Last week Karly and I had the opportunity to make a very fast trip to Illinois to spend some quality time with both of my grandmothers. Grandma Hester had taken a turn for the better during our stay and gave us a great opportunity to spend time with her fully awake and smiling as usual. On our last day home, Grandma gave us the treat of a story from her past telling about their trip to Alaska and smiling with the memories. She was truly happy and you could see that the memory was good and pleasing to both her and those who were party to it. We said our goodbye to Grandma with smiles, kisses, and hugs.

Three days later, Grandma Hester moved on to meet the ones she loved so dearly. She was a God-fearing woman who had daily devotion to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her faith was an inspiration to us all and a testament to many. After twenty years of being a widow, she was reunited with Grandpa Hester. The devotion he had for her was fierce and her devotion to him was no less. Their separation was met with grievance but the memory was kept alive in their children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors. They have been reunited in splendor to wait for the great family reunion when the Bride of Christ WILL gather to praise the glory of creation.

Her memory lives on in all of us and we pray that her legacy of faith will not be lost in all the generations to come. Every day she prayed for the whole of the family, to keep us safe, and to bring us together in the faith that we share, that we should not stray from our devotion and maintain a steadfast resolution to the same.

Today, my family, including our unborn daughter, pledge to maintain that which Grandma began. We will NEVER lose faith and will always strive to keep ourselves, our family and all those around us firm in the knowledge of our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior alone.

Goodbye Grandma, we will never forget you.