In Loving Memory

My cousin, Bonnie Ilene Peterson-Hoschouer passed away on April 20, 2008 ~ the funeral was today. She was 41 years, 2 months, 6 days old. She died unexpectedly from an accidental prescription drug overdose. She is survived by her son, James (20), daughter Laurie (17), daughter Katie (12), and grandson Christopher (1) ~ plus her mother, Arlene, two brothers, a sister, and countless cousins and family.  We were very sad and blown away by her passing.  My aunt is not doing well and Bonnie's kids seem shocked ~ I don't think it has sunk in yet. 

Psalm 23 was chosen by Bonnie's family:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the day of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Amen.

I am not close to my cousins ~ even though they live here in town ~ and these tragedies always make me reflect on family and the relationships we have with our family. I wish I was closer to my nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles... it just seems like we are all caught up in our own lives and we just drift further apart ~ months, then years go by before we know it and we haven't seen any of our extended family. I want my kids to be close to their family ~ each family member leaves a unique imprint on all our lives. I wish we all lived closer so that we could spend holidays, birthdays, anniversaries...and all the days in between together.  It makes me sad that my kids can't spend the weekend or even an evening hanging with Grandma or Grandpa...that they only know cousins by a photograph, that they have no idea that they have great-aunts and great-uncles, second and third cousins.  It just makes me sad.  My heart is heavy tonight as I think of Bonnie's children and the rough time they have ahead of them, trying to come to terms with losing their mom at such a young age. I will be thinking of them often.