Happy Birthday Emily Diehm

March first was my mother in-laws birthday. She died a few years ago at the age of 69. Yes, that’s way too early for us. Life has not been the same without Emily Diehm. When She passed onto the next life she left a huge hole in the heart of my wife Kathy. It’s a void that will never be replaced. In a lot of ways that’s a good thing. Sure it hurts and the pain turns up in Kathy’s eyes as a wet spot when a memory surfaces. But wouldn’t it be nice to know that when you leave this earth to be with God that you leave a mark. So many people do things to be remembered. They want their names left behind on a building or to have a street named after them. I think what’s more telling is to leave your life imprinted on the hearts of your children so they never forget who you were. I hope my kids someday feel about me, the way my wife feels about the loss of her mother.

This past week I was in Portland on business and stopped by with some flowers to put on Emily’s grave. I took a picture to show my wife. That wet spot showed up in the corner of her eye as she hugged me and said, “thanks for remembering”.

The Music used in the video up top is by David Nevue. Check him out he’s from Eugene, Oregon. http://www.rainmusic.com