The time has come...

 The time has come...One year without Kent, but living forever in Heaven! 

Kent lived life loving all those around him, caring for anyone who needed it.  Kent was quiet in word but loud in action.  

Kent  at the end of his life told me Heaven is our eternal home but I am leaving so much behind.  Life here is not perfect, but to me I have it so good here.  I don't want to leave my earthly home yet.  Kent made everything that he did to be done with pupose.  He made connections with people and truly cared for them.  I am so thankful for those words that I hold on to every day.  He is in his eternal home and some day I can't wait to join him.  

Life is very different without him by our side.  This year had many first's without him.  The first day that seemed a bit overwhelming  was Kent's Birthday!   It's April 25, and he would of celebrated 50! We did celebrate.  We went out to dinner and spent some time duck pin bowling.  Somethig he loved to do even when his strength was failing. 

The other holiday that was so hard to be without Kent was Christmas.  Even though it wasn't his favorite holiday  it became one that we love getting prepared for.  We loved getting things for others together, loved baking for the Christmas events together and mostly we loved the family we gathered with around Christmas. The vision of what he experienced this Christmas I can't even phathom and quite honestly I myself can't wait to see too! 

I would like to change a bit of direction for the rest of this blog....

At our cottage one of our favorite things to do was to run to the deck as the night drew to an end, and the sky had said, Good night with all it's brilliant colors and a masterpiece created at sunset.  Often we would share together, even though dark came after that, light came in the morning!

One of Kent's favorite songs as he navigated cancer was...  Thank God, by Stars go dim. Here is a short phrase of the lyrics.

So, I will thank God for another new sunrise.  Thank God for every single breath inside. There's not anything I'm gonna let steal my Joy, let steal my Joy.  Right now, there's so much to be grateful for.  Right here is everything I need and more 'cause He is always with me. Mountian or the valley. No matter how I am feeling.  There's always a reason to thank God.

As I share those lyrics, I want to write a few final thoughts.  Kent thanked God through cancer, he sat with those while in the chemo chair and shared his faith openly .  In some of his darkest times he still had joy! He thanked God! 

In the months that followed Kent's passing even though they were some of the darkest and most loneliest of nights after the sun had set,  there were still morning! A sunrise!  Many reasons to be thankful and find joy. 

 Some days are now more difficult than others and hard for me to find the joy and navigate, but there is always something to be thankful for. I am thankful for 27 years with Kent.  I am thankful that he loved me  and Lydia unconditionly, I am thankful that we were able to raise a beautiful daughter and he was able to see whom she now will be spending the rest of her life with.  He loved Eli too!  I am so thankful for his quiet strength in our lives.  I thank God! 

As I close on this last ongoing post, I share this... 

Lydia and I are not sure where or how to begin to thank you, our blog family.  I may not  know some of you.  I pray that our words on this blog have somehow touched you or  in a way helped you with what you are going though, cancer or something else you may be struggling with.  

There are so many of you that have taken time in so many ways to help support Lydia or myself, or you have helped support our Moms, and our extended families.  We would love to hear or stay in touch with you all please! 

Thank you for supporting Kent in so many ways through his cancer journey.  For Kent, cancer is no more, his tired worn body is new! I, Thank God!

I say,  see you later with "The blessing."

The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face to shine upon you.And be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you. And give you peace.

Amen , Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen. 

The Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face to shine upon you And be gracious to you.  The Lord turn His  face toward you. And give you peace. 

Amen, Amen, Amen, (we sing, we sing)  Amen, Amen, Amen.

May His favor be upon you. And a thousand generations.And your family and your children.And their children, and their children. May his favor be upon you. And a thousand generations, and your family and their children, and their children, and their children.

May his presence go before you. And behind you, and beside you.  All around you, and within you .  He is with you, He is with you.

In the morning , in the evening.  In your coming, in your going. In your weeping and rejoicing.  He is for you, He is for you. He is for you. He is for you.He is for you, He is for you. He is for you.( I know, I know.) 

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.

May his presence go before you. And behind you, and beside you.. All around and within you.  He is with you.  He is with you.  In the morning, in the evening.  In your coming and your going. In your weeping and your rejoicing.  HE IS FOR YOU! 

Song by Cody Carnes, Elevation Worship and Kari Jobe. 

For Kent, there is no more weeping.  He has Found Joy!  His Sunsets  are met with great Sunrises! 

Amen! 

 Ps.  I will post on FB when I share from time to time updates. 

Leah and (Heavenly Hugs from Kent.)

