Aunt Goo - we love and miss you!

As I mentioned in the last post, our trip took on a semi-unexpected turn the night we flew into California--my aunt passed away.  My aunt Marty (my mom's younger sister) battled colon cancer with the most courage, determination and grace of anyone I know.  On Tuesday March 30 she lost that battle, but won huge since her final resting place is with her Lord and savior, Jesus.  She married later in life (almost 7 years ago) and adopted two children - Lisa (5) and Nathan (4) - from a Russian orphanage.   My aunt (Aunt Goo as we called her when I was younger) and her family live in a suburb of L.A., so we had already planned to visit them at the end of our trip.  My parents worked feverishly and figured out flights/rental cars/hotels/etc. so we could all stay for the memorial.  What was originally going to be a 10 day trip turned into a 16 day trip.  That's a long time to be away from home with two young kids, but we were so grateful to be able to be there for the memorial and to spend time with my uncle Stephen and cousins Lisa and Nathan. 

Marty used all kinds of natural/homeopathic methods to fight her cancer.  One of these methods was a foot detox bath.  I was so intrigued by the brief research I'd done on it and wanted to try it--my results are the bottom right.  Nasty, right?!  I forget what the colors mean, but I think it was detoxing yeast from my system and detoxing my gallbladder. 

A little time in the hotel pool--I love that Ashlyn and Maguire are such buddies!  Also, spending time with Lisa, Nathan, my Aunt Diane and Granny.  Doesn't Maguire look like a typical teenage boy mowing the lawn?  Well, minus the binky, of course ;)

Ashlyn and Lisa, memorial flowers (bright, cheerful and fun--just like my Aunt Marty!), extended family, our family of four.  So interesting how--unplanned--navy and white was what so many of us wore!

One of our last days there, we went to Chuck E. Cheese's with Stephen, Lisa and Nathan.  The kids had a blast together and it was good for us all to go do something fun and lighthearted together.  Did you notice in the lower left picture how Maguire is planting a kiss right on Lisa's open mouth?!  LOL!  What can I say; he's a lover :)

If you think of it, please please pray for these precious kids.  My heart breaks for them and for my uncle who lost the love of his life.  The thing that takes away the sting in this all is that Marty is in her eternal home and we WILL see her again one day.  What an amazing God we serve.  For all who serve Him, death does not win in the end!