Thanking God, even in times of sorrow

I apologize for posting this (5 days later after this event on Monday March 30th), but I did save it on the day of the home going services for my cousins. It has been a long and somewhat exhausting week after traveling and emotionally draining.

I would like to thank all of those who remained in prayer for my family, especially Soror E. (lovenotes). All of the prayers were heard. Words can not express my gratitude for all of your prayers and concern.

Today, we had a beautiful, upbeat and peaceful home going service for both of my cousins and including their uncle who is still missing. God blessed us with a beautiful sunny day after several days of rain and winds. Countless family and friends came from the north, south, and east and west as well as across foreign waters to take part of this home going celebration. While we are in a time of grief, we still thank God for the time that they were loaned to us and all of the lives they were able to be apart of. It was so amazing to see the countless numbers at this service for regular boys who were sweet and giving. It goes to show you how you live your life makes a difference while you are here on earth.

It was an upbeat service and truly a celebration of life. While it was a tragedy, we know that God does not make any mistakes. My younger cousin's minister from NJ was able to come and help with the eulogy as well. It was so comforting and awesome to hear how my younger cousin had grown even more into his spiritual life with his church and was being trained to be a deacon under his minister. He was giving thanks to God for everything. He had been ministering to friends, strangers and even his older brother, whom he wanted to know God just as he did and had them coming to his church to hear the word. While I long to wonder know what conversation they both had with God in those icy waters on last Tuesday before they passed, I know that they are taken care of and are resting in peace.

In addition, all of the ministers involved seemed to pull the scriptures from the bible that related to fisherman and God. I personally did not realize how many there were until Monday's service. This was a perfect opportunity for so many to give their life to Christ and many stood boldly after the eulogy, even with the news media inside filming during the service. The minister made a profound statement to ask many if they were taken today, where would you go? If there was a question in your mind as to where you stood with your salvation, then you needed to get right with God. He also stated that it is funny how we all buy insurance for everything else, but we do not cover our salvation. I am so happy that so many found Christ on Monday.

This is a reminder that we are not promised tomorrow and to live and love each day as if it were your last day. Please continue to pray for the family and their children who are fatherless. We still have two other family members who are among the missing, so it is still a tough time. We are hoping to bring closure to all when all 4 bodies are recovered.

I encourage all to live and love and embrace God and Life. Family is important. Make time for family events, for you may not know when it will be the last time that you will see one another.

Family and tragedy

I am a little lost for words right now. I am not even sure where to begin, but this is the best way to help me cope with this tragedy in my family.

I received a phone call from my mother earlier this evening after hanging up with her shortly in a chipper conversation. She called me back about 10 minutes later after receiving some news.

On my fathers side of the family, we have lost 2 relatives today who were brothers (who are relatively young late thirties and early forties) due to a shrimp boat going under today in NJ. That side of our family has a large Shrimp/Seafood boating business. There are additional missing bodies as of my last conversation and a couple others are thought to be family members and at least one or two Latino workers. I was told earlier that my cousins did call in a distress signal, but I guess that they could not make it in the water and the temperatures.

The details are very sketchy right now. However, we do know that we lost my two cousins who are their parents only children and they have their own families too.

However, the two brothers (my cousins) who were found by the coast guard did have on life jackets/ cold weather protector suits and that is how they were spotted. We were told they were found floating on boards. One of the brothers had already passed and the youngest one had a light pulse, but was unresponsive, and he passed as well. They were still looking for the other bodies.

I think that I was stunned and in emotional shock when my mother broke the news to me. I did not understand how any of this happened. They called for help, but they did not make it. This is so sad and it is a horrible way for anyone to have to leave this earth.

I was telling someone else that I was trying to wrap up the details for the vacation trip that I was organizing for this summer and we were planning to invite that whole family as well and not just keep it exclusive to our immediate. We are all close and I wanted to add them into the equation this summer because they always have a huge event in Va every September and they include everyone. It just goes to show all of us how we need to treat each day like it is our last day.

This is going to be devastating to the community in NC where they are from with several funerals. This is the same community that my father is originally from. It is difficult for me to understand dealing with this many deaths in one immediate family in my family. At this time all I can do is pray and deal with the grief and know that some of my other family members are grieving even harder.

I may edit/remove this post later just due to it being a large family loss and remaining private.

update:

Two of my cousins are deceased and they are still searching for 4 more members that were on the boat. 1 crew member was found with my cousin and he has survived. We are suspecting at lease 2 more family members are missing as well among the 4 who are missing. Please continue to pray for my family and the immediate family of each of my deceased cousins. Their father has lost both of their sons, and possibly a brother as well. This is a sad day and time to pray.