Wife and A Life at 30 (+)!: Simple Man...

Again, I am still catching up. A co-worker of mine showed me all the cool changes you can make to your blog, lets just say you could spend hours on here. Oh-well it is one of my New Years resolutions (I didn't make many), to keep up-to-date with blogging our life. I really can't remember anything, blame it on night shift, or that I am 30, or early Alzheimer's, either way I want to remember my/our life. So I guess I left off right around Christmas, as I said Andy's parents came out and we had a great time all things consider. On December 24, I remember getting ready to have some lunch, I looked at my phone and I have a missed call from my dad and a text that says "Call me ASAP." I call him and the first thing he says is "I have some really bad news," not the phone call you want to get ever. He then proceeded to tell me that my cousin Justin was in a car accident near St. Cloud, MN and did not survive. I was suppose to work this night (Christmas Eve) and let me just say how thankful I am for the amazing department I work for and the wonderful co-workers I have (they gave me the night off without question). I knew I would be making the trip back to Minnesota for the funeral, I had too. The last memory I have of Justin is my wedding. He made it and he put in every bit of effort to get there. He didn't make the wedding ceremony (he got lost, stuck in traffic, all the above), I remember thinking "typical" (in a good way, isn't it always something). Then I remember getting to the boat, and someone saying "Justin is almost here." Well, we couldn't wait, so we left. Then the next thing I know Justin is on the boat, How? Well the boat ran out of liquor (I know shocking) and we had to stop for a restock, a little boat joined up to our boat with liquor and with Justin and his buddy! He put in great effort to be at our Wedding, I knew I would give back the same effort, Unfortunately under much different circumstances!
I rode home to Fargo with Andy's parents, thanks to my sister for picking me up. I am really glad I made that decision to go home and be with my family and say good-bye. All-in-all, it was a great service for Justin. Lots of people attend the wake, and the funeral was good. We learn to celebrate someones life even in the hardest of circumstances. I know this is what Justin would of wanted. He lived a simple life, and was a simple man, just like the song which was played at his funeral. Oh and his best friend Brent gave the best speech ever (Justin was Brent's best man). Yes Justin, you are now forever "riding shot-gun." Justin was just 29 years old, he had just celebrated his birthday on December 14. He had bought a house, had a fiance, went back to school, found a new interest and built a relationship with his son Dominick who is 11 years old, and due on January 21, 2012 we will welcome his daughter "Justina" into this world.
It's unfortunate events like this that make you take a step back in life and appreciate the simple things. You re-evaluate what is important. You take that extra moment to say "I love you," and maybe what you thought was a priority no longer is. Take the time to say "I love you," and don't lose sight of what is important in life. Life is too short!

Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy - unknown