... we never received the instructions on how to say GOOD BYE!

Today our hearts are heavy. We know all too well the intense pain of the families who now too have to figure the best way to say good-bye to their children.

When our children, our gifts from GOD were given to us we quickly received tons of books, magazines and peoples help on how to grow our children up, but we never received the instructions on how to say good bye!

            Children are not supposed to die ... Parents expect to see their children grow and mature. Ultimately parents expect to die and leave their children behind ....... This is the natural course of life events, the life cycle continuing as it should.

The loss of a child is the loss of innocence, the death of the most vulnerable and dependent. The death of a child signifies the loss of the future, of hopes and dreams.

We now stand in the gap and pray for the families that lost their sons in the tragic accident only a few short days ago. May the community continue to be a force of strength to all.

We pray for the students that lost their buddies, the moms and dad's that lost their sons, the sisters and brothers that lost their brothers, as well as the grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

May the lord give each and everyone the strength needed to rise up each new day, may you never stop saying "I love you" to the ones you love and may you never take another day for granted.

WE LOVE YOU BOYS AND WILL SEE     YOU AGAIN IN HEAVEN.

In search of our "New Normal"

Hmmmm?, In search of our "New Normal". What exactly does that mean? It is true that what we once knew as "Normal" has been forever changed or should I say stripped away? So, exactly how long will "New Normal" take?

Our journey so far has been rugged to say the least. At what point do we stop questioning and start moving forward? The pain never goes away, as a matter of fact it seemingly gets worse.

We ask ourselves often, "How did we go from this ......

To this ......

To this ?????

These questions we will forever be asking.

The first few weeks I can explain as it was like we were protected with this invisible-type of novocaine that allowed us not to feel the deepest pain that we have to face now.
The novocaine has wore off.
The pain is so deep that I believe we keep it in that safe place so we can actually function day to day. We have come face to face with that pain at times little by little. I call that the "Evan Place". We don't go there very often for fear we may not come back. That place is dark, lonely and intensely painful.

All I can say about all this is please don't be that person that thinks we should get over this and should've moved on by now, and Yes! we DO have other children which we have NOT forgotten about. We pray for them daily. We pray for Tim in Marjah, Afghanistan(aka HELL HOLE).
We pray for his mental and physical stability everyday. We pray for 3/9 Marines .....  his brothers for their safe return. We pray for Kemo; Tim's bomb sniffing dog, that his training will protect him and all the Marines over there.

We pray for Niki and Khalil as they start their new business in Costa Rica. We pray daily for their safety, health, energy, wisdom and perseverance in pursuing their dreams!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!                                          

Say it isn't so .........

I can't believe it's been all but 5 months and I still believe at times I'll see you walk through the door!

Today I found this song ("Now Your Gone") and thought of you. I'm not sure why exactly. Guess it's the style more than all the words in it. 

It's true, "All I have is your pictures on the wall ..." and ofcourse lots of memories.

All of this is still so hard to believe. I know I'm supposed to, but doesn't seem real?

Say it isn't so ................  that I won't be making you cheesy eggs and french toast for breakfast anymore, .....  that I won't hear you whistling in your bathroom while you're getting ready to go out, ..... that I won't smell the stream of Polo Black cologne wafting through the house, .......  that I won't hear your car returning  home with the base sub-woofer leading the way or that I don't get to see those goofy faces you make

.............. I could go on and on ........................    say it isn't so!
I miss you so much Evan!! I still don't understand why you had to leave us.
Guess it's true time really doesn't heal.