Two years and a bit ago, I lost one of my best friends and spiritual mentors. My Auntie Carol was the most Godly woman I have ever met. Full of compassion and grace, she made me want to love God more. She died from a fast growing brain tumor.

I don't think about her death too much, just her life and the impact she had. But today, as I was driving home from a visit with Grandma, with Bob & Larry singing about peanut butter pizzas with anchovies in the back ground, I started to think about the last days leading up to her death. I remembered some of the feelings I had and the questions and the hurt. And as a few tears started brimming around my eyes my now 2 year old, yelled, "HORRAY" and swished his "windshield wipers" and giggled hystarically.

I was pregnant with this little man when I said good bye to Carol for the last time here on earth, and today I was so blessed by my sons life all the while being saddened for the loss of another. But, as I think back on these two totally opposite events I feel so much joy in how God has planned 'life'. One day I will die, and from that day on, I will not know the sting of death or pain or sin. I will dance for joy and glory in my God for eternity. And to think of such things, makes me not so sad that Carol's gone, but more hopeful for the future that we will have together in the Kingdom.