Time

Jessa's nurse woke me up at 3:30 this morning to tell me drastic changes were happening to her breathing, pulse rate, and skin color. Our family got here before the girls woke up. I talked to Katelyn first, then Jadyn and Bryn preparing them for the day to come. Eleven and half hours later Jessa went to be with the Lord. We mourn her passing even as we envy her for getting to Jesus first. We also still celebrated Jadyn's birthday. By leaving us today, Jess made sure that our family will celebrate every year on October 29th. Jadyn opened presents. We ate cake. We played games at Chuck E. Cheese's. When Jadyn looks back on today she will not only remember a day when she cried harder and longer than she has ever cried along with her two sisters and the rest of her family, but she will also remember a day of gifts and happiness.

Jessica was determined to glorify God using her life as an example. She did this as a mother sacrificing her time. Until she was too sick to go, her three children never knew what it was like not to have a mother at their school and sporting events. She supported her kids like roots support a tree. She did this as a wife by sacrificing her need to be always right, which she usually was. Her friends and family members loved her for the beautiful person she was. Many knew God because she knew Him.

I proposed to Jess on my birthday. I wrapped up the box with the diamond ring in birthday paper. Then I packed a picnic dinner. I took Jess to River Legacy Park where we ate on a blanket. Then I opened my presents, except for one. When I asked Jess to open it she looked at me strangely. At my insistence she finally opened it. The thing was the diamond ring really was a present to me because having her as a wife for almost ten years is the most precious gift I have ever gotten.