Two Hundreth Blog Entry

200th blog entry! Ta da! Get out the durders.

Our older son used to walk around with the cardboard cylinders from paper towels calling them durders. He used them to make a trumpet sound: “Dur – dur –durr!”

So what can we do with this 200th blog entry?

I could rank my 200 entries, in favorite order. Nah.

I could tell you all about 200 of my favorite things to do. Hmm.

200 of the stupidest things I’ve ever done. Not enough time to narrow the list.

200 of my favorite people. I might forget someone. I think that there are way more than 200 anyway.

200 things I’d like to do before I die. No time. Or maybe too much time. Actually, I am doing everything that I want to do!

200 things you always wanted to know about me. Boring. If you want to know, just ask.

200 of my favorite tunes from the Seventies.

200 of my favorite words and phrases. Arms akimbo is near the top.

What to do?

I could do much about nothing. Like I’m doing. At which I am proficient doing. But what would that do? What would be accomplished?

Except that my 200th blog would be posted.

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In the last two weeks, if you have been reading this blog, you know that I/we have been visited by many family members and friends from out of town. I have had phone calls and e-mails from both high school and college friends.

Folks, this is a better way to do a funeral. I have been able to have conversations with the people that I love and miss – some that I did not even know I missed until I saw their name appear in a letter, an e-mail, or on a Facebook page.

Of course, this type of funeral also requires some advanced planning and a bit of assumed risk.

First, you need to get people to come to see you before you die. Sometimes, you have to pull the c-a-n-c-e-r card. Actually, I do not think that this takes much coaxing. I think that I am a bit more personable in this present state than I will be when I am laid out in a box.

This type of funeral also involves some risk. But sometimes risks are necessary. You have to make the assumption, based on the limited ability of health professionals to predict the time of demise, that you will actually die within a reasonable amount of time. Otherwise, the celebration is essentially moot. It’s just a party. Parties are good too!

Some may decide to come again later for the traditional funeral. That’s up to the individual. It really has nothing to do with you. But it is nice for the family.

This one is essentially for me. The traditional funeral is for the rest of you. But I would like to suggest that both be considered celebrations of life, not times for mourning over my passing. Do not waste your time. It’s OK to be sad because you miss me. But do not feel sorry for me. I am with Jesus. Where I belong.

The miracle that we are praying for has happened and will happen. It is a miracle that God loved me and cared for me, one who rebelled against Him as my Father and Creator, and continued to rebel against Him as I rejected His offer of redemption and reconciliation in Jesus Christ. When He held out His hand and offered me a pardon for my sin against Him, I spit in His hand. Yet He died for me and continued to pursue me until my will was submitted to His, until I accepted His gracious offer for freedom from sin and life in Him.

It is a miracle that whether I remain here for a few more years or move on to be present with the Lord, I have life. Abundant life in Him.

Do not the miss the miracle that has already occurred and the one that will continue to unfold as God works our His perfect plan through these circumstances of life.

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Yesterday we met with the funeral director – picked out a casket, and talked about some of the details. We still have to pick out a grave marker, finish the obituary notice, and finalize plans for memorial contributions. We have the burial plots. Essentially, we are good to go.

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Papa Luigi and Grammy Jo drove up to Highland Falls, NY with our daughter to pick up our older son Friday afternoon. It is good to have him home again for the weekend. It is also nice to have Michael and Jo here.

I am blessed to have two mothers-in-law and two fathers-in-law. I really mean that (or I would not have said it). I love and appreciate both for who they are. They all love us and care for us in very special ways. I appreciate each member of the families that God has given us and will enjoy our time with each one.

God has given me and my wife wonderful families who love us and care for us. We are truly blessed.

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We are expecting a visit from our niece (Ann’s daughter) from Philadelphia later today. There will be food, and conversation, and much laughter. There will be recollections of days gone by. And there will probably be Wii.

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This day has the promise of being another great day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.