My Dear Uncle Ray

…I have had these pictures ready to post for some time. To be truly honest the reason that I hadn't posted them yet was because I didn't know what to say. As I sit and type this entry to our family blog, I have a lump in my throat because of the emotions that stir inside.

There is not a time in my life I can remember my Uncle Ray not being there. He was always there! From the moment that all of us kids were born, he was there. He was there when I dressed up as a clown for halloween, he was there when the Easter bunny brought us a BIG surprise, he was there when I sang and danced all those years, he was there when I walked down the aisle, and he has been there significantly in the past couple years of my life. He has ALWAYS been there. To think of him being gone is hard. I would love to have one more day with him!

The fact of the matter is, Uncle Ray's life here on earth ended on July 3rd. After a LONG battle with diabetes, his body was done fighting. I will never forget the moment that I walked into his hospital room to see him hooked up to so many machines fighting for his life. Melissa, Mary Anne, Chad, and I all spent some of the last moments of his life at his bedside. We spent that time crying, reminiscing, praying and reading God's promises to Him as he struggled to stay alive. It was a powerful time and a time ordained by God. Only a God so powerful and mighty could have allowed for us all to be there at the same time to say goodbye. Only a God so omnipotent could have graciously given us those last moments to be with him! I am so thankful for that time! We don't know for sure if in those last hours our Uncle Ray surrendered himself to our Lord but I pray with everything in me that he did and that I will one day see him again!

God, thank you for being a GOOD God! Thank you for allowing my family to be a part of such a special man's life!

Uncle Ray, I miss you so much already! There are so many things in life that remind me of you. Like I told Chad, we will get through this one day at a time! I love you with all my heart and pray that you are sitting at Jesus feet wrapped in HIS loving arms!