Lindsay's 42nd Birthday

Lindsay near Donner Lake, Summer 2004

Today, Lindsay would have turned 42 years old. She was only 22 when she passed away, just a few short weeks before her 23rd birthday. How on earth are these years flying by so quickly? Every year is another year closer to heaven and I'm okay with that. Actually, every day, every hour, every minute and every breath is another closer to heaven. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I have to remind myself of this every year on my birthday: "Never regret growing older, for it's a privilege denied to many."

Lindsay sure lived a lot in her short 22 years on earth! She touched the hearts of so many people. Her faith was radiant and unwavering. Her love and devotion to Jesus was evident. She took in the beauty of nature and sincerely praised God for His Creation. She loved Jason so much and looked forward to their upcoming wedding and the many years of marriage they hoped to have. I don't know why God allowed her and Jason to be taken at so young an age, and before their wedding, but I do know that God is GOOD. I have seen firsthand how He has brought beauty from the ashes. I see how Lindsay's simple but powerful faith and genuine character has set an example of how a woman of faith should live. I look at the chaos and busyness all around me these days and thinking of Lindsay reminds me of a quiet life that's lacking in materialism but strong in intentionality in obedience to Jesus and storing up for herself treasures in heaven.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
~Matthew 6:19-21

I praise God for the great example of a genuine woman of faith that Lindsay was for others! In her death, her gentle and humble nature and her complete devotion to serving the Lord became her legacy! She set an amazing example for all of us and I am so grateful that God has not let her death be in vain. To God be the glory!!!

♥ Happy 42nd Birthday Lindsay! ♥

Nineteen years...

Jason & Lindsay on their last day before heaven. ♥

Today marks 19 years since Jason and Lindsay went home to be with Jesus.

When I think of Jason and Lindsay, I remember their humble nature, their love for Christ, and their love for others (family, friends, etc.).

They were not materialistic.
They were honest.
They were genuine.
They were kind-hearted.
They were funny.
They truly loved Jesus.
They had servant's hearts.
They were a blessing to everyone who knew them.
They were truly good people, and
They are dearly missed.

When their story appeared in headlines, they were referred to as many things: a midwestern couple, a young couple, two young Bible-camp counselors, victims of the Jenner slaying, an engaged couple, etc., but they were so much more than that. They were such a big part of their family's lives and loved by so many people. They were real. They were a part of our life stories.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has life experiences, both good and bad, that have shaped who they are. Everyone's story is unique. For those who have found Christ and follow Him, their "testimony" is their story of faith and how God has transformed their lives.

One of the things I love most about God is His ability to use even our mistakes for His glory. You might think you're too far gone to be used for God's glory but you are not! Your personal experiences, both good and bad, make you uniquely equipped to help others. God can help you find purpose for your pain and give you true healing. Your life story, all of it, can be your legacy of faith if you invite Christ to be a part of it.

Jason and Lindsay each had beautiful testimonies. Both grew up with amazing families who taught them about Jesus and raised them to love the Lord. They both embraced faith in Christ and their faith was radiant. They were very humble and unique in the sense that they gave up their material possessions so they could pursue a life of serving Jesus. As hard as it is to understand, I believe God allowed them to die when and how they did because He knew their story would be a powerful one that would resonate with many lost souls. Nineteen years ago, a disturbed young man with evil intentions sought to kill innocent people, but God did not allow that darkness to be the story. Jason and Lindsay's faith became the story/legacy and God continues to get the glory. That is exactly what Jason and Lindsay would want and more than they could have ever imagined.

What is your story? When you look back, do you see a purpose for the good and the bad? If you look back and only see pain, I pray that you will ask God to redeem it and restore your broken heart. If you look back and you see a relatively easy life, I pray that you will ask God to give you a perspective that only He can give you. I pray that everyone turns to God to ask Him how He can help you find how you are uniquely equipped to serve Him based upon your own personal experiences. We are all here for a reason. God created us with a purpose. Every single one of us. Never forget that! And how we live will ultimately be our legacy... one that I pray will glorify God.

Jason and Lindsay, we know you are more alive now than you ever were before, in the presence of Christ and in a place more incredible than our finite human minds can even begin to imagine. It's amazing to think that heaven is just a breath away. I am so grateful to you both for your humility and authenticity and the way you lived for Jesus! If only you could see how your story has brought so many people to faith in Christ. Maybe you already know. You are both dearly missed. We laugh thinking about the good times and cry thinking about the pain of losing you. But we all know that we will see you again and that is a priceless gift. To God be the glory, always!

