Lindsay's 35th Birthday!

Today, Lindsay would have turned 35. It strikes me that so much time has passed, as she was only 22 (less than a month shy of her 23rd birthday) when she died. 35 seems so much older, and I realize again just how young she was when she entered into heaven.

From what I've learned about Lindsay, she was very sweet and genuine. I only met her once so I didn't know her personally but she was soft-spoken and kind. She and Jason looked so happy together and I was so excited for them both! (I met her at their dual wedding shower in May of 2004, 3 months before they died.) I love that God brought them together! Jason, who never thought he'd meet a woman with the same faith and the same adventuresome spirit that he had, was so grateful to God for her! They both were so looking forward to getting married! They had big dreams for their lives together. No one could have seen this coming. No one knew that someone would abruptly and permanently end those dreams. It is still so hard for me to grasp how someone could do that and still sleep at night.

It brings great relief that we know where Lindsay and Jason are. They lived with their hearts toward heaven! They saw God in His Creation and genuinely lived to serve Him. In Lindsay's last recorded words in the journal on that beach, she wrote of seeing God's presence:

"The sun is going down on the horizon, and all I see is the beams shining on the cliff face, and I know that God is awesome. I look around and see His Creation all around me."

She got it. She saw Him in her surroundings and loved Him with her whole heart! And within hours, she met Him face-to-face with her beloved Jason by her side.

More evidence of her faith in Jesus was written in journals her family found after her passing:

"I greatly desire to have many crowns to give my God when I get to heaven. Nothing on earth matters in light of eternity. It is so easy to get caught up in the things of the world and forget what really matters. How amazing that we have forever to spend with Christ. The more we worship and spend our lives for Christ on earth the better we can serve Him in heaven. I sometimes think of myself as a pilgrim in a foreign land traveling through life. We are here temporarily. I should be less materialistic and give more to God. Don’t waste time."

♥ ♥ ♥

"Heaven will be a wonderful place of no suffering, hurt, loneliness; it’s a great thing to look forward to."

I find it greatly comforting to know where she & Jason are. Jesus is the only reason for this comfort and this peace! He gives us hope and reassurance because we know that Lindsay & Jason were saved and that they are safe with Him! And I find it especially comforting that little Caleb is with them also. That precious little boy who only lived here for such a short time now is having grand adventures with his aunt & uncle in the paradise of heaven and I am so excited to be able to join in on that someday. We all are!

Please pray for Lindsay's family and loved ones today as they commemorate another birthday without her here. I know they miss her terribly. ♥

♥ Happy Birthday Lindsay! You are well-loved and will never be forgotten! ♥