• Everyday Life
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
    • Breads and Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Cookies
    • Desserts
      • Cheesecake
    • Salad Dressings
    • Seasonings and Sauces
    • Soups and Stews
    • Vegetables
  • The Journey Girl Travels
  • Life in Germany
  • More Categories
    • Memories

The Journey Girl

CATEGORIES         COOKBOOK         CONTACT ME

A Journey Home

April 17, 2018 by Karen Giebel Leave a Comment

Not all of our Journey’s through life are happy occasions, but they all are meaningful and full of purpose. This past week saw me returning to my Dad’s home, his place of birth to grieve with family the passing of a wonderful man. A man I have known since the age of 12. My cousin and her husband were married for 52 years. A remarkable number of years, but that is the way love is supposed to be. I will always remember Sarah and Gilbert as young newlyweds. Sarah’s lighthearted laughter and Gilbert’s slow, ready smile and twinkling eyes as they worked together putting a meal on the table for all of us. Funny, but I don’t know what triggers my memories or why certain memories remain engraved in my soul, but that one does. Home…Rising Fawn, Georgia. I close my eyes and say it again, “Rising Fawn.” Is there another place on this earth with a name so sweet. So lovely.
There is no other occasion that brings a family together as does a death. Weddings are joyous and fun. Full of laughter and joy. Full of superficial conversation, dancing, singing and we fool ourselves on that day into believing that life will never end.
A death brings us together on an entirely different level where we are vulnerable. Where sadness and tears and raw emotion are deeply felt exposing us to our friends and loved ones in ways we wished we could hide. And we are united by the unspoken knowledge that each of our lives is short and that some day it will be we who are mourned. But these death times also bring us closer together. Our conversations more heartfelt and meaningful. Our happiness at seeing extended family more deeply felt. The deep peace and joy of watching a 9 month old baby race crawling across the floor brings smiles and laughter like no other because we know inwardly just how fragile life is.
Yes, life is a journey. A journey that is good, bad, up and down and all all around. But I wish that you, like me have been Blessed with wonderful family to share it all.

Hugs and much love from me,

Karen, TJG

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: Everyday Life Tagged With: Death, Family, Journeys, Life

« The Bee Man Cometh
Springtime in Ferry County, Washington, Chapter 1 »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Nice to meet you

Karen Giebel, the Journey GirlHello and "WELCOME" to the Journey Girl! I'm Karen, a happy, optimistic retired RN living out my dreams with my husband Dan up here in the back of the beyond in Ferry County, Washington. High up in the mountains just 20 miles from the border with British Columbia, Canada. I enjoy writing and sharing with my friends all about our lives raising Alpacas, growing our gardens, all the gorgeous birds and wildlife that surround us. Sharing stories of our daily lives as we travel this journey through life. Cooking is my passion and I solve all the world's problem while standing at my stove and I love sharing my recipes with you. I am glad you are all here with me today and every day. Journey on!

What’s New?

Journey Girl Cooks Cookbook page link button

Let’s Get Social

  • Facebook

Get Blog Updates

Categories

  • Back of the Beyond in Ferry County, Washington (40)
  • Everyday Life (51)
  • Life in Germany (21)
  • Memories (5)
  • Pickles (3)
  • Recipes (226)
    • Appetizers & Snacks (26)
    • Beverages (7)
    • Breads and Baking (28)
    • Breakfast (27)
    • Cookies (9)
    • Dairy and cheese (3)
    • Desserts (23)
      • Cakes (7)
      • Cheesecake (2)
    • Jams and Jellies (1)
    • Main Dishes (23)
    • Pickles (4)
    • Rice (3)
    • Salad Dressings (10)
    • Salads (10)
    • Seasonings and Sauces (11)
    • Soups and Stews (22)
    • Vegetables (15)
  • Side Dishes (29)
  • Soups and Stews (5)
  • The Journey Girl Travels (72)
  • Washington (8)

Copyright © 2023 The Journey Girl · Privacy Policy · Website by:Web Radish