family was able to celebrate the birth of some close friend's first baby. What a cutie. Israel Comet took his sweet time getting here--he was 10 days over his due date--so we were quite happy to finally meet the little man and celebrate with his momma and poppa at the hospital. When we were almost home, we received a message from Lachlan's Aunt Debbie, that Lachlan's Nana (Nonna) was in the same hospital. She had had a pretty rough go the previous night, but seemed to have made really great progress Friday. Lachlan decided, that although it was already past our babes bedtime, we should turn around and go visit. We hadn't seen Nana since October, when we had all traveled to Texas to celebrate a family wedding.
We had a brief but sweet visit with Nana. Lachlan was able to show off his newly straighten teeth, financially aided by Nana! And we were able to share the exciting news about our new baby!
By Saturday, things turned again, and we were told it would soon be time for Nana to pass. We--and Lachlan's sisters--were all out of town celebrating our nieces' 4th birthday. We were blessed, however to be able to return to the hospital on Sunday, to spend time with family, and say our goodbyes to Nana. She passed, with her children and Lachlan's sister by her side, Sunday evening.
This week has been filled with lots of emotions. New life, birthday celebrations, and death. We attended the first night of visitations yesterday, and will continue this evening, laying Nana to rest on What would have been her 78th birthday, Thursday.
My husband said it well; "Death for the passing believer has certainly lost it's sting, but for those left behind, the sting is still present."
Our hope is that Nana was secure as a child of the living God--that she entered into eternity "sting free". Our prayer is that we remember that this fallen world, full of pain and sorrow and death, is not our home, and that when He returns or calls us home, we will be freed from the sting as well.