Lest we forget

This past remembrance day will likely be one that stays in our hearts for a long time to come.

We did one we usually do. 
We found time to put up our Christmas decor.

We got dressed up and attended our local Remembrance Day service.

We had a moment of silence.

We remembered relatives of our own who have fought and died in war.

And we reflected on how blessed we are to get to live in this country.

Those are things we do every remembrance day.

This year though there were a few things that made it a little different and certainly more meaningful.

We learned of the passing of our sweet Linda Burwell.  A woman who has taught each one of my kids to love music, to live and behave like Kings and Queens, and who mentored and loved our Jessica in a personal and profound way.

We cried together. 

We went to the elementary school and along with others in the community who wanted to...made a snow angel on the front lawn in tribute of Linda.

We fled to Waterton (Jessica and I) which seems to be our go-to response whenever our hearts hurt.

We promised to treat others the way this remarkable woman always treated us.

At one point, we stood on driftwood bay and marveled as the fierce wind drove the icy lake water towards us, sending little chunks of ice flying into our faces.  The entire beach was covered in a layer of the icy shards.  We'd never seen anything like it before!

We are in awe of this world we live in, of the people who grace our lives, and of the lasting effect their goodness has had on us.