On January 27th 2019 at sunrise Michiko Lara's ashes were set sail with a flurry of rose petals at Laguna Beach, California and throughout the Pacific Ocean to reach the shores of Hawaii, Japan and beyond. As her smile warmed the hearts of so many while she was with us I know her presence in the water will continue to warm our hearts as we visit her and remember her throughout our lifetime. Good bye for now our beloved Mimi.
As I watch Mimi's ashes float away with her rose petals my heart feels like it was being torn away. The sadness cripples my ability to speak or stand. Sadness comes over me like waves of the ocean time and time again, sometimes relentlessly over this past week; unyielding and determined. I cry out to God and sometimes I feel like he cannot hear me. I get down on my knees and pray again hoping to have my cries heard and answered.
"Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in anguish.
How long, O LORD, how long?
- Psalm 6: 2-3
Finally, I feel some peace knowing that one day I will see my Mimi again. I gain strength once more knowing that I now have a great responsibility to love and raise Olivia. To raise her to love herself, to love others and to love God. I promised our beloved Mimi that I will do my best and with the help of our Japanese family, many loved ones around us and our Savior Jesus Christ I know that we can and will fulfill this promise. As I lament this morning, I thank you, her community of loved ones and readers for your love and encouragement of our family and for all the joy and hope you have provided our family over the last year. Even though many of us have never met and are an ocean apart I have a deep appreciation and love for you and your continual support.
Michiko I promise to make you Proud! Ganbatte!
"They will come with weeping;
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble,
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."
- Jeremiah 31