Heavy Heart

I still just don't believe it but today put it a little more into reality. On Sunday, we received the shocking news that my cousin Sam suddenly passed away. At 47 years old, he was way too young to head home. With the strong faith that I have, I know that everyone has a purpose. And his was obviously completed already if he was taken home, but...it's still hard to see the reasoning in that plan right now. Later on, I'm sure it will become apparent but for now, we comfort each other to deal with the emptiness this loss has left in our extended family. Today was visitation and tomorrow is his funeral. Please add a prayer for Sam's wife, children, mother, siblings, and extended family tonight to help them find their own way to remember him as he would want to be remembered.

I do have to say that Sam left behind many many ways to remember him. He was such a fun loving, hard working, helpful man that I think you'd struggle to find even 1 person who he couldn't get along with. As I looked through all of the old photos and read all the stories at his visitation today, I couldn't help but smile. If you needed your driveway plowed, Sam was there. If you needed a tree cut up after a storm, Sam was there. If you needed a haircut, Sam was there. Yep...even a haircut. Recently I decided to take a good chunk of length off my mane. Sam was getting his haircut before mine at his sister Sherrie's shop. We chatted a while, joked back and forth about life. When it was my turn, Sam asked Sherrie if he could take the first snip. With his usual big grin on his face, he proceeded to chop off a good portion of my hair. He thought it was pretty funny that he could go tell Grandma that he cut my hair. When I talked to my mom later, I told her that Sherrie was pretty busy that night so Sam cut my hair instead. She looked at me like I was crazy. It was pretty funny at the time, but I didn't know it would be my last memory of him and the last time I would see him. Although I am glad that we all left with smiles on our faces, as everyone usually did then they parted ways with Sam.

As the saying goes - "A moment in our lives, forever in our hearts" Rest in peace Sam!