Good-Bye Sweet Lisa Jane!

I think the reason that it has taken me so long to write this post is because part of me still does not believe that it has really happened. But after two weeks, I think it is time to post about it!

On October 17th, 2009 Aaron's sweet cousin Lisa Okland passed away. She was only 24 years old and on a lonely night she took her own life. She had a zest for life unlike anyone we had ever known. She was one of those people that you love the moment you meet her and she could walk into a room and make an instant impact. Growing up I did not have alot of extended family, so when I married Aaron it was such a shock to have close family not on one side, but both sides of the family. I remember meeting Lisa for the first time, She was so fun and instantly I felt like I had known her my whole life. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Tempe, we continued to stay in touch and Aaron and I loved to read her blog that was filled with such wonderful adventures that showcased their loved of the outdoors!

On October 24th we gathered as family and friends to pay tribute to this amazing women! Aaron was not able to make it with me so my dear friend Amber spent the day at her funeral with me. The service was so beautiful and was a wonderful way to say good bye to her. She was a photographer and her pictures were on display all over the church. It was hard to say good-bye to her, but what a comfort and peace was there to help all of us that were mourning such a special person!

The more that I have thought about the situation the past couple of weeks the more I realize how important and fragile our lives are. How Satan can have such a powerful grip on us. How important the gospel is to us and especially the plan of salvation. That repentance is real and that Christ atoned for all of our sins! I love the words that Grandpa Wiscombe gave at her funeral,

"I wish Lisa would have telephoned me before she wondered into that dark night last Saturday. I would have told her how much I loved her. How much we all loved her. I would have explained that in God's love and mercy all things broken can in time or in eternity be repaired. What is torn can be mended. What is fractured can be rejoined. We do not have to surrender to our mistakes but rather learn from them. The ideal method that God has presented to us in no that difficult for any of us to understand. These are fundamentals-when we sin we repent, when we fall down we stand up, when we fail we strive on for a better day!"

I wish we had gotten one more chance to tell her how much we loved her and how much joy she brought into our lives. But I know that we will get that chance again. That knowledge has really gotten us through a dark couple of weeks. I hope that those reading this post know how much we love each of you. I know in life we never hear it enough. If anyone feels that despair in their lives, look to those that can help you! I know that we would have done anything we could have to have given that peace to Lisa!

Good bye Lisa...until we meet again!