Day 94 -- Funeral and family

Today Mandi and I went to Abilene to be with the Higgins family as they said goodbye to a father, uncle, grandfather, and friend.  We gathered at Aunt Peggy's for the family meal provided by their church which was delicious and abundant.  Then we travelled to the funeral home for the visitation and met up with other members of the family who did not make it to the meal--Uncle Nathan, Mark and Tracie, Aunt Gay, Kellye and Steve, Uncle Jim, JR and Charlie from our family.  Loss always brings family together and sometimes that is the only way we see them, but we were planning a reunion in the midst of loss and Aunt Peggy and Carl say they will be there in October when we have it.  After the visitation we went to the Texas Veterans Cemetery in Abilene which is a beautiful place I had not seen before--a perfect resting place full of peace and beauty.  At the end of the ceremony there, Aunt Peggy said she had dreaded this day but now wished it wasn't so soon over.  She had enjoyed the fellowship with family and friends who had come from as far away as Wyoming.  How sweet family is and I'm so glad for the one I have!