Larry

On September 6th, after months and years of declining health, my brother passed away. My family was there that day to see him and my mom was in the room with him when he died. We're driving out Wednesday to attend the funeral on Thursday, of which I'm printing the programs and making a DVD slide show to play at the funeral home. It's still a very weird feeling to know that he's not with us anymore. After all this time of hoping he wouldn't have to suffer in this body for too long and knowing this day would come, I'm sad to see him go, but happy that he's with Grandma now and that his great test of life is over. I had this song on a church CD growing up and it always made me think of Larry. It's called "The Test" and it's been in my head a lot for the past few days and I'm trying to get my hands on the CD again or download it so I can add it to Larry's slide show, but here's a part of the song lyrics I've been able to find:

Tell me friend, I see your trials,
Why doesn't He who worked the miracles send solace to His child?
Tell me friend, if you understand,
Why doesn't He with pow'r to raise the dead just make you whole again?
It would be so easy for Him.
I watch you and in sorrow question why
Then you, my friend, in perfect faith reply:

(Chorus)
Didn't He say He sent us to be tested?
Didn't He say the way would not be sure?
But didn't He say we could live with Him forevermore, well and whole
if we but patiently endure?
After the trial we will be blessed, but this life is the test.

[Janice Kapp Perry, "The Test"]

I'm looking forward to seeing my family and Landon's family while we are out there. Landon will come home after a few days, but Grant and I are staying until the 23rd, because, prior to Larry's passing, I had planned to go to AZ while Landon is in Pennsylvania for most of next week. So we'll be gone quite some time and will sure miss our Landon/Daddy, but it will be nice to spend time in AZ and see some family & friends.