Walking Through Gates of Pearl on Golden Avenues

Leanida Josephine Bernhardt

Yes.  My precious MIL died yesterday morning about 10 AM.  We arrived to see her about 10:30, and she had just passed.  They didn't call us because they knew we were already on our way.  Jerry and I walked into her room, and I walked right over to her.  Jerry walked around the other side.  I wasn't expecting to have any reaction, but I suddenly burst into hysterical tears.  I sobbed for about 30 seconds, and then I dried my eyes.  I wasn't sad that she had died because I didn't want her to live one more millisecond in pain.  I guess it was just the finality of it.  It was OVER, and she had gone on to her reward.  Jerry was quietly wiping off tears on the other side of Mom's bed.

That's my sweet hubby there next to his Dad.  Too bad his Dad wasn't as nice as he was good-looking.

Over for Mom, but not for us.  So much to do.  You have no idea until you START proceeding with the proceedings.

Go to the funeral home.

Go to the chapel to see it and plan order of service.

Find a store that still sells music CD's, and find the ones you need that have the exact songs you want.  Go back to the funeral home with the CD's.

Go to City Hall to get a Burial Permit.  I had no idea one was even required.  We paid for the plot years ago.  Pay City Hall $350 for Burial Permit.

Go to the Florist and build a beautiful floral drape for the casket and make SURE they understand what "GIANT purple bow" means.

Go to Mom's house to go through the things she had at Countrywood because Aunt Betty Jane came in the cafe where we were eating and requested that we do that.

THEN, by an amazing stroke of luck, just happen to find the picture you saw once of Mom sitting in the middle of a huge garden.

I wanted that picture, but I had no idea where I had seen it.  As I was going through her things to see what Betty Jane could take to The Upper Room, that picture just popped up in a drawer of clothing.  I was THRILLED.  I wanted to get it blown up poster size to put at the front of the chapel, but it wasn't possible.  The picture quality just wasn't good enough.  It was only 4 x 6.   I was able to get an 8 x 10 of it without too much distortion.  Any bigger, and the flowers looked like shapeless blobs.  At least, I got it and it will explain why we MUST have the song "In The Garden" at her service.  Mom LOVE flowers and gardens.

The service will be held at 2 PM, October 30th at Sanders Funeral Home Chapel in Kingfisher, OK.  We will say one more final goodbye to an AMAZING lady and look forward to the day we meet again.

Hugs, Joy