Mark

Today would have been my brother Mark's 37th birthday. He has been gone from us for about 19 years now, longer than he was with us. He was a wonderful person, full of life, handsome, funny, kind, tall, and crazy! He was FUN! He also was stubborn, infuriating at times, a little reckless and had to deal with ADHD problems. So even through the stuggles, it was a great time.

He had the greatest smile and was a great friend to so many people. He never cared about what group you were in in school - he like everybody. Even as a teenager, he loved all people and some of his closest friends were not even close to his age with an age range from 6 months to 92 years old.

He loved to toilet paper houses and would steal the tp from my mom and dad's house and then his friends and him would go and do up the neighborhood. He would always get the girls he liked too! He was even known to go help clean it up the next morning and never complained about it.

He loved little children. Oh, how I wish that my kids were able to spend time with their Uncle Mark although I'm sure they spent plenty of time with him before they came to this earth. Sometimes, like today, I feel a little sad that he wasn't able to go to college, on a mission, have a family, and live this life that we all have now. I wonder what he would be like now, I'm sure still as funny as ever, just older and wiser.

So yes, today, I'm going to miss him a little bit more than I usually do but I'm oh so happy that I know someday we'll be back together again.

These are the lyrics to one of the songs sung at Mark's funeral. It's a Michael W Smith song and always reminds me of my little, big brother, my friend.

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
I can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter of your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

And with the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you live in
Is the strength that now you show

We'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

No a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

WE LOVE YOU MARK!