How do you write the life story of your beloved, first-born son, who peacefully and unexpectedly slips from this mortal life at the young age of 21? It's been 11 months now, since that event that broke our hearts. And still, when I think about his life, snippets of memories from all through his life race through my mind in apparently random order. Many different experiences and settings, different stages of George's life, but common threads throughout - that smile, his sociability, his desire to choose the right, to provide service whenever an opportunity presents itself - and to look for opportunities when none are obvious. George loved to laugh, to sing, to spend time with family and friends. And we loved him right back.

As we go through our first Christmas since his passing, followed by the date on which he would have returned - January 18 - and the first anniversay of his death - I'll be filling more about his life, with additional stories. Despite the tears, i need the memories. And I enjoy sharing them. And as for the tears - they are only because I miss my dear George, not because we've lost him. We have not lost him. He has simply gone before us. We did not have a homecoming for him in Kansas. But we will have us glorious homecoming when we join him!