A Little Too Close To Home

I have debated about posting this or not posting this, and then about how to post this. I want to post about this experience mostly because it has been eye opening and attitude changing, and mostly something that has made me want to do better and be better. I want to remember this when I start to not do better and be better. So here it goes. Tyrell has a friend he met in high school and continued to be friends with in his first year of college. It just so happens that she ended up in the same ward as my grandparents, and lives in the same town as quite a bit of my family. We lived there for a short time as well, and have kept in contact with her over the years through encounters in the store, facebook, etc. The day before Valentine's day her husband (who is the same age as Tyrell) passed away from cancer. They have children in the same age groups as ours. They were married the same summer as us. To put it lightly this really hit too close to home. We traveled to the funeral, and heard some really great remarks about him, and about life, and the after life. I have to say that we didn't know him all that well, and we went more to support his wife. From what I heard he was a great guy with so many great qualities. He had lived the kind of life that would get him places in heaven. I can only hope that when I die those kinds of things are said about me. It really made me want to try to be better. So I am putting this here so that I can remind myself when times get hard.
It also made me thankful to be LDS and to know that when we die we aren't just gone. One of the speakers said something that really struck me and will likely stick with me. It's hard to forget. He said that those that have died aren't gone, they are right here, this is where they are just in a different way. He hasn't left his wife and children, he is just going to be there for them in a different way. I thought that this was really beautiful and so true! I hope I don't ever have to feel Tyrell's presence in this way, but it is comforting to know that those that have passed are not gone.
This ordeal also got us both talking about things we hadn't ever discussed or well, really wanted to discuss. Things like who would are kids live with if we both died, where do you want to be burried, we should get a will, and is our life insurance enough.
My heart breaks for her and her children, and I can't even imagine how hard it must be. At the end of the day, I have so much to be thankful for, and so many reasons to rejoice! It doesn't matter if my house is messy, the laundry is piled up, my kids didn't get a bath, the dishes are still in the sink, and the list goes on, at least I can tell my kids I love them and give their daddy a great big hug and kiss and tell him how thankful I am that he is alive and well.
It put a lot of things in perspective for sure!