Heaven got a hero today

I have a million things on my “to do” list today.

That dang never ending list.

Yet I sit here and my heart is broken.

Heaven got a hero today.

Heaven got one of my hero’s today. A cowboy, a patriot, a story teller, and an all-around kind man—my Uncle Jack. I hate cancer. It keeps taking people I love. In an attempt to not let my hate for a disease fill my heart, I want to take a moment to be thankful.

I am thankful for my Uncle Jack.

I am thankful that I got to live in Utah and become close to him.

I am thankful for his quick smile and sense of humor.

I am thankful that his face always lit-up whenever anyone he loved walked into a room.

I am thankful that he was kind and sweet to this awkward teenager, young adult, new mom etc… —he always made me feel like I was someone special.

Uncle Jack fishing

I am thankful that I got a chance to serve part of my mission in WY—the state he grew up in. We bonded over our love of little towns, horses, Thermopolis, and the Wind River Canyon.

I am thankful for the stories from his childhood that shaped my love for all things cowboy.

Cute kid!

I am thankful for his service in the military and the harsh things he endured fighting in Viet Nam.

I am thankful for how much he taught me by not saying much when I asked him once if he ever killed a man, he just respectfully and with great reverence for human life, paused, looked down, and then quietly stated, “You never know exactly how much damage you did.”

I love this picture because two of Uncle Jack's favorite things were fishing and Thermopolis WY

I am thankful for his example of love and laughter in my life.

I am thankful that we bonded even more over his mission call to Montana and our love for that great state.

I am grateful for his 5 kids that are my cousins. They are all amazing people and are my heroes and role models.

I am thankful that Uncle Jack married my Aunt Shawna so that he could be my uncle. I am thankful for the example of love I have seen as she has taken care of him. Oh I wish I had words to express how much I love her and the example that she has been to me. I could do a whole post on the influence this woman has been in my life.  I am thankful that she has been like a second mom to me here in Utah. I am thankful for their love and acceptance for the many years that they invited me over for Thanksgiving so I could spend it with my family.

I am thankful for the example he was of a real man. He worked hard for his family, his country, his God.

I am thankful that I got to love him enough that losing him hurts, for if we never hurt when someone passes, we never truly loved—and that would be the real tragedy.

I will miss you Uncle Jack—I hope you get to ride some horses on the other side. Until we meet again! Love you!
* All photo credit goes to Shawna Brooks. I stole them from her blog.