A beautiful ending

I've been almost dreading having to write this last blog.  To sum up how much that being able to walk this journey with Aunt Carla has meant to me.  I know it's partially because I think in some ways that it effected me, I may not even know and then in others...it's just hard to put into words.
 I remember how I was feeling at the end of last year and why I got to thinking this was something that I need to do.  We had been to Atlanta for our christmas with aunt Carla and the family and I guess for the first time it REALLY hit me just how serious her health situation was.  You hear people speak words to you sometimes, but it's like the gravity or true meaning of them don't take place until you see it come to be in front of you in a physical manifestation.  That's how it was up until I saw her at christmas. Hearing updates on her verbally had been nothing but a thought, and then I saw the physical manifestation that was taking place in her life and yet how positive she was staying through it was inspiring.  Either way it was at that point that I knew I couldn't allow her to fight the battle on her own.  I had to be able to do something and I knew that I had never been to good at taking 'daily prayer time' or being an intercessor.  I just knew I was passionate about painting...so my motivation to paint is what also became a daily motivation to pray.  I didn't always pray while i was painting although I was constantly in thought about aunt Carla and just sort of listening, to see if God had an encouraging word I might share with her, family, or even for myself.  There truly were times where I'd be up unable to sleep at night and my heart would be pounding in my chest as I felt so excited to think that maybe right then aunt Carla was getting up onto her feet healed in the physical.  Yet, I know that even though that is not the healing she received, i do know that she received a much better and permanent healing...and it would be selfish for me to be anything but full of joy because of her going home.
   I know that we could ask God and may even still have to ask from time to time...why couldn't she stay? But I think the answer truly is for His Glory.  It's just the simple fact that I think God got more Glory out of aunt Carla's fearless approach on death, than He could have ever gotten from her continuing  in life.  I know she certainly has touched my life through the way she lived and I will always be changed for the better because of having the opportunity to pray over someone that God was clearly touching.
  I am very excited to see what the future holds, both for aunt Carla's family and mine.  I felt like words that God spoke over me and my family for this year are that it will be a year of transformation and renewal and it is clear that God has already begun both in the lives of my immediate family.  I can't wait to see whats around each corner this year and i'm excited about spending a little more time working on more detailed paintings in the upcoming days.  I truly feel completely blessed right now. I thank God and praise Him for it all!