This past Thursday, November 30 was the 2 year 6 month
Heaven anniversary for Lori who passed on May 31, 2015.
God has been so faithful and gracious since we got the news
back in October 2012 that Lori was in the battle of her life. I continue to give thanks for the time we had
together as a family and the way she fought the fight, giving glory to God in
all things. I am thankful for the healing that God has been doing and continues
to do in my life and Brandi’s life. I am
thankful for all that God has shown me in the past 2.5 years through nature,
through worship, through people, through His word and in that my calling to
love God and love people is more rooted now than ever before. I am called to live out God’s plan and will
in my life as I seek Him in all things and to be courageous and strong for He
is with me always (Joshua 1:9 Lori’s favorite scripture)
Here is a recap of some of the memories that God has blessed
me and many others with in the last week;
Saturday - 12/2/17
Honoring Lori’s legacy by putting up our Christmas tree with
all of her favorite angel ornaments that she accumulated, either as gifts or
she found in different stores with different stories behind them.
Lori loved doing Christmas..more than just the gift giving
and receiving, she loved it because on December 17, 1989, almost 28 years ago
this month, God blessed her and I with the best gift ever, Brandi. It was the best gift any person could get a
few days before we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, over 2000+ years ago
and get to celebrate every year.
Christmas was special time for us as a family…so as part of
honoring her legacy, we decorate the Christmas tree (fake one as Lori was
allergic to the real deal..lol) with all of her favorite angel ornaments.
Saturday 11/25/17
After postponing the spreading of the remaining ashes that
was in Lori’s urn back in May, it was time to complete Lori’s final
request. We already spread some of her
ashes in Kauai – at Lydate Big Pond and at her
sister’s Vanessa baby grave. We also spread some of her ashes in Israel at the Sea of
Galilee . But the remaining
ashes she left it up to me where to spread it.
She did not want to have it buried in the ground or in a cemetery
columbarium. She specifically wanted me
to place it where a memory was made that she enjoyed and was memorable for us
as a family.
The summer before Lori got the diagnosis (summer 2012), we
had a paddleboard date with the Heens, Kris Igawa and us. We went to Maunalua Bay
So based on that memory, that’s where we decided to spread
her ashes and doing it Thanksgiving weekend 2017 seemed very time appropriate. We have had so much to be thankful for. We had a co-worker who offered his own
fishing boat and we found a service (H20 Water Sports) that allows families to
spread ashes from their commercial tour boat for free (all you do is tip the
boat captain). About 24 family and
friends showed up and the day was perfect.
It was supposed to be high winds, big surf and raining that day, as it
was the whole week. We showed up to a
beautiful day and God blessed us with the most unbelievable full rainbow as we
headed out and was present as we came back in.
The water was pristine and amazing. It was not rough and it was so warm
considering it was a bit cold out at 8am in the morning. There was no boat traffic and it was so
peaceful. Douggie (Lori’s brother), Kaui
(a great family friend) and I jumped in the water to empty the ashes that we
had in a plastic bag. The tour boat was
along side us and it was very God amazing…thank You Lord for allowing us to
complete this legacy moment.
As we remember the life of Lori and her legacy and put to
rest her ashes, we are confident of the joy and glory that she has been
experiencing the past 2.5 years in the presence of God and Jesus. She has been praying for us all as we navigate
out living out life to God’s fullest calling in each of our lives. She has been interceding for those that still
are working out the lost of a wonderful woman of God.
God had a plan in all of this and still has a plan for me,
for Brandi, for each of you that knew her…His promise for us is good as we draw
close to Him and seek His will and desires in our lives.
Lord, thank You for the continued blessing, future and
promise that you have for me, for Brandi, for Lori’s family and friends. May we always remember Lori’s love and care
that she had for all of us. May we
always be reminded of her big smile, her gentle word and her love of You. May we also look to the future of what You
have in store for our lives as we live out the legacy she left behind…she loved
God and she loved all of us.
Lord, thank You for all that you have done, are doing and
will continue to do in our lives. To you
be the glory!! Amen!!
Lori, love you..always in my heart, always in my
memories.
