For so many reasons, this week away with my family (read Part 1 here) was peaceful, joyful, and in every way the perfect Sicilian vacation. In others, it was somber and tainted with grief. As many of you know, my youngest sister, Julia, died in a car accident this summer. This was our first real family vacation without her and we felt her absence at every turn. Although we have every confidence that Booie (our nickname for her) is in Heaven experiencing fullness of joy and rest, and although we have so much to be thankful for, we will be missing her the rest of our lives. I would be leaving the biggest thing out if I tried to write about this week and didn’t mention the thing that was most on our minds.
We continue to ask for your prayers as the weeks and months go by. We’d especially appreciate them tomorrow, March 23, which would have been Julia’s 20th birthday.
Here are some more photos from this week. Thank you, family, for coming so far and living life with us… newborn and all!
We took another walk on the beach mid-week and snapped some of these photos. Below are a couple of attempts at a family portrait… easier said than done!
Above, we enjoy some reading outside as a family. Below, some photos from our last lunch together as a family, which we ate at a little restaurant built into the seawall in the tiny town of Brucoli.
Em wasn’t so sure about the steamed octopus, but Lena enjoyed it. Her attempt to say “octopus” sounded more like “apple-de-guts.”
I love this photo of Emily and Gil! Below, a photo of how we spent many evenings: watching Downton Abbey (some of us for the first time, others of us for the second or third…).
I loveLOVElove the photos of your dad with Lena & Gil. Just presh!
Sending you prayers and love as you navigate new experiences without your sister.
My thoughts are with you and your family (regularly) but will be particularly so tomorrow.
I love that your family are together at this time, enjoying new birth as well as sharing your sadness.
great photos-your Dad looks great. Say hello for me. I continue to remember you all in my prayers.
Looks like it was beautiful and amazing! Praying for you today.
beautiful photos. i can’t imagine how much you all felt julia’s absence during this visit and her birthday. holding you all in the light. (and believing that indeed, God can heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds).
Thank you so much, Katie! Your prayers and your long and faithful friendship mean so much to me and to all of us.
Thank you for sharing with us about your time away with your family! I am so glad that you all could spend time together, although I am sure that there must have been times of sadness amidst the joy as you mourned the absence of Julia. I will continue to lift all of you up in prayer. I miss you so much, dear friend! I love getting glimpses into your life–it is amazing how much as changed from from our porch-swinging days at 206. I love you!
Thank you, Sarah! Love and miss you too, and can’t wait to see you this summer!