[talk: Living and Dying]

Life is a funny thing.  Well.  Not always funny - but you know what I mean ... 

I have been so incredibly excited for 2011 .., asking the Lord for a "word" to represent the year (um - haven't really got one yet ... ) and wanting to actively pursue and prioritize the dreams that I believe are God-given.  2011 seems like a year where good things can happen ... 

Today I was on the slopes with my hubby and boys.  Tias was ripping down the hill - I was seriously trying to keep up with him, especially when he ventured into the treed area beside the hill - and Josiah was laughing and "pizza-ing" his skis down the bunnyhill.  My hubby and smiled as he said, "... we've been waiting a long time for this."  So true.  We've dreamed about our little family all doing things together, becoming friends, pushing the limits and celebrating accomplishments.

We had tacos for dinner ... Katia was cracking us UP with all the silly things one year olds do.  It took Josiah an hour to eat his taco ... 

And then a friend died.

A friend from a while back, but a friend none-the-less.  He was a good friend of my exboyfriend - a guy that I knew well when I was a teenager.  And I bumped into him often in our hometown.  He was always quick to smile, ask how things were - give the ever-present nod-of-the-head to show his friendly response.  

And now he's gone.

Life is a funny thing ... how my evening continues on - typing a blogpost, editing photos, tucking my kids into bed.  And he's now seen the face of Jesus.  It is too hard to fathom, too much to digest ... it's just too overwhelming.

I think about his mom and dad ... it is never right to bury a child - at any age.  The heartache they must feel, the questions they must have.  And as I sang Josiah his bedtime song, I couldn't help but wonder how much time I have with him ... not in a morbid way, but in a factual way.

So, as we get a good night's sleep, have a hearty breakfast in the morning, and bundle ourselves up for another family day on the slopes,  my friend's family plans a funeral.  Another massive reminder to live the best life you can, with love and integrity.  Sometimes it seems so hard to do, and we get lazy ... it's just too bad because we don't know when our time to go will come.

Living and dying.  You can't have one, without the other