August 16, 1981 - December 24, 2008This post is really hard to write. I guess you have to be careful what you ask for. My previous post, I had expressed how hard it had been this year to feel the Christmas spirit, but I was trying. Well, our family had an experience this Christmas that we will never forget. My dad called a little after 5 am on Christmas Eve morning to inform me that my brother-in-law, Zeb McDougal, had passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. As I got off the phone with my dad, I lay there in shock and numb. My heart went out to my sister, Joni and her two little children, Jozelan, age 2 and Daxten, age 10 months. Zeb was too young to die and leave this earth, but how joyous the reunion must have been on the other side when he was met by his father, who had died when Zeb was 13 yrs. old. I hope Joni knows that although Zeb is not with her physically, that he will always be watching over her and the kids. He will be waiting for her and getting things ready for her. Joni, you are not alone in this. Your family is with you every step of the way, and not just now but always!!! We love you, Zeb, and the kids so much!!! Christmas day was hard for our family. One side of me was feeling joy as I watched my own kids experience the fun of Chrismas morning, but the other side of me ached as I thought of my sister and the heartache she is going through. I wish I could help take some of the hurt away. I know the reason it hurts so much was because she loves him so much. Maybe we could all learn from this tragedy. May we always be quick to tell those around us that we love them, may we always be kind to one another, may we be more Christlike and be prepared for his 2nd coming, may we not judge others, don't take our family for granted; enjoy every moment of every day that we have with them in this life. May we always remember those precious memories that we hold dear in our hearts. I found this song on my Jenny Jordan Frogley CD and I really liked the words: ( I altered the first line)
Christmas time - a time for reconnecting, tying up the years
Never expecting it would be a week of tears
Paradise, a picture one could not suppose
That a place so beautiful was chosen as the door
That one tiny moment unseen by human eyes
Could take a life so young and perfect and alter all of our lives
The day you went away
I found myself believing in everything they say
And I know you have journeyed on to such a better place
And though it will seem like forever
I Know we'll be together someday
I can feel you standin' there just like you did before
I can see this smiling man so innocent and pure
Time will travel forward, roll just like a train
Bringing peace and understanding through the emptiness and pain
Oh bittersweet - that this is what is meant to be
Oh separation - yet the promise of a joyous reunion
Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Lord
Savior of our tiny world
Thank you, Jesus, thank you Lord
We will live forevermore
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord
We are bound forevermore
So as I reflected on Christmas night, I found a whole new different level of Christmas spirit in my heart. One I hadn't put into total perspective. I am so thankful for our Savior, that he was born onto this earth. That he died for us so that we have the opportunity to be together forever as families again someday. We not only celebrate his birth on this day, but we celebrate Christ, his life, his ministry, his teachings, the atonement, our faith, and our knowledge.
Goodbye for now Zeb, we love you and we will miss you, but we will never forget you. Thanks for loving my sister so deeply and being a great husband and father. Thanks for the beautiful niece and nephew. Till we meet again!!!!
Here is the link to Zeb's obituary: http://obit.nelsonfuneralhome.com/obitdisplay.html?id=616175&listing=Current
