01/23/2018
January 27th will mark the 5yr anniversary of Toot’s leaving this world to be with both her father and her heavenly Father. I am asking everyone who knew and loved her to join me in praying for her on Saturday, in honor and precious memory of her presence in our lives. Perhaps most of all, for all that she accomplished on this earth by changing so many people’s lives, for the glory of God, in such a short amount of time.
If any of you have ever gone back and re-read her CaringBridge, you just can’t help but continue to be amazed, humbled and proud of her for the hundreds of lives she changed through her love of her God. Equally amazing is how her story closely involved and brought together our communities in faith and charity during a time of great need. It certainly wasn’t the first time our communities have come together in this way, and it won’t be the last, and every day we see how that spirit of giving and fellowship continues to thrive anytime there is someone in need. But the memory of how our communities came together for Toot will always remain the most memorable and closest to my heart.
I continue to thank God often for blessing us with the love story that Toot and I shared. Not just for our sake, but for the benefit of so many other people. Not just in our communities, but across the country. The love that we shared and our faith in God gave us the strength we needed to obey and endure the loving plan God had for us. The hole in my heart remains the same size as the day I said goodbye to her. I miss her as much today as the day we commended her body back to the Lord. I continue to surround myself with warm thoughts of her memory everyday in the office we both shared every day.
God’s grace and the passage of time has allowed the pain in my heart to heal somewhat. However, the greatest healing came the day that Ashlynn and I were finally reunited after 4 1/2 years when she turned 18. To no one’s surprise, it was a very emotional reunion and I did my best not to crush her when I gave her a hug that I didn’t know if I would be able to release. There is no doubt in my mind that Toot shed tear for tear with us in total joy. Since leaving her home, Ashlynn has displayed all the strength and courage that she watched her mom use in her journey. She was a straight A student in high school and is now attending UND and studying Forensic Science. She came close to straight A’s in her first semester. Being reunited with Ashlynn was like being able to get back a piece of Toot through my relationship with her daughter once again. I am so very proud of her and Logan both. Please keep them both in your prayers as well.
I want to take this opportunity once again thank everyone who was a faithful part of our love story and I pray that Toot is able to live in spirit, through your lives, as they were changed by hers. God bless you all.