I guess I have reached a new stage in my life.

The owner/administrator of our homeschool group-H & W team.....the H just up & died last Sunday night.

He was w/ his family last Sat when he had a stroke, he died the next evening/Monday morning while @ the hospital. He was only 44. He leaves behind his W, their 2 twin teenage daughters & 9yo son.

Today is the memorial service. I don't even know if I am supposed to wear black or what. Do people still do that or is it only on TV?

I was not close friends w/ them, we never really hung out outside of school functions...but we were all friends. Our kids hung out, were invited to each others kids b-day parties & such. I have known them as long as my son has been school age.......7 years. This is so odd.

You visit w/ someone & a few months later, out of the blue you get the news they died.

I can't even imagine what his W is going through right now & what she will go through once the auto pilot is turned off & she must face the reality of waking up each morning alone in bed.

ALone w/o her H, her friend, her lover, her strength, her protector. I can't imagine the path thier lives will now take. Being a homeschool mom, how will she do it now? SHe worked part-time, they had their own business & had just moved into a new house, they were administrators of the 'school'......what is to become of them?

My son (11.5 yo) is going w/ me. He is so sad for his friend, that his dad is 'gone'. He thought he could give them a hamster or rabbit or something as a gift, to make them feel better, since they like animals.

I know that the Lord will take care of them. I know that he has our path planned & designed for every last step, breathe & detail.

It just puts into perspective how feable all our worry & plans are that we make ourselves because the reality is--you just don't know when your time is up.

I'm sure as he was sitting there that night, surrounded by family, probably laughing up a storm, he did not know it was to be his last night.

None of us do.

BUT w/ that in mind...

What will our last impression be?


(edited to correct date of death & son's age)

<small>[ August 29, 2004, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: ktbunch ]</small>

Oh KT,

I am sad for your friends and their family. It is hard when you lose someone out of the blue. I think that knowing that God does have this all in his plan might be some comfort to them. Not right now of course but in due time. As you said we all have a time to go and no one knows when that time will come so I agree you should make your days good ones. Being a good person, helpful, honest, trustworthy, generous, kind, and in prayer.

i know that it will probably be hard for her at first but she will be provided for. I think you should go to the funeral. wearing black is appropriate but not a necessitly anymore - any color will do! You chld is a very giving person I can tell, I wonder where he got it from (you of course)! it is so good of him to think of his friend during this time of need, childrens ability to love, and show compassion is endless.

I just wanted to give you my condolences to your friend and their family.

I feel the same about my days and my time here. i don't know when my time will be up so I have made myself a promise to live everyday as if it were my last. To tell those I love that I love them everyday, and appreciate them. So I wanted to add a thank you to you for being a good friend to me in my time of need. I hope that I can at least return the favor in some way or someday! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

JT