I didn't think I would be a widow at 57. Belinda says this to me and I imagine she says it to herself daily. It has almost been 6 months since Bobby suddenly went to be with Jesus.

I met Bobby and Belinda last year when they stayed at our house. Their son lives with us so by the end of their visit, we adopted them...or they adopted us...we are family. Now Belinda is back on Oahu with rest of her children. We headed to Kaena Point to document this time in their lives. When you get siblings together they seem to revert to their childhood roles. They tease each other, race each other and to Belinda's delight...still play in the water.

Being together is a comfort. You see it in their joy and in their grief.

They share stories of Bobby and Belinda confesses that she put one of his shirts in a Ziplock bag so she can open it and still smell him.

When there is great love, the grief is deep. Jesus is their center and continues to walk with this family. They know they will be reunited with Bobby one day and through the stories and the love, Bobby is not far from any of them.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5.10

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