Not quite “on the road again” but close! Instead I’m on the plane, as I head back to DC/Virginia to prepare for Part 2 of my cross country adventure. Having had a wonderful 5 weeks being intentional with connections with family and friends. During the flight today I’m taking time to reflect on the many conversations. Adding specific prayers requests to my list…if I had a conversation with you even brief, you are in my prayers. Our God is good! Our God is faithful! Our God is big!
Many I talked with while at home are experiencing loss. Loss of health,, loss of work, loss of a friendship, loss of a loved one. Praying for those experiencing loss even as I am experiencing the deep loss of my Mom #2 Freda Ricord who was welcomed into the loving presence of her Lord and Savior last night. Oh how I will miss our conversations, morning and evening texts (even in the last months where she couldn’t see what she was typing but I still knew what she was saying, though it was a bit challenging at times, but she did it!) Loss of a mom, spiritual mentor, friend, prayer warrior, Bible teacher but at the same time have so much to celebrate in the many memories! Attending high school basketball games, baseball and softball games, Seattle Thunderbird hockey games…which could be a little embarrassing at times because if she didn’t like a call made by the ref/ump. Freda had something to say! So many traditional Christmas Eve dinners celebrating our mutual Swedish heritage as the Aronson/Ricord family we were “one family”. Her favorite part of the meal… pickled herring and joining the few that savored lutefisk and cream sauce. My first river rafting trip included my Mom #1 and Mom #2 back in 1978 down a portion of the Colorado River! MDR retreats, too many to count! Joining her as she walked around to each cabin in the evening giving good night hugs…to the girls AND the boys! Everyone always looked forward to a hug from Grandma Freda…she was everybody's grandma! One of the amazing things about Freda was the impact she had on so many lives and generations! In her work with youth for over 60 years, Mothers of PreSchoolers as mentor mom…and all those she connected with she prayed for. If you shared a struggle or concern, she would tell you she would pray for you and it wasn’t just “lip service” you went on her Prayer List and she prayed for you…over and over again! I am thankful for all the memories! Even as I sat with her for the last time yesterday …here on earth…I played some hymns, read some scripture, then prayed that the Lord would call her home, in His perfect timing, knowing that one day I will see her again. I am thankful to have been known, been loved by our dear Freda and deeply loved her.
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