Mixed Emotions

Last week my family got together for my Grandma Buescher's funeral.  There were a lot of mixed emotions; we were sad for the reason we were gathered in southern Illinois, but it is always a joy to see family.

At times it is difficult to see the big picture and to grasp God's plans; death is one of the more difficult things to keep in perspective.  However, our family has been blessed to have God fulfill his promise of life 3 times in 15 days.  On January 31st James was brought into God's family through the waters of baptism, and then on February 6, Grandma was called home to glory and eternal life, and just this weekend Jame's little cousin, Isabella, was also brought into God's family through baptism.  And we thank God that he has blessed our family and continues to be faithful to us.

Here is the obituary from the Southern Illinoisian:

STEELEVILLE - Edna Buescher, 93, passed away at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Memorial Hospital of Chester. 

She was born July 4, 1916, in Wine Hill, the daughter of Herman Kothe and Bertha (Eilers) Kothe.  Edna married William J. Buescher on Jan. 18, 1947, in Wine Hill. He preceded her in death Dec. 18, 1981. Edna was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wine Hill, St. Paul Ladies Aid and American Legion Auxiliary Post 480 in Steeleville for 57 years.

Edna is survived by one son, Melvin (Barbara) Buescher of Waterloo, Iowa; one daughter, Marilyn (David) Wente of Steeleville; four grandchildren, Rebecca (Jonathan) Liebich of Colchester, Conn., Rachel (Ryan) Bredow of Englewood, Colo., Jonathan (Sarah) Buescher of Decatur, and Jacob Wente of Steeleville; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Paul Liebich, Isabella Bredow and James Buescher; two sisters, Marie (Gerhart) Ahrens of Addison, and Flora (Ewald) Matzat of North Gudson, Ind.; and two sisters-in-law, Viola Kothe of Bloomington and Norma Kothe of Percy.  She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Anna Wolters; and two brothers, Albert and Edward Kothe.
 

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wine Hill, with the Rev. Tim B. Zechiel officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Wine Hill. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 7:30 to 9 a.m.  Tuesday at Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

But sorrow was mixed with joy as two uncles got to see their nephews for the first time.

Jonathan meeting Paul

Jonathan meeting James