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...About "Joe's Corner"

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"Joe's Corner" Banners & About "Joe's Corner"...

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Many of you have asked about "Joe's Corner".

so here's the story. "Joe's corner" is a garden feature that began late summer after the death of my little brother Joe who died July 27, 2022.

I'm still not able to speak clearly about his life, especially the how's and why's leading up to his death. But Joe was my beloved youngest brother especially worthy of a spot of honor in our garden. Why? Rocks.

The old field rocks that surround the Garden's Cross at the end of the Garden's path were a gift from Joe. These rocks used to be in our mother's field stone rock garden at our childhood home. Decades after we lived there the current owners were dismantling it. Joe asked if he could salvage them and got their "ok." He then gave them to me, At that time we were completing the installation of the Scripture Rocks. Joe's gift was the perfect edging for the only garden bed that had no Scripture Rock in it- an awkward patch at the very end of the garden's walk.

After mom's rocks were put in place I went to a favorite nursery for flowers, Instead of flowers I found the Cross that's there today still surrounded by Joe's unexpected gift. Sometimes when sitting in that quiet spot tears well up when remembering how I felt when seeing the Cross for the first time. Finally, I thought, the Garden is complete.

Since then I've learned a lot: seasons come and go. A garden's work is never complete. But the empty Cross at the end of the path reminds me Jesus' perfect work for our redemption is. Sometimes more tears will flow.

But here's the best part of Joe's story. After the last garden bed had mom's rocks surrounding it, Joe was willing to walk past the Scripture ones to visit hers. One time the first engraved rock caught his eye. He stopped and slowly read it: "Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us and we are His." Psalm 100:3. I can still hear his comment, "I find God in nature." I responded, "We're not as far apart as you think. I love nature's Creator, God." It was a start. Then we walked side-by-side to visit mom's rocks, gathered together, at the foot of the Cross.

Those times are my most precious memories of Joe. Thank you for them little brother. I'll see you again soon- in the twinkling of an eye. ❤️ Big Sister