Well its been almost 60 days since my last post (January 3) and today marks 6 weeks (42 days) before Brandi and I depart for a 2 week
trip, of which 10 of those days will be in Israel visiting the Holy Land with a
tour group led by Pastor David Stoker, a family friend who is now a pastor in
Napa, CA.
Wow 9 months....major transitions for me, for Brandi and for many others. The grieving process is ongoing but as told by many who have been through this and have experience in helping others thru this...it does get better every day. There is great hope and huge promises in the plans that God has in store for me and for Brandi.
I continue to see the goodness and joy of the Lord of the life altering event the day Lori went home to Jesus...I never foresaw nor planned to be a widow at the age of 47...never could have imagined that road bump....but God had something bigger in store for me and for Brandi and I see it daily....new relationships being created, existing relationships that are being made healthier and stronger, and broken relationships being restored.
Lori desired for Brandi and I to take a trip together at some point in time after her passing. One that could be a time where we would spend time together in joy and adventure, but also share our story as a family. Brandi and I had hope to go to Japan during the winter season, but due to schedule conflicts we were unable. We had look to going with New Hope Oahu and the Footsteps of Paul later this year..but then God opened up this opportunity to travel with a family we met through our Westmont College Ohana. We first met Andrew Stoker as a bright eyed motivated 10th grader at Punahou at various college fairs back in 2008, wanting to get into Westmont because of a relationship he had with a good friend name Reyn Halford who is the same age as Brandi and also attended and graduated from Westmont. David and Monica Stoker participated as local parents in our Alumni Relations events hosted by Westmont here on Oahu and Lori and Monica had some common interest working with the disadvantaged. The Stokers are such good people. A few years back, David was called to Pastor a First Pres church in Napa and he and Monica relocated. In October or so, David posted a flyer on FB that he was hosting his 6 trip to Israel and looking for people to go. I talked to Brandi and we prayed on it and felt the Lord confirming that this was the trip to take.
Visiting the birthplace and death and resurrection of Jesus...to see the history and real live places and events that occurred over 2000+ years ago...it was something that we felt blessed and led to do.
9 months seems so long ago and yet so recent...I still see her smile and hear her laugh at times...I miss her a lot..but life goes on and God is not done with me yet or Brandi. This past Friday, we were blessed to attend the Hillsong United Concert. God showed me what it is like to be in His presence..continuous worship, exalting and praising Him among the brethren...when in His presence there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more discomfort..just ultimate joy. And that is where Lori and many others who went before her are...because of their faith in Jesus.
We can have that same joy here on earth...when we connect to God daily..when we seek Him in all of our ways and give thanks and worship who He is. People 2000+ years ago got to see God in the form of man, through His Son Jesus who emptied Himself to come to earth to re-connect us to the Father.
I am so looking forward to this trip...looking forward to spending time with Brandi...looking forward to what God is going to show me during this visit of what He did for me 2000+ years ago and what He has in store moving forward. We plan to take some of Lori's ashes with us and at the appropriate time, spread it somewhere so she will be a part of us on this trip.
I ask for your prayers for the weeks to come...as I truly believe there will be much spiritual warfare leading up the trip. And I also will ask for your prayers during the trip for Brandi, me and the group. We trust that God's plan is sovereign and predestined for His glory and His good.
In the meantime, just know that Brandi and I love you all...for your love, support, hugs, words of encouragement, prayers and just for being who you all are.
26 years of love and friendship, does not disappear or become less than..in 9 months...God blessed me with the love of Lori and I will be forever grateful.
Love you all and keep you posted.
God bless
Sean
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