Monday's Journey

Not much sleep last night. Not really because I felt all that sad but my mind was just racing with some pretty good thoughts of mom. I was up around 430a to shower and get ready to catch an early flight to KC. The flight was on time and it was good for my dad, brother and sister-in-law to pick me up. We got to mom and dad's around 10a and it was really weird to come into the house without mom being here. It was dad's first time to come back home and mom not be here too.

Today has been filled with tears, laughter, tears, laughter and then some more laughter. We headed to the funeral home to make final arrangements and then my brother and sister-in-law headed home. Dad and I caught some supper at Applebee's and it was the first time dad has eaten out in almost three months. It was good to just spend some time with dad.

Sondra and the girls head up tomorrow am and it will be good for them to be here.

Here are the arrangements for my mom, Frances Turner.
Visitation will be from 6-830p Wednesday, December 19 at the Harrisonville Mennonite Church (mom taught at the school sponsored by the church for many years.) Celebration of Life service will be Thursday, December 20 at 10a at the same place. Burial will be in Frances' hometown of Gallatin, MO and she will be buried by her father, mother and brother. All the arrangements are being handled by Dickey Funeral Home here in Harrisonville.

Here is a short obituary I wrote this morning:

Frances A. Turner of Harrisonville, MO passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on December 17, 2007 at the age of 65.
She was born in Gallatin, MO on July 21, 1942 to John and Nellie Lindsey. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Eugene. She was married to Rev. Charles H. Turner on June 20, 1959 who survives her. They are the proud parents of two sons and their wives, James and Julie Turner (Independence, MO) and Paul and Sondra Turner (Hermitage, TN). Frances was a loving grandmother to her five grandchildren, Cassy Schopfer, James Robert (Jimmy) Turner, Paul Turner, Shelbi and Morgan Turner and to her two great-grandchildren, Haley and Ava Schopfer.
Frances was a lifelong learner and taught over 30 years at Tri-City Christian, Beaumont, Christian, New Hope Christian and Harrisonville Christian Schools. She taught children’s church, Sunday school and was a leader in the women’s ministry at First Baptist Church, East Lynne.
She was continually volunteering or teaching and was involved with CASA as a Child Advocate; volunteered as a parole officer in Jackson County, MO; earned an Administration of Justice degree from UMKC; and was awarded Who’s Who Among America’s Teacher nine times. Frances loved life and her family and friends. Visitation will be Wednesday evening December 19 with celebration of life service at 10am, Thursday, December 20 at Harrisonville Mennonite Church, Harrisonville, MO. Contributions can be made to First Baptist Church, East Lynne through Dickey Funeral Home.

Thanks so much for praying for my dad and the rest of us. It is obvious that people are praying.