It was important to connect with my siblings and their families this past Christmas, to intern mums’ ashes next to my father’s. It was important to communicate and connect with extended family. It was our first Christmas without our parents, together, as we somehow reconciled life without mum and dad. After nearly twenty years, reconnecting with a school friend suddenly became important.

These were things that I placed great significance upon doing and made it a priority to do despite the distance, time constraints, and cost. When I returned home, I reflected on the importance of our time in my childhood state of Queensland and the significance of the stay. What was the importance of the trip? Was it rekindling old relationships? Or perhaps it was about being with people who knew my past life and yore. The value of slipping into conversations and being understood without having to explain? Enjoying the trips down memory lane. Exploring the old places where we bush walked, swung on swings, drank old-fashioned cordial, swam in familiar creeks, or visited the birthplace and homes of our parents. It was important because we said’ good-bye as siblings, with our husbands, wives, and children!’

God granted His grace to extend our stay, savour the moments, build new memories, and transition well into the next season. We enjoyed our relationships in a bubble that could have been burst by a worldwide pandemic at any moment, except it was not. We were protected, safe, and secure for two whole weeks as we grieved a time gone by, and that was very important!