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