When we were kids, we did NOT get along. As in, every couple years when we actually saw each other (we lived in very different parts of the country), we got in crazy fights. Bawling your eyes out cause you're so mad kind of fights.
Fast forward to our teenage years. We now lived only a few hours away from each other, but still didn't see each other much. For spring break of 2002, my aunt invited Meg and I to come to Saint George with her and her two youngest kids. We went, and I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous to spend several days with Cade.
I shouldn't have worried.
On the way down, we each took turns choosing music to listen to. Cade was the only boy and he put up with a lot of girly music on that trip. He was such a good sport though, and I particularly remember him doing an interpretive dance to Tim McGraw's song, "My Best Friend." It was awesome.
That weekend was great fun. Someone in the group may or may not have peed their pants at some point during the weekend. I won't disclose who, but if you know my family, you can probably make an educated guess at who it was. We stopped at just about every quarter machine we saw and bought trinkets. We ended up with several dozen dice, I believe, and made up some silly games to play with them. We had a great time together, and it's a weekend I'll always remember.
A week ago, I lost my cousin to brain cancer.
We have known for a while that his time on earth was coming to a close, but that doesn't make the situation any easier. As soon as I heard he had left us, my thoughts turned immediately to his wife. She is one year older than me. She has a baby 2 months older than Lexsi. Quite frankly, I don't know her very well. Because we're in similar times of our lives, however, I really really feel for her.
My thoughts turned to my aunt next. My sweet Aunt Treebee who I've always adored. You should never have to bury one of your children. It's just not fair.
I've been thinking about Cade a lot this past week as well. I'm grateful that I have a knowledge of what happens to us after we die.
I know Cade's body is whole again.
I know he is happy.
I know he is sealed to Aly and Luke for eternity, as well as the rest of his family.
I know that Heavenly Father allows hard things to happen in our lives for our good.
I know that He makes us equal to the challenges He gives us.
I know that Christ came to Earth and performed the Atonement for each of us. He knows precisely what Aly and Treebee and everyone else who loves Cade is feeling, because He already felt it.
I know that in the end, everything will be okay. It isn't right now. But it will be.
I know that we're all going to be reunited one day, and it's going to be beautiful.
Until then, I'm going to snuggle my baby a little more, be more grateful for my husband, and do my best to make the most of every moment I have with the people that I love.
"As a child of God, I've learned this truth: a family is forever."
How do you REMEMBER that stuff?!?!?! But I have to say, as I read this post, there were literally tears running down my face. Beautifully stated, Ash. Well done.
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