Lydia

Eli Lake

A Beautiful and Freezing Engagment

Christmas Break 2025

I need to back up a bit to Thanksgiving Break. This is the week I start writing my Christmas card letter. Many of you know our family sends out a mass number of Christmas cards. My dad, being a minister, has given us great joy in staying in contact with many friends and members of our congregations over the past years. In Kent's absence, Eli and Lydia stepped up to help me this year…

Which now leads me to share the rest of the story… Eli had been thinking about the right time to ask me if he could marry Lydia. Lydia had been with us all evening printing my letter but needed to leave, and Eli said he would help make sure things would run smoothly printing the rest of the letter. (If you know me at all, I know nothing about being techy!) It did not seem out of the ordinary that I would need help, so no suspicion was detected. Phew! Eli had planned on coming to my house in a few days to “talk” to me, but took the rare opportunity to ask me when Lydia left. I, of course, said, “Yes!”

Fast forward now to December 19, 2025.

My first day of Christmas Break. The day started as normal but would end nothing like normal. The snow and wind swirled to begin our day. Lydia and I had scheduled haircuts. The roads were a bit dicey, so Eli drove us. Lydia got her haircut first, and then it was my turn. While I was getting my haircut, Lydia and Eli drove a block down the road and grabbed a Bible they would like to use together. They returned to pick me up, and we were on our way home. Now on to the not-so-normal part of our day.

Lydia and Eli were scheduled to meet up with friends for dinner in Holland that evening (an arranged dinner by Lydia, but quickly changed by Eli). The first stop was Camp Geneva. Eli, you see, had a legitimate email asking him to send a letter to a camper, and they needed to pick up a postcard to send the camper’s way. Then they could head to dinner. They arrived at Camp Geneva. It was freezing, but Eli was persistent and wanted to see the water! They began walking toward the chapel near the water, and the chapel entrance was made beautiful, and Lydia’s life was about to change! Eli had planned the perfect engagement. He had called a family friend of ours (who happens to be an amazing photographer and “set designer”) to capture the special, “down on one knee” moment!

Eli’s plan for an amazing and beautiful engagement happened at a place they both love, the place they met for the first time, and the very place they will say, “I do!” Camp Geneva! After the special moment, they took pictures and then went to Macatawa Legends for a special dinner. It will again be their reception dinner setting.

Eli, along with his mom’s amazing help, planned a beautiful engagement celebration at our home. It was simple but beautiful and just what Lydia asked for. Eli and his family, myself, and all the grandmas! The following day, they would then celebrate with all of their friends at our family cottage. Lydia thought it was just right and not overwhelming.

December 26th began the search for just the right dress! We were all excited for her. I could tell she was feeling overwhelmed. I told her to enjoy the day and that we would take it one step at a time. Lydia, along with Eli’s mom, myself, and the three grandmas, headed out toward Lansing. Becker’s Bridal Outlet was the destination! She tried on several dresses multiple times and landed on just the right dress! She said, “Yes!” and she will be the most beautiful bride I will have the honor of walking down the aisle!

December 29th was the dress fitting day. Yet another snowstorm came our way. We wondered if we should call our family friend and change to another day, but with Lydia’s busy, nonstop schedule, we decided to keep it and “skate” to our seamstress’ house. Lydia put on the dress again, and immediately I saw her smile with excitement! She was beautiful! I am so very thankful to our friend for her careful attention to detail and for taking the time to meticulously work and show her talent in making the alterations to Lydia’s dress.

Lydia and Eli’s Christmas break has been spent taking advantage of the time off and thinking through all the details that go along with wedding planning. So many details to think over. Some of the next steps will be sharing plans with those who will be participating in their special day.

Lydia has a week off yet, and Eli begins his internship on Tuesday. Together, before they return, they find themselves at Camp Geneva once again for a winter camp session. You really cannot take them away from this beautiful place! Their final time as counselors. A small reunion day with staff will end their weekend together. Then they will together end their Camp Geneva stint as staff members.

As I close this, I reflect on Eli and Lydia’s special day and all we will celebrate in May. I also want to recognize several people who have impacted these two lives who will not be in attendance, great-grandparents, grandparents, and Lydia’s dad. All of them loving them both and leading by example in their faith, paving a path and giving them a Christian foundation to start their marriage on.

Our families are beyond excited as we anticipate this special day!

A note from me…

This January 5th marks the 11th month without Kent. I will be sharing one more post on this blog as we get close to the one-year mark. I then will come and share from time to time about wonderful things that come up. It has been a privilege to have you all walk along with Lydia, Kent, and I on this journey. I could not do any of this without you all!

Much love,

Leah, and heavenly hugs from Kent!

Lydia and Eli too!