Welcome to 2010!

Time flies!! I cannot believe Christmas is over and we are well into January. We decided to go home to Ohio on the spur of the moment after Christmas. What a great trip we had....we got to see friends from our old neighborhood, our families and friends from our childhood. And, the kids got to live in a winter wonderland for a few days! They came home wishing they lived in Ohio. How backwards is that? I try to explain to them that we live in a place where people PAY to go on vacation...and, yet, they want to live in cold, snowy Ohio! LOL It's all perspective I guess.

Well, while we were in Ohio, my first visit was to my lifelong friend Jackie's house. Connor went with me so he could meet (and play with) Jackie's super-adorable son, Cal. I also wanted to visit Jackie's mom, Kathy, who I have been praying for for months....she had been diagnosed with cancer several months ago and was on her second round of chemo when things seemed to take a turn for the worst. When I pulled up to their house, Jackie's dad, Ray, was tinkering around in the garage. I swear the Tylmans never age! He looked the same as I remember him when we were growing up. Anyhow, I got to give Jack a huge hug...which I have been wanting to do since she emailed me all those months ago about her mom's diagnosis. A few days after we returned home Kathy passed away....my heart aches for her family but rejoices in knowing that she is happier now LIVING in peace with her Lord and Savior than she could have ever imagined. I can't even imagine it, but I often try.....have you ever heard that song "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me....it helps me to think about the day I will meet Jesus...what will I do? How will I respond to meeting the One who made me, who knows every hair on my head? Wow...it's almost hard for my mind to be able to grasp that. This whole situation just brings me to the harsh realization that there are people who do not know Jesus and therefore death, for them, must be beyond tragic....how could you possibly deal with the death of a loved one without Jesus in your life? Just like the song says...."In Christ there are no good byes, in Christ there is no end". ("Home" by MercyMe) I thank God that Kathy knew Him...that He revealed Himself to her and she responded to His "call"! I pray that every person reading this would respond to His "call"...the little tugs on the heart strings, the little whisper in the ear that you hear, the message in church that brings tears to your eyes...it's because He is speaking directly to YOU through that Pastor/Priest/etc. Don't pass up your opportunity to know Him!!! We never know if there will be a tomorrow....