home again...sort of

A quick post to let you know that last night we arrived home safely from our Make-A-Wish trip to Florida. We enjoyed a FUN time there, and are very grateful to the Make-A-Wish foundation for our all-expenses-paid week in the theme parks (Disney, Sea World, AND Universal...whew!)and at their resort. I hope to post more about that in future posts, and to share our silly photos with you.

In sad news, though, we woke up this morning to news that my MeeMaw (my dad's mom, in Kansas) passed away very early this morning. The news was expected, but very sad nonetheless. So Team Winchell will take to the skies (again) to return to Kansas for my grandmother's funeral, the cleaning of her house, and time with my dad and other family. When we visited there in early July, my grandmother spoke often of being "ready to go," and so her passing is not without a sense of relief, too, and a certain joy at her faith and the willing attitude with which she approached all of her life, and her death. My MeeMaw had a very special place in my own heart, as I spoke with her frequently on the phone and wrote to her often over the years, and I will miss her greatly as a woman who was committed to encouraging me since my birth in prayer and in frequent conversation.

Thanks for your continued prayers for our family. This week, we celebrate life--Orilus' new health, and our pain-free journey to Disney (such a contrast to our trip a year and a half ago, when he was wheelchair bound)--and are also reminded of the eventual and inevitable failure of our mortal bodies.

Today I'm remembering my MeeMaw's words to me on the subject of death: When all our work on earth is done, God calls us to "come outside and play," and we leave the house of our work laughing and with great joy.

Honored to have known a woman who loved God's work--and understood His laughing joy--for all of her nearly 93 years,
Melissa