Safe at Home

If you're reading this, then I'm looking over your shoulder and you should really close some of those tabs. Not really, I'm far too busy telling Jesus stories about my incredible kids to bother with you. Oh, and Bob Gibson showed up a little while after I got here. I'm still trying to snag an autograph. And they must have re-paved, the streets are more of a rose-gold.

10 weeks after Poppa/Dad/Daddo/Tim got home from his last hospital visit, he took his last breaths the way he wanted, surrounded by his family early morning on October 2. We had a lot of time we didn't expect together this summer, even more than we thought when he was diagnosed last spring, but far less than we all hoped for, if we're being honest. As much as we tried, and we're so grateful for the time we had, you just can't fit all the things you were wanting to do together into such short time. Hospice is a brutal gift - time at home to sort through necessary paperwork and accounts, to continue meaningful conversations and make more memories, and to care for someone as their body slows and their heart is called home. We made the most of every moment, and if there's an upside to this pandemic that keeps us socially apart, being able to work from home meant Mollie and Annie and Luke and our partners were able to be present together with Mom and Dad through this time. And he and Mom got to celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary together.

I'm not sure how you succinctly put someone's life into a few words in a blog post, but if you were lucky enough to know Tim, you know the imprint he left in the world. He loved his family fiercely, he loved Jesus and kept learning and growing with Him, he built a beautiful home which he loved welcoming friends to (with a great bottle of wine), and he leaves a legacy of kindness, generosity, intentionality and a healthy of dose of irreverence. We already miss him with the kind of deep ache that you aren't sure has a end, but we believe we'll see him again, and the love we shared isn't going anywhere.

At one point when the Cardinals were stuck in a hotel and games were delayed for weeks with COVID, he thought he'd outlast the season. Since he died the morning they lost the wild card playoff, we'll call it a tie. 

We have been so well taken care of by friends of all of us over these past 10 weeks, and years, truly, and we're so thankful to you all for food, and assistance with the yard, and for all of your prayers. Thank you for being on this journey with him, and continuing to be with us. 

We are holding a socially-distanced, masks-required service at Hope Church, 3000 Lenhart Rd, Springfield on Tim's birthday, October 19th, at 4:00pm. Visitation starts at 3:00 as you enter the building. Hope has rows marked off, and if necessary, we'll open up overflow space to keep safe distance. We want to celebrate his life with you, safely. Remember, no one fights alone.