Four years today Banke, four years since you left, and another eight months since we, as a family, were assigned a cross such as no one could bear except for grace (and how abundantly our Christ has supplied grace). In just a few weeks our lives, and the lives of our daughters were turned upside down in an unimaginable way. In all of 8 months, our dreams were extinguished and our joy punctuated. It’s been all of four years of learning to walk without the brighter star in our home, and dance on a single leg. Four years of sweet memories, and bitter memories. Years of questions with no simple answers and pains that no words can ease. However today I choose to remember your admirable strength. I chose to remember, not death, but your unrelenting love for me and the girls even in the face of suffering as well as the grace and consideration with which you dealt with me in all the years the Lord gave to us. I chose to remember our clasped hands and the conversations we had late into night while the world slept in those months of sickness. I remember especially your words on that last ride. Yes dear, I remember. Love you. Always.