I ended up doing a song during the funeral today Friday for our beautiful neighbor girl, Eirin Markhus,15, that died on my home island Holsnøy.The whole island is mourning. Flags on half mast, on every flag pole.
Her death, a car accident, was so senseless and sad, I cried all the way through the service, except for around ten minutes right before I sang- but made it OK through the song.
The church was overfilled, and could have been filled twice, I am sure.
Never such a big turn out for anything before.
She was a dancer and a believer in Jesus, who had touched so many lives.

It felt so safe sitting on the church bench, surrounded by my tender dad Peder,sharply dressed in a new black suit,
on my left, and big brother Bjarte, also in a black nice suit, who later in the service did his gorgous song  "Fly, lille engel" (Fly, little angel). Bjarte actually took my hand in his and held it for a long time- as my tears were just rolling down steady stream. What a gift to have a big brother who can hold his little sisters hand even as adults. I felt warmed by this simple gesture.
Eirin was only a few months older than my oldest son David. Life is but a vapor. True, but hard to comprehend.

I decided in the service we will edit Eirins photo into the music video of "Everything has its Season".
Incredibly, her death was excactly two years on the day, after Joy Thomason, my former manager passed away.Having dedicated this song to her in the CD cover, this was all the more amazing to me.I could hardly believe my eyes when I caught the date...
The whole funeral service had the theme of "Everything has its season", ("Alt har sin tid")
including the message on the parents & siblings wreath for the casket, and pastor Rune Mindes message...
Thanks Lord,for the chance to sing it at the piano in the Lutheran State Church; Meland kirke, of my beloved home island...

Even in the obituary in the local papers they had quoted the lyrics, not knowing I would be around:

En tid til å danse
en tid til å gråte
en tid til å stanse og
tenke over tidens gåte...

(A season for dancing
A season for crying
A season for living and theres also
a season for dying...)

I was supposed to be here today, no doubt.

Eirin will live on, in glory, and in the fond memories so many share of her.
Mom, not given to dreams and visions, "saw" Eirin dancing in worship before Gods throne, earlier this week.
When calling down to our neighbors, Berit and Lars Arne to share it, they were so grateful for her call, and
added, they had seen the same thing!