Do you remember this photo that I posted a few weeks ago?
We were hosting our "dinner club" for a Valentine's meal.
That was the evening that I said that my dinner did not turn out the way I wanted it too.
But, that also was the evening that stands out as being one that we shared and laughed
more than normal.  We talked about serious issues too.  We sat at the table longer than
normal.  We all came together years ago, when our children went to the same school.
We have been meeting together six times a year, for the last 10 years.

This picture was taken from one of our Christmas dinners, a few years ago.

The host couple, turned their family room into a dining room, so that the twelve of us
could sit together at the same table.  It is a wonderful memory!

 

At that Christmas dinner, this was the host couple of the evening, and what an amazing host
couple they were!  Warm, gracious hospitality was always extended here, as in every one
of the homes we took turns visiting it.

This past Thursday, this dear friend, Rick, went to heaven suddenly and unexpectedly!

No warning.  At fifty-five years of age.  No health issues.  You know.  The call you never
want to get.

Since that time, we have reflected back over our many years of dinners, and over the
dinner on February 7th.  I have often thought of the words in the book of Lance Wubbels,
"If Only I Knew".  In it he states this; "We live in an uncertain world.  When we leave
home in the morning, we assume we will return in the evening.  When we say goodbye
to loved ones, we take it for granted we will see them again.  We presume they know we
love them, so we seldom say the words.  Unfortunately, we fail to consider the mortal
reality that this may not be the case...until it's too late.  Tomorrow does not always come.
Someone once said that "life is short, so keep short accounts with God."  That is wise
advise, but I'd like to add that we should keep short accounts with every person who is in
the circle of our lives.  We never know when life will be dramatically changed...
sometimes permanently.Take the time to make someone feel special." 

Thank you Lance Wubbels for writing the special little, but powerful book, "If Only I
Knew."  Because truly, we don't know when it will be our last time to be together
with those special in our lives.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to this dear family.