Notes from me to you

The Mangan Grandkids (sans Dave)

I will forever consider myself blessed to have such a wonderful and numerous extended family, all from the same, sweet little Iowan town. I love that almost every one of my 30 aunts and uncles graduated from the same high school and thus, know each other. I love that even some of the teachers I had in high school knew my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, and cousins. Sometimes, they accidentally called me by my mom's name. :) And the fact that this huge, fantastic family I am blessed to call mine, came from four people, two marriages.. in one town... makes me smile.

Going home and getting to be with family is a special gift of time.. this weekend, I got to be with my dad's side of the family..

Dad and his sibs

Even though you don't ever really want to go home for a funeral.. because obviously, it means you've lost someone you love, there really is (or can be) something uniquely comforting about being with the family at such a time. Perhaps its because almost everyone is there. Suddenly jobs, in-laws, events, etc have dropped on the priority list and nothing other than geography and perhaps a much too expensive plane ticket can prevent the family from coming home.

There's also something very encouraging about watching a family like this function together throughout such a hard time. I watched them as they greeted one another, gathered together, supported each other, made decisions (or tried;), made meals, served each other, loved each other (each in their own unique ways), laughed, prayed, cried, told stories, talked about the future, etc. And I just couldn't help but continue to feel more and more blessed to be a part of this family. In fact the more I witness their kind, gentle, humble ways of reacting, dealing, and coping, I found myself longing to be more like them and just wanting to be with them.

i was also able to spend some great quality time with my immediate fam.... also for which i'm incredibly thankful.

One thing we were all thankful for, was the way Grandma passed away. It wasn't totally unexpected as her health had been teetering in the last few years, but she always seemed to bounce back in the spring, so I think we were all kind of hoping for that same come-back. She had been sitting in her chair "up north" as they liked to say, she'd been reaching out and saying her mother's name (isn't it crazy, that even at 86 years old, you still call out for your mother, your need for a mother never dies), she got up to go to the bathroom and called out for my uncle, "Tom! where are you?" "Right here, Mother," he said as he held his arms out and she fell back in them. Tom called out for his sister, Grandma's oldest daughter, Mary, who called an ambulance and then kneeled down next to Grandma, wrapped her arms around her and told her how much everyone loved her. What a beautiful, peaceful way to go.. isn't that what we all wish for our loved ones? wow...


And even though she'd already left earth.. I like to think her funeral was a beautiful sending-off celebration of her amazing life and contribution to the world. though I'm so glad the family had been celebrating her birthdays for the last decade that she was still alive.

I love these pictures.. the big family pictures.. and seeing what Grandma and Grandpa created.. and I can't help but wonder about all the millions of ways each of them, their children, grand-children and great-grandchildren have effected lives.. essentially, all of the ways Grandpa and Grandma's marriage has changed the world..


The Grandkids, their spouses and children, missing 12 people

It was good to go home... and though the reason for gathering was somber, there were so many blessings of the time spent with family. It was great to see some of my mom's family as they, too, are an amazing family and part of what makes home, home. I hope and pray that there will continue to be gatherings for this family. Its sad knowing grandma will no longer be in her chair, up north, (conserving more than she uses).. its sad to think how long it will be until we get to be in the presence of this amazing woman again, to hear her stories, to watch her live, but mostly, I'm sad for my father and his siblins.. who lost their mother, but the comfort comes in knowing that the joy of her life and spirit, her humble nature and inspirational way of living life, will forever carry on through the legacy of her family..

"If anyone had a straight ticket to heaven, its Mary Mangan." -Father Harness

Amen, Father!