The passing of a true friend...

I learned last night, that our family lost a dear friend. Herb was an older man in our church when I was a kid. He was a truck driver, so he was often out on the road. Yet, when he was present, everyone knew it. He was ALWAYS smiling, and had a way of making sure everyone else was around him too.
In the most recent two years... I ran into him at the Christmas Eve church service at the church near my house. I didn't even know that he and his wife attended there. A co-worker at work had invited me and others to the service that night. I had the privledge of sitting next to him and his wife Dickie, throughout that Christmas Eve service. I was so happy that I had gotten to seen him. It truely was a gift that year.
I often ran into him, here and there. At walmart, or out to eat, etc. He even stopped by Michaels one day, about 6 months ago. While he was there, he made sure to track me down; just to see how I was and give me that BIG arm squeeze hug of his. I could never NOT be happy after seeing him. I would smile throughout the day, just thinking of his caring way. That's the kind of guy he was.

I understand that he had some sort of stroke, that effected his spine; and was in for surgery this past week. His body just didn't go through well enough, and we lost him. God must have found it time for him to go :(

Life here will never be the same, yet I hope he found true happiness where ever he has gone!

I often struggle with my beliefs, what I think will happen after death. I just hope that someday I will again stand in the presense of this great man's spirit.

I will think of you often Herb!