Condolences

So this morning I was driving to work and had to turn my windshield wipers on and had a thought pop into my mind about how the raindrops are like tears and the windshield wipers are the friends that help us through our sad times. Which of course reminded me that it was Friday and I had planned to drive up to Cypress this morning for a funeral but completely forgot because of work.
As I continued to drive to work I thought of this family and their loss, and then reminisced about the time when my mom passed. I thought about how I felt, how I mourned and most of all about the love and support of my friends from the Cypress Stake. This family is in the Cypress Stake and I will say that they have touched my life. One of their son in laws was in my bishopric when my mother passed, one daughter was at my baptism and I learned a lot from her in RS, another daughter also taught me a lot in RS, I also had the privilige to teach Sunday school to a couple of the granchildren and I am friends with some of them. Each member of this family that I know is a descendent of Teddy and Dick Anderson. I believe that often children, are the reflection of the parents and grandparents. I know that T&DA have an incredible posterity.
As I reflected about this family who laid to rest their husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather I felt gratitude for their testimonies and the love they have for each other and those who know them.
I know the widow because she was in my family ward C1 forever. She is a woman that I always thought wow when I grow up I want to be like Teddy. She has such great elegance about her and carries herself with confidence. During RS lessons she taught or when she shared comments during others lessons about family and marriage she talked about her husband and family with pride and love. When you saw this couple at the Ward Christmas party or other events or just out around Cypress; you would see the love between them radiate.
 I imagine they spent at least 60 years together in this life, and can not even begin to imagine how it feels to not have that person who has been by your side for so long and knows you so well. I do know that when I lost my mom, I felt an emptiness and loneliness and I was only with her for a short time; so when I think of TA who was with her husband for most of her life, my heart aches for her and I have empathy. However, I know that she is a strong woman who will overcome this temporary separation because of her firm testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I also know how incredibler her children and grandchildren are and how they will support and look after her as well as many members from the Cypress Stake. 
Although I could not attend this funeral; my thoughts and prayers are with the Anderson, Boberg, and Sage families.