an email from Pat

The drive to Cheraw was long but pleasant. The afternoon was warm at the grave-side service and it was good to see those familiar faces. Words were given, kind and well spoken. God was glorified and a good man remembered. Family gathered at a local restaurant afterwards and we all sat there and talked for a few hours. We were invited down to Columbia, SC to continue our time with Jennie Llew and Pat. Pat told me that and email should be waiting for me. I will share it with you. Do keep my aunt and uncle in your prayers.

David: I just finished writing a lengthy reply to this email from you, when I accidentally hit some wrong keys or failed to heed some pop-up. In to lost forever went my message - something that happens to me quite frequently. I won't and can't attempt to remember and re-write all I said in it. I want to get to Murdoch's funeral graveside service tomorrow on time. I did, however, enjoy your blog with that beautiful rendition of Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling ... by a beautiful voice giving it just the right treatment. My eyes welled-up with tears, as they, no doubt, will tomorrow morning . Funerals of family members and other loved ones are just so hard for me to take. Murdoch and I were so inseparable over our time in life together. Even World War 2 and the Navy didn't keep us apart. And one never gets too old to mourn and cry. I have loved both my parents, Evelyn Bland, and all 6 of my siblings for e verything that I knew and saw in each of them - too much to make comparisons. I feel greatly blessed by God for each of them, and especially the brothers who have helped in adding new generations or giving us a family-at-large. I love and appreciate the in-laws who have been so loyal and faithful to their marriage vows in each generation. When we think of all this, we are a wonderfully God-blessed family-at-large. Do you agree?

I love you all - and let's pray for our safety, going and returning to our respective homes after we have paid our loving respects to good ol' Murdoch and have a happy reunion together in our old SC home town, knowing Mother, Papa, Evelyn, Wofford, Westbrook, Florence, Rutha, and Murdoch will all be with us in spirit, as well.
-Pat

Murdoch, Jennie Llew, and Pat
July of 2007