Good bye Becky

 

ONE year ago today my cousins (Ryan and Eric) and their significant others (Bri and Becky) came to our farm with my Uncle Jeff, my Aunt Sue, and three adorable little boys. 

One year. One year ago, Becky's heart was already enlarged and not functioning properly I am sure. Her date-of-death was already "written down."

But we didn't know it.

God knew that my Uncle Jeff would go to sleep and not wake up. He knew that the family would face two devastating losses one day apart. 

What grief!

And what a reminder that we need to remember that we are not promised tomorrow. All the plans we make are really just temporary. They can all change in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, while my Dad's family is facing this loss, my Mom's family is dealing with my grandmother's end-of-life decisions. It's been very challenging for the family. It is hard to think that the next decades of my life, leading up to my own death, will involve making some hard decisions for the people that we love. 

And then someday, I will be the person facing end-of-life decisions. If I don't go home to Jesus sooner. Or if he doesn't come back sooner. 

It is hard to not feel very Ecclesiastes about the whole thing. To not think: What is the point of this hard, painful, awful world!

But there IS a point. The point is ETERNITY with Jesus. It's hard to remember sometimes. But it is SO SO SO true. This life is fleeting. Yes, I want to raise my children to be respectful and good people ... but in the end, why don't I chill out a ... LOT! Is it THAT important?!

It is all fleeting. 

Jesus is forever. 

Funeral for Uncle Jeff

At the funeral for my Uncle Jeff, I got to see 11 of my 15 cousins. Fun fact: The guy in the suit jacket without the tie in the back row is 6'10". :) 

Before I share who everyone is in the picture above, let me say this about my Uncle Jeff. He was a Huisman male. I learned so much MORE about him during the funeral and was also reminded what a craftsman, fisherman, and quiet yet passionate man he was. I pray that we can all continue to support this family during this time. 

I am attempting to get all the cousin-details (including birth order) straight here. I know I made a mistake somewhere, and I know someone will correct me, and I will get it all correct. 

From back left: 

• Sam Huisman (son of Uncle Scott) #11
• Jeremy Huisman (son of Uncle Jeff) #6
• David Huisman (Scott) #13
• Ryan Huisman (Jeff) #9
• Andrew Huisman (Aunt Linda) #16
• Matt Huisman (John) #1
• Luke Huisman (John) #2

Front row: 

• Josh Huisman (Bob) #4
• Eric Huisman (Jeff) #8
• me (George) #5
• Justin Huisman (Bob). #7

Not pictured:

• My brother Keith who couldn't get off of work (George) #10
• my cousin Evan who had covid (Linda) #15
• My cousin Jason who could not get off of work (Bob) #3
• Bonus Cousin Steve

I also have TWO girl cousins believe it or not. 

• Madeline Huisman Blonn who I got to see the night before at the wake (Linda) #14
• Katie Huisman Giles who had a sick child and could not come (Scott) #12

The Huisman family is SO strong both in support and faith. To get to hug all these amazing men was so important to me, and I'm so glad I was able to go. Thank you to Janet Medema Kotynski for taking me and making the 8.5-10hour drive from TN. Here are a few pictures of me and Auntie Janet in Chicago and then when we got home again in TN this evening.

If you'd like to watch the video of the funeral, you can do it here. (I speak at about 1hr and 15min mark.) 

My cousin Eric, whose life partner Becky died the day after Uncle Jeff,  speaks at the 1hr and 7min mark, and it will totally encourage you. 

Here are a few pictures of the four brothers moving Jeff's body out of the church:

Here is me and my buddy Caleb -- the amazing son of my cousin Ryan and his wife through BECAUSE OF ISAAC. Bri spoke at the funeral about Jeff & Sue's faith in praying this child into their arms, and I'm not sure I cried harder than at that moment.

Here is a link to Becky's obituary. 

Deep Family Loss

I posted a few days ago about how my Uncle Jeff died, suddenly, in his sleep on Thursday, March 2nd -- his wife, Sue's, birthday.

Jeff and Sue have three sons: Jeremy, Eric, and Ryan. Jeremy and Eric live locally, but Ryan and his wife Bri and son Caleb (who adopted through Because of Isaac years ago) got on a flight from the west coast where they live.

Just as they landed, new news arrived. Eric's wife, Becky, had collapsed in their home. They were unable to revive her. She was 38. They are awaiting autopsy, but initial guesses were a brain aneurysm due to a headache she had been complaining about earlier in the day. They have 8-year-old twins: Ben and Brody.

To say the family is reeling is obviously an understatement. I am leaving to attend what was supposed to be my Uncle Jeff's funeral. I have no idea, at this point, how that will be handled. What was truly supposed to be a celebration of the life of my Uncle Jeff, will obviously be impacted greatly by the untimely loss of Becky.

It was March 14 of last year (2022) that Jeff and Sue and Eric and Ryan along with their kiddos came and spent a week in Tennessee and stopped by the farm to see us. ONE YEAR. 

Please be praying for this entire family. This loss is simply unfathomable. For these 9-year-old boys to lose their Grampa and the next day be told that their Mother had died isn't even explainable/fathomable.