Balloons to Heaven -

Each year on the Sunday closest to Oct. 19th. my family sends personalized notes to their grampa tied to white balloons. Each grandchild writes such a special note to their grampa telling him what is going on in their lives and what their goals are for the coming year, and they love to see their balloon with their note rise to the heavens. We started this soon after Kent passed away 5 years ago and it has become a very special tradition that we look forward to each year. The kids are all so excited when they watch the balloons all go in the same direction and we watch until we can no longer see them far up into the heavens. It has been 1,825 days that Kent has been gone and I miss him so much every day. He was my best friend and the love of my life. I am so blessed to have such a supportive family that all live so close to me. The knowledge that we are a forever family and will be all together again keeps me inspired to do my best each day and make him proud of me and our family.

Today we went to the cemetery and gathered together to send our balloons off to Kent. Some of my grandchildren had written their notes at home and some composed them there. It was a beautiful afternoon and the sky was so blue that we could see the balloons forever. They get so excited to see that every balloon goes in the same direction and they twist & turn and follow each other, just like they are being guided to heaven.

"Three things in human life are important: one is to be kind, the second is to be kind and the third is to be kind."

Henry James

This was Kent's philosophy in life.. what a wonderful way to live..

I know that Kent is keeping watch over me and over our family and is so very proud of the accomplishments we have all achieved.

His family was the most important thing to him and loved his family so much.

I miss him so much and love him more today than ever.