by Diana » September 4th, 2006, 10:30 am
wow, the whole situation hadn't hit me until I read through this thread. Mike's leaving was such a whirlwind, I haven't had time to really think about it.
I've got a busy week this week and have taken on a few extra activities to make sure my time is full, but now that I sit here and realize it's been a mere 36 hours since he's left, the week seems long.
But a buddy's gotta do what a buddy's gotta do, and a wife's gotta encourage and support him. (We're grateful that we work for a compassionate, family oriented principal who allowed Mike to take this week off -- I teach a specialized program and as of yet we don't have a sub with the right training, so here I am.)
The friend's name is also Mike (the family calls him Howie or Hobbs to save confusion). His wife's name is Shawna. They called last night sometime after 10p.m. (PT) and had gotten to Oaklahoma just fine -- drove straight through. I know this is going to be a difficult, emotional week for everyone back there. I know there is no replacement for prayerful support, but sometimes I wish I could back it up with something more tangible.
Mike and Howie are, literally, as close as brothers. Their mothers were even pregnant together and their birthdays are exactly a month apart. Every time you look at pictures of Mike throughout his life, Howie's in there somewhere.
Howie's mom, Chris, was a strong yet compassionate and self-less woman. Above all else, she loved her family. All her wants and desires were wrapped up in what was best for them. And Chris extended this to my Mike as he grew up. In listening to Mike's stories, eventually I recognized the pattern that, particularly in his teens and early adulthood, over half the guidance and training he received that refined and shaped him came directly from Chris. Not surprising, then, that it was Chris' approval of me as a bride which seemed to carry an extra measure.
For my part, Chris is one of the in-law maternal figures with whom I have felt the closest. And the reality of Chris' death has only begun to settle on me this morning. I'm so grateful that Mike and his mom were able to visit with Chris last summer. And I'm grateful that Mike can be there to physically and emotionally support Howie in everything that needs to happen this week.
Thank you for allowing me to process my feelings here. Thanks, too, for your prayers for my dh, the Hobbs-Hadden family, and for me. Despite the fact that change is inevitable, it's not always easy. And this is one of those changes that may never get easy, but hopefully with time it will get hard less often.
Here's to our mutual success!
--Diana
News
Site map
SitemapIndex
RSS Feed