Twelve years...

It's been 12 years now since Jason & Lindsay died. Twelve long years but also short years... since in many ways it seems like forever ago, but yet these years have flown by!

I've been thinking lately about my upcoming birthday. I will be 39 this week and I'm not so sure I like that I'm already rapidly approaching the last year of my thirties. But then I have to remind myself of a quote that I heard several years ago that I will never forget:

"Never regret growing older, for it's a privilege denied to many."

Wow, that is powerful! And it brings tears to my eyes because I always think of Jason & Lindsay when I am reminded of that. They were denied the privilege of a long life. They were denied their plans to get married. They were denied their dreams for their future. They were denied the possibility of having children. They were denied the chance to grow old together. In a matter of moments, someone robbed them of ALL of that. That is unimaginable to me! Still, after all these years! My funny friend & neighbor I grew up with who was so full of life and adventure was robbed of a life past the age of 26, and his beloved Lindsay, the age of 22. I still wish every day that God would have stopped that from happening. But for some reason, He allowed it. God didn't cause it to happen, but He didn't stop it. I have learned that God views death differently than we do. For those who have chosen to follow Him and have accepted the gift of Salvation, death on earth is the beginning of eternal life in heaven! So as painful as it is to have lost Jason & Lindsay at such young ages, we have the peace of knowing that they are in the best place possible and they are forever safe. There is much to be grateful for, despite the enormous loss of losing them here. God has brought sweetness in the form of souls saved for eternity and a new perspective on life itself... both here on earth and in heaven. I will never think of life & death the same way.

With that said, I desperately pray for justice for Jason & Lindsay! Even though we have the peace of knowing that they're safe in heaven with Jesus, the truth remains that there is a KILLER out there who has not been held responsible for his actions. For 12 years, he has been allowed to live as if nothing ever happened. The hardest part is knowing that there are likely people out there who have the answers... who know exactly who did it. I hope that they will find it in their hearts to come forward. Put yourself in the shoes of Jason & Lindsay's parents & siblings. They suffered a monumental loss and they STILL have no answers! Nothing has ever been or will be the same. There is always a hole at every family get-together where Jason & Lindsay should be. Every holiday, every celebration... they are NOT there because of their killer who has STILL not been held responsible. I'm tired of waiting. I am so, so sad that their families have no answers. The sweetest people in the world are still waiting for justice for the unimaginable crime that took their kids from them. If you know who did this, PLEASE COME FORWARD. Give yourself the peace of mind in knowing that you're doing the right thing. I pray for you to have the courage to do it.

In conclusion, I want to share some photos of the sweet couple we are remembering today. They were genuine, kind-hearted, funny, adventurous, full of life, full of love, and lived to serve the Lord. They were remarkable in every sense of the word! I am so blessed to have shared my childhood with Jason and to still know his family. I also consider it a blessing to be connected with Lindsay's family who are just as genuine. These are all amazing people who are joined by an unthinkable loss and an unwavering faith in Jesus.

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
~1 Corinthians 15:54-58

♥ Never Forgotten ♥