Merry Christmas!

I can't believe that it is Christmas already! What a roller coaster of a year, to say the least.

Bart has been physically gone from us for nearly 4 months now, but there isn't a day that goes by where I do not feel him. He is keeping his little family close and protected.  The boys and I talk about him all the time and are always adding new pictures to our walls to remind us he is near. He was such a Spiritual Powerhouse and I believe with all my heart he is busy doing so much good for us and for those whom he loved.

I (Marcie) am busy settling into our new home in Clinton and making it our own. We are so grateful to my grandpa for letting us come home and start our new journey here. I am working on going back to school and should start with some generals in January. Being a stay at home, single mom is a busy but very rewarding job. I love to watch my children learn and grow each day.

Caleb is 3 now, and is getting ready to go to Sunbeams. He is very excited! He goes to a neighborhood preschool twice a week. He was a little late at starting, but being the smarty that he is, he had no problem catching up. Caleb was born a learner. He soaks all of it up and is eager to learn more! I am so proud of this little boy. He has been my rock. I love him so much.

Isaac is almost 2. He will turn 2 the day after Bart's birthday - definitely a tender mercy for me since he was born a month early. He is starting to talk and can repeat most of what you ask him to....if he wants to. He loves one on one time with mommy when Caleb goes to school. The snow is his favorite thing these days. Oh, and Christmas lights, can't forget those. Isaac is such a sweet, sweet boy and keeps my heart happy. He can melt your heart with one look, and I treasure that baby.

We would like to thank all of you for your kindness, love, and support over this last year. Bart and I appreciated your prayers more than you could ever know. I know he is with all of us all the time, but especially now, during this Christmas Season. It was his favorite, and he loved the magical feeling this time of year brought. We miss him so much, but I am comforted in knowing we are a forever family and will be reunited again some day. I pray you all can find the JOY that this season brings, and carry it with you always.

Merry Christmas,

Marcie, Caleb and Isaac

2 o'clock on a Sunday

It must be 2 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. That's when my heart gets a little heavy. And that's when my mind starts to think of my husband. Bart was born on a Sunday, and he died on a Sunday . What a beautiful day! How lucky are we that we get this day in the week. Even though Sundays are a day of rest, there are many important things that happened on Sundays. They're really good days to sit back and reflect on the past week, your life, and the week ahead. 

I didn't know what time Bart passed away since I wasn't with him.  When I got back to the house from seeing my boys , and I had a little bit of time with Bart, his mom gave me the phone number to the mortuary . I remember calling , and they offered words of condolences and were very nice. Then the sweet man on the other end of the phone asked, "What was your husband's name?" I froze and panicked, I apologized that I couldn't say his name and he told me to take my time.  With everything that I had, I could not say Bart's name. And I thank his mother deeply for taking the phone from me and answering the rest of the questions. That must have been very hard for her as well. She knew everything that I knew but couldn't say.  I remember her saying that he passed away about 2 o'clock. 


For some reason, at 2 p.m. each Sunday I just know what time it is without looking at the clock. I recognized this last week. When I started crying making chicken nuggets for the boys after church. I thought of how Bart would want me to toast them and not microwave them because of the harmful rays of the machine. And it made me miss him so much.  He's with me always, but reminds me when it is two on Sunday. 

After his passing, I received an email from a sweet old friend who is much like a mother to me. She wrote:

I was reading this scripture about the Sabbath day -
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Gen. 2:1–3.)
I thought about the part where it says that God blessed and sanctified it. Sunday is the Lord's day, the most special day of the week. And then I thought how great it would be to return to our Heavenly Father on His day!
It seems to me that if Sunday is His favorite day, that would be the day He would call His favorite people home. Bart must be a very special man!

Thank you so much Michele for your amazing, inspired words! I believe this to be true with all my heart. It makes so much sense that Bart would return on a Sunday. It was his favorite day. He ALWAYS had work off on Sunday. And always made it a priority to make it a sacred, special day, different from the rest of the week even if he wasn't feeling well enough to attend his church meetings. He had such a labor intensive job, Sunday was a great day for him to recoup. 

The days go by and they aren't quite as hard. This Sunday I was rocking my Isaac for old times sake and I realized what time it was. And I was happy to feel Bart with me. I miss him so deeply but I am lucky to have so many old and new friends in my life that help heal the wounds of widowhood. 

Short post, but I thought I would share! Go, enjoy your Sunday and recognize it for the sacred day that it is. It is the Lord's day. And I can't wait for my Sunday when I am reunited with my dear husband and we can celebrate each "Sunday" together forever.

"...No matter how dark our Friday, SUNDAY WILL COME!"

~Joseph B Wirthlin