Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Ice Cream Ball Contest

Many of you probably know about the Christmas ritual we have in my mom's family of "The Ice Cream Ball Contest". Every year at Christmas we all get an ice cream ball like the one below with a candle in it. What started out as a neat decorating/dessert idea for my grandma, turned into a contest over the years. Each year we see who can get their candle to stay lit the longest.
When we light our candles, we dim the lights and just bask in the glow of the candles. We enjoy their warmth, their light, and the atmosphere surrounding them.

As the candles start to melt, they get shorter and we realize that they won't last much longer. We do everything we can to keep them burning. We lift them up, we talk to them. Eventually though, the candle starts to sputter. We know the end is near, but we never give up hope until it is extinguished. It is beautiful while it lasts and the memories we have of it will last a lifetime.



My grandpa is like those candles and right now he is sputtering...

On the left is Lynden's grandpa who passed away the day Leeland was born. On the right is my grandpa. This was taken last August at Lochlyn's birthday party. I loved watching the two old farmers sit and talk.

**Edited to add: My grandpa was diagnosed with cancer on 2-4-09. It was totally out of the blue. He had no symptoms until the night before (my birthday). He has been on Hospice since 3-2-09.

4 comments:

Jamie said...

Oh Lura, I'm so sorry. I wish your family peace in this time. Praying for all of you.

Jamie

SamandSawyersMom said...

Lura, I know, from all our IM's how much you are going through with this and I hope you feel the presence of God as your family and your grandpa say goodbye.

Cheryl said...

Oh I am so sorry to hear about your grandpa. from everything you have written he sounds like a wonderful man who had a long and productive life. take comfort in that. i will pray for you, and your family.

kellerie said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandpa. call if you need to talk.

what a beautiful metaphor you made, comparing him to the candle.