On Friday morning my sweet brother-in-law Dustin’s father passed on from this world. In recent days this was expected, but nothing can really prepare us for the solemn finality of such a tremendous loss.

I am reminded of a story I once read awhile back. In my own words, it goes something like this ~

The Parable of the Twins

Once there were twin babies. Since their conception they had always gotten along, coexisting with one another within the cozy parameters of their mother’s womb. As they grew bigger and started running out of space, sometimes they would argue with one another.

“Don’t worry,” said one baby to his twin, “Someday we will be out of here and we can run free and do things we never imagined!”

“What are you talking about,” the other twin scoffed,”This is it! This is all there is! There’s nothing outside of here!”

“I don’t want to shove it down your throat or anything, but I, personally, am really looking forward to seeing Mother face to face. I know she exists, whether you think so or not. I believe she takes care of us and nurtures us through these cords. It’s sometimes hard for me to imagine and comprehend, but honestly? I think we live in her!”

The other twin laughed and laughed, “Do you hear yourself?? You just made that all up to make yourself feel better. That’s utterly ridiculous. If there is a ‘Mother’ then why can’t we see her? There is evidence of others in this world before us and none of them have ever come back to tell us. After life in here there is nothing. We can’t live without these cords!”

“Someday you’ll see for yourself, I guess,” the baby sighed, “Sometimes when I’m really still and quiet I can hear her voice. I can hear her singing over us. Every once in awhile I can see radiant light shining through our sky. It must be really bright out there!”

“I never see any radiant light,” the other twin taunted with his eyes tightly squinted shut, “If there is life out there and it is so great and bright and with a loving Mother as you claim, then WHAT are we doing in here???”

His brother smiled and explained, “It’s not like this is some cruel holding cell we’re trapped in or something. We are really very comfortable here if you think about it. But we need to be in here to grow and develop. We’re not yet prepared for the new world that awaits us.”

The other twin shook his head and went on believing otherwise.

As the life in their mother’s womb drew to an end, both babies were of course a little apprehensive, one more so than the other.

“What’s it going to be like to actually see my Mother face to face, to be held in her arms?” one twin wondered in anxious anticipation.

The other was fearful, “What if my brother is right? Will the Mother be mad at me that I didn’t believe in her?”

And so they transitioned from this world into the next. It was more brighter and more beautiful than anything they had ever experienced. The air that filled their lungs was frightening at first, but also exhilarating. They flailed their arms and legs in an attempt to make sense of the seemingly endless space and light before them. Then came the most magical moment. Suddenly they felt safe and warm again. A beautiful smiling face looked back at them with sparking tears in her eyes.

“Here you are at last!!!” she cried in excitement, radiating endless love.

🔹🔷🔹

And so it was with Earl as he passaged into the next world. He was met by the loving, warm embrace of our Heavenly Father, unhindered any longer by the restrictions of his cancer. He has begun a new life! In those still, quiet moments evidence of the magnificence that awaits us ALL boldly shines forth if we take the time to notice it. When it is our time to be born into this next world, we too will get to experience it in all of its fullness and glory.

Earl Hubbs
Entered Eternal Peace August 30, 2013

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.
(1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV)

Please pray for Earl’s family as they endure this saddest of times.

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A recap of the past few days with Nora ~

Wednesday

“And here we have Nora Rose wearing a piece from the Hiphelper’s fall collection…”

These are actually some therapeutic little shorts that help improve rotational movement in children with low muscle tone. Nora’s legs naturally fall to the sides, especially when she’s in her sleepy time chair. The Hiphelper shorts keep her legs positioned forward while she’s asleep or resting… or pulling the oxygen tubes out of her nose, as the case may be.

But not in the baffs!!

“🎶Who’s in the kitchen with Norrrra…🎶”

“Oh, dats my Dyad.”

Look at those pretty little naked cheeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aahhh, to have a cordless baby!!!!

Thursday

“G’Morning!!”

“Me n’ Mommy? We got plans!”

Nora and I went on a walk and an excursion to explore new territory. There was rumor of a shortcut to Gavin & Greta’s school, so we had to check it out for ourselves. There was a field with a neatly mowed path through tall grass, then a pathway that leads through some woods. We got to the end of the pathway and lo and behold! There was the school at the bottom of the hill! We just might be able to walk to school one of these mornings if all of the planets are properly aligned!

All of the bumpy terrain must have bounced Nora to sleep, I thought to myself. Turns out she was just pretending to sleep for the camera!

When we got back home I was blessed with some time to paint. I set up a table and chair in the shade of the back deck, filled up the nearby bird feeder, put on some Pandora and went to work. I had collected several bird rocks from down at the creek just the day before.

While I was painting I had a little friendly spider visit me. You can see him here on the end of one of the brushes to the right of the red paint bottle.

When he first scurried across my table, I expected that he was just passing through and would go on about his spider business. Not so! This tiny little spider was incredibly curious about me and what I was doing!

Here he is on the “paint pallet” waving his front little legs (arms?) at me?

Then he went to check things out from the top of the yellow paint.

When I first poked my fingertip near him he would jump away. After about the 5th or 6th time he climbed up onto my finger and walked around on my arm for a bit. He even spent some time at the very top of my paintbrush AS I was painting. Sooo cute!! Yes, I’m weird. I know.

Finished nests ~

“If anyone needs help cookin dinner, I can help!”

“You got an apron I can put on or something?”

Friday

Nora’s sweetness was so appreciated this day.

I went down to William’s office with the intent of cleaning, but ended up doing landscaping and pulling parking lot weeds instead. What better way to enjoy 90° heat? 😁

“Stalker photo” from William’s phone that he emailed to me! LOL

Later in the evening my Mom & Dad came over for a visit. We had a delicious dinner of marinated pork on the grill. I was rather proud of myself!

Norns was showing off her awesome neck muscles to her Nana while Papa looked back at old pictures from when Nora was tiny.

“You can set yer beer down on my table if you want, Nana!”

Saturday

This morning was the long anticipated return of Our Kelly from her visit down to Florida! We were all so so happy and excited to see her!

Beautiful Baffing Beauty

Kelly brought some wicked storm clouds back from Florida with her!!!

We were waiting for Elvira Gulch to come pedaling past the window!

This baby don’t care ’bout no storms!

You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.
(Isaiah 25:4 NIV)