Here is a beautiful message from Jason's mom:

Beloved Friends,

Many years ago, I read Billy Graham's book, "Angels." Near the conclusion of the book, he wrote the chapter entitled, "The Angels and Death." It left a lasting impression on me that there is beauty and majesty in the death of a saint.

Graham states, "Death for the Christian cuts the cord that hold us captive in this present evil world, so that angels may transport believers to their heavenly inheritance. Death is the fiery chariot, the gentle voice of the king, the invitation to non-stop passage into the banquet house of the world of glory."

Jason and Lindsay were certainly surrounded by evil on the beach that early morning of August 15, 2004. Evil had stalked them the previous evening. And then God, in His magnificent love, power and glory announced, "You two beautiful children are mine! I have come to take you Home." He cut the cord and took them to glory. This was the VICTORY IN CHRIST for Jason and Lindsay! We miss you both, Jason and Lindsay, but we will soon be with you when God's angels take us home to be with you.

Jason's 45th Birthday!

Jason's 26th Birthday
(The same birthday his mom references below.)

Today is Jason's 45th Birthday! It also marks his 19th birthday since he entered into heaven.

I still think it is remarkable how much Jason did in his 26 years and 3 months of life here. He understood early on how important it is to live for Christ now, and not wait until later. None of us know how much time we have to live. You could live your life not really caring about God and having a relationship with Him, assuming that you can get just your act together "later"... and then not have a "later." The saddest part about it is that trying to navigate life with no faith in Christ is like being adrift in the ocean with no sail, no oars, no motor and no rudder. You're at the mercy of the chaos that surrounds you. And when things get really bad, you rely on what you know or what you feel, instead of turning to Christ for help, wisdom and discernment. That can lead to people losing their faith entirely and resorting to a life of bitterness and misery. But God is right there, ready and waiting to help you. He longs to know you and be a part of your life, but He gives everyone free will. He waits for your invitation. Jason invited Christ into his life at an early age and had the most wonderful family who guided him in his faith journey. They modeled what living for Christ looks like and he chose to follow their example. Jason always loved being outdoors. It was a God-given, innate joy for him that he had since childhood. I love that he found a way to serve God outdoors, and that he found Lindsay in the process, who (providencially) shared the same interests. They both served Christ at youth adventure camps, which was pretty much the most perfect job they could have! And in the midst of that, right before they were to be married, their time on earth ended. It was crushing and devastating and so hard to understand, but in the years since, it has been obvious that God has been glorified by their story. They did not die in vain. Their personal decisions to follow Christ have given their memory a platform to reach others in the name of Christ. What a beautiful legacy. ♥

Here is a sweet note from Jason's mom:

The last time we saw Jason was May 16, 2004, his twenty-sixth birthday. It never entered our minds that when we hugged good-bye, it would be our last hug here on earth. God knew that though, because He recorded it in His book. How blessed we were to have 26 years with him, and while our desire was to have him with us years beyond that birthday, God’s plan for his life was accomplished.

"You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in Your book."
~Psalm 139:16 LB

The psalmist continues in verses 17 and 18 giving us reminders of how He cared for Jason, how He cared for us in our time of grief and how He continues to watch over us.

"How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly. I can’t even count how many times a day Your thoughts turn towards me, and when I waken in the morning, You are still thinking of me!"

Be assured loved ones, God created you in love and planned your whole life. It is our responsibility to return that love by living in His will and obeying His commandments. That my friend is having the “abundant life” that Jesus promised us.

We miss you, Jason. We look forward to our heavenly reunion.

Happy 45th birthday in heaven.
Love, Mom and Dad

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday Jason! You will never be forgotten!

Lindsay's 41st Birthday!

Forty-one years ago today, Lindsay was born. God had a plan and a purpose for her life that I believe she lived out fully in the almost 23 years she was here! She had a true heart for the Lord and lived her life accordingly. Every time I think of her or of Jason, I think of heaven. For me (and I'm sure many others), their story is a reminder of how short and precious life is... and of what really matters and what doesn't. God views death much differently than we do. For those of us who have accepted Christ's gift of Salvation, there is a guarantee of eternal life in heaven with Him. So naturally, when I think of them, I think of heaven and how that is our ultimate destination. It is so easy to get caught up in the stresses and frustration that come with living in the current unrest of our country and the world, but to remember that God is in control and to keep the perspective on what matters for eternity and what doesn't, is a true gift.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16

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"Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." ~Galatians 6:8

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"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." ~Romans 6:8-11

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"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." ~Matthew 10:22

"Weep, but briefly, for your loved ones as they enter into the Kingdom of God. For they shall possess a joy and peace that is unattainable on God’s earthly realm. Rather, rejoice in their everlasting and total happiness, for their eyes have seen God."

