Twenty years!

Jason & Lindsay ice skating in Michigan. ♥

Twenty years. It has been 20 long (yet short) years since the day that changed everything. I think about the fun day that Jason and Lindsay had just experienced... driving to San Francisco and exploring the city (a first for Lindsay). They stopped to take pictures at various places... touristy things that most everyone does. They were having a great time on their last weekend together in California. Lindsay was going to fly home earlier than Jason to get things ready for their upcoming wedding. In no way did they ever expect that they would die that night. I am glad they enjoyed that evening marveling at God's creation in the beautiful sunset they experienced. (We know this because they wrote about it in the journal that was left for visitors to sign, in a driftwood structure on that beach/cove.) Then they fell asleep under the stars in their individual sleeping bags, probably so excited to spend this time together and think about their wedding that was fast approaching.

I will never understand what happened next. It still breaks my heart. Jason and Lindsay were robbed of their lives and their future and their families were robbed of their precious kids, siblings, etc. It is unfathomable. I understand that God allowed it to happen, but He did not cause it. This tragedy was caused by a very disturbed individual, filled with evil, who made a terrible decision that night. But in God's perfect grace and mercy, He took this tragedy and turned it into victory. Not only did Jason and Lindsay enter into glory, but their story has been a powerful testimony that has changed lives for eternity and glorified Jesus in the process. I feel so blessed to have known Jason. My memories of him are absolutely precious to me, and his family are so dear to my heart. I think it's inevitable that something like this changes your perspective on life forever. God gives you eyes to see that this life is fragile and a vapor in the expanse of eternity. Our true home is in heaven and we will be there someday... maybe sooner than we realize... but there is nothing to fear. It is truly our gain!

From the apostle Paul: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." ~Philippians 1:21

Here are some things about heaven that we do know, from passages in the Bible. These are amazing!

Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The apostle John was privileged to see and report on the heavenly city (Revelation 21:10-27). John witnessed that heaven (the new earth) possesses the "glory of God" (Revelation 21:11), the very presence of God. Because heaven has no night and the Lord Himself is the light, the sun and moon are no longer needed (Revelation 22:5).

The city is filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal clear jasper. Heaven has twelve gates (Revelation 21:12) and twelve foundations (Revelation 21:14). The paradise of the Garden of Eden is restored: the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of life is available once again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that "heal the nations" (Revelation 22:1-2). However eloquent John was in his description of heaven, the reality of heaven is beyond the ability of finite man to describe (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Heaven is a place of "no mores." There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4). There will be no more separation, because death will be conquered (Revelation 20:6). The best thing about heaven is the presence of our Lord and Savior (1 John 3:2). We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and sacrificed Himself so that we can enjoy His presence in heaven for eternity.

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/heaven-like.html

It is a great joy and comfort to know that Jason and Lindsay are there and someday we will all see them again. The pain of this tragedy will be gone forever.

To everyone who reads this blog, thank you for your continued interest in Jason and Lindsay's story! I am amazed at how many people still find this blog and read it. I hope their story has touched your hearts in a powerful way... because it's so much bigger than what happened to two people that you see or read about in a TV show or news article. This is a story about God's grace and about a beautiful legacy of faith that Jason and Lindsay left behind. I pray God's blessing over you!

I thank God for what He has done to bring beauty from the ashes these past 20 years. Now we can look back and reflect upon our memories with joy instead of pain. What a gift we have in Jesus! ♥

Below is a beautiful tribute from Jason's mom:

This August 15, 2024 is the 20th anniversary of the homegoing of our beloved Jason and Lindsay. It just does not seem possible that twenty years have passed. That seems such a long time ago, and yet, to be honest, it has passed more quickly than we could ever have imagined.

We had to learn to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts and patch them back together again. It took months, and even years, to heal from the pain of our sudden loss and to find joy in everyday living again. We were never in despair nor did we lose our joy in the Lord, but we grieved. We speak the truth when we say, "It was only by the GRACE of God and the through the HOPE we find in Jesus Christ that we were able to do so."

God was faithful to us in that He showed us purpose in the tragedy that took place. Did we understand everything? No, but we trusted God. Someday, we will understand everything perfectly, and we will rejoice with Jason and Lindsay in how God used them to further His kingdom.

Bob and Delores Allen