The world sure lost one unique soul when my Uncle Otis passed away this week in his home near coastal North Carolina.

photo borrowed

Last week, my 58-year-old cousin Angie traded her cancer-ravaged earthly body for a strong healthy one in Heaven.

This week my family is saying "good-bye" to Mama's sister, my dear Aunt Rachel.

I miss him most this time of year.  Daddy loved Christmas!

"In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother Elbert; and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him and give him peace. Amen."

Mama is in her happy place these days.

This photo always makes my heart smile.

My most recent photo of Lee Ann and husband Rob, at our Mystery Dinner March 2017

The last time anyone saw her alive on this side of eternity, Lee Ann was smiling and princess-waving to those who loved her most as the nurses rolled her away to surgery.

photo credit Judy Hall

I remember Ryan Lohrey as one of my son Kamaron's fellow senior classmates on the 2004 Raider championship football team. (Kamaron was #1, and his friend Ryan was the bald guy kneeling in front of him.)

The world lost a good young man this past Tuesday afternoon.