Happy 41st Birthday Lindsay! ♥

Eighteen years...

I am actually posting this 3 days early because I will be out of town on the day of, but August 15 will be the 18-year-anniversary of Jason and Lindsay's passing. That is remarkable to think about! That is a whole person's life, from birth to adulthood! It's also heartbreaking that that much time has gone by. That's 18 years of memories that never got to be made here with their loved ones. But God has been so good to give Jason and Lindsay a beautiful legacy of faith that we can all hold onto. It's a legacy that honors Jesus and reminds us of the glory of heaven and the joy that awaits us there. As Lindsay said, "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!"

What remarkable insight for someone so young! Lindsay and Jason were so alike in that regard. They were both "on fire" for Jesus and lived their lives to serve Him. We can all learn from their example of strong, unwavering faith! They lived with the deep-rooted peace and joy that comes with being close to Jesus and living a simple life, casting aside all earthly things. To many, that might sound bizarre, but Jesus is truly the only One who can provide peace and joy in every journey of our lives!

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
~ John 14:27

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 4:6-7

I am so grateful to all of you who still follow Jason and Lindsay's story! It means so much to me to keep their memory alive. They are strangers to most people who view this page, but they are everything to their families, friends and loved ones. God bless you!

Here is a sweet note from Jason's mom:

Dearest Jason and Lindsay,

You have been gone from us eighteen years. The days and years have gone very quickly, thanks to God's grace. He has given us so many beautiful memories, so many stories of others whose lives were touched by each of you and so many wonderful passages of scripture to encourage us. Therefore, we remember, not in despair of the grave, but in the glorious "Hope of the Resurrection!" The Almighty God, does take care of His own!

Soon and Very Soon!
Mom and Dad

Jason's 44th Birthday!

Jason,

Today you would have been 44 years old. I am reminded of our birthday parties when we were little. Goodness, how the time has flown! This age is older than our parents were when we were kids. How I wish I could rewind time to re-experience the fun times you and I had! I have so many awesome memories! You were so adventurous! I will never forget all the times we climbed the maple tree in your front yard. The perfect "V" of branches at the bottom that we could just reach. We grabbed those branches and hoisted ourselves up and then climbed to the "tippy top" of the tree. We could see up and down the street and the rooftops. It makes my hands sweat thinking of it now! (Haha!) I also remember playing out in the woods behind our houses and on both the north and south areas of our neighborhood. We rode our bikes on the paths, looked for cool leaves, squished morel mushrooms that we thought were poisonous (whoops!), built little hills on the paths to hop our bikes over, etc. So much fun! Those are precious memories for me!

This past week was Tulip Time. I love this picture! Yet another reminder of all of the fun times we and our sisters shared! I am forever grateful to have known you. I am so glad our families still know each other. I talk to Elizabeth about you every time I see her and we laugh so hard about our memories of you. It's so fun to remember you with laughter and happiness now, instead of being consumed by the sadness that was caused when you were taken from us. Time does not erase the magnitude of the tragedy of losing you and Lindsay, but time has lessened the sting and has allowed us to remember the good times and to picture you both in the perfection of heaven with Jesus. What you are experiencing now is an adventure far greater than we could ever imagine! It will be so fun to finally see you again and join you on your adventures! In the meantime, we will remember your both with such admiration for your legacy of faith. You will never, ever be forgotten!

Until eternity,
Janna

Here is a beautiful note from your mom and dad:

Happy 44th Birthday, Jason!

Dearest Jason,

How blessed we were to have had you with us for 26 years. We remember you, as a boy and as a young man, for your love of the out of doors. You spent most of your free time as a child, exploring the woods, building forts, fishing in streams and lakes, and hunting for small game and deer. You were born with a curiosity that led you to anticipate the next adventure. You traveled to Belize, Alaska, British Columbia, and California. You slept under the stars, climbed rocky cliffs and ran the rapids. You were in awe of the beauty of your creator. You surrendered your life to your Father’s will. You knew God created you specifically for a ministry that utilized your love of nature. He showed you that nature and adventure could serve as a gateway to the hearts of young people.

We cannot even begin to imagine the beauty, the adventures and the travels you have experienced in heaven. Jesus promised to prepare a special place for each of us in our Father’s House. We look forward to being together for eternity and being a part of your adventures! We cannot wait to see your dwelling place. We love and miss you still.

We have wonderful memories, but we do not dwell on what might have been. We look forward to what will be.

Happy Birthday,
Mom and Dad