Homegoing Service

Johanna's home going service/celebration/funeral/whatever you want to call it was on Monday 10/26/09 at 2pm.  It was a really surreal experience.  I had absolutely no expectations regarding her funeral.  I simply did not know what to expect.

As I said in a previous post I have been to many, many funerals in my 27 years, but I have never had the "opportunity"(for lack of a better word) to sit "under the tent". 

Prior to the funeral we had lunch at Mom's, and just kinda all sat around and veged.  I've already said it, but it is amazing to me how calming and therapeutic it is to be around family. 

All of Johanna's immediate family(ie all the same people that had been at the hospital), wore some sort of pink to the funeral.  Although it was certainly a sad occasion, her funeral was also a celebration of sorts.  We asked everyone to wear pink, in a way to remind ourselves that it was indeed a celebration.  JoJo will never have to experience the heartbreak that all of us were experiencing that day.  For her entire life, she will be celebrating and praising her Lord.

My Dad(Papa) started things off by reading and expounding(aren't you preachers out there proud of my correct word usage!!) on Psalm 139.  Our kiddies have a verse. Clayton's is 1 Samuel 1:27, and Johanna's is Psalm 139:14(but you probably already knew that).  Next we had Chad's father(Pawpaw) to pray.  He also read from 2 Samuel 12:22-23.  This scripture is David responding to his son's death.  I had never thought of it in relation to Johanna and how we should react to her passing.  I'm glad Pawpaw read this. And finally we had Bro. Scott Moneyham finish things up. I honestly can't remember his text(sorry Bro. Scott, please don't send me a test in the mail), but I do remember him speaking on storms and rainbows. And how you can either chase a rainbow, or how you can actually have the rainbow.  I don't want to just chase a rainbown(in any respect), I want to have the rainbow.  And because of my Lord, and His sacrifice for me, I do have the rainbow.

There were so many family, friends, church family, and so much more at Jo's funeral.  I want to publicly thank everyone for being there.  It was a great affirmation that we are loved, cared for, and prayed for.

After her funeral, we sent Clayton to his Mawmaw and Pawpaw's house to play, spend the night, and just get spoiled.  He was so very good during the days events, that I thought he needed to be somewhere and do something normal.  Chad and I went back to Mom and Dad's and we just rested. We talked, napped, played video games. Chad and I headed home around 6:30ish, stopped and grabbed dinner, and chilled all evening.

I'm posting all of these things more for me than anyone else.  I will only a few memories of Johanna, and her life, and I don't want to forget any of them.  I'm glad ya'll are along for the ride.