I’ve been absent from here for almost a week. I had my Encounter Time each morning and I did write a post or two last week, but lots has happened. 

The biggest: Mike passed away on Wednesday night. Here is how it played out. Monday evening at 5:30 I received a call from Janna’s best friend, Shauna, that they were not expecting Mike to last much longer so they were making quick prep for the wedding to take place. It was originally scheduled for August 29th, then moved to August 14th (the one I was to perform but Ohio said I didn’t exist). So they did a quick pivot and Janna became Mrs Janna Clark within the hour of the call. Braden was able to be there to walk his mom in and to stand with her. We then moved up our travel date to Wednesday to see him/them. It would have been in the hospital, although Mike was to come home to hospice and home health on Thursday. Tuesday night we got a doozy of storm that knocked out power to a section of Spencer. Jo dislikes storms a lot and Wednesday there was to be a storm system from Indy to Columbus, Ohio about the time we would be driving that area. So for her sanity (and mine as the driver) 🙂 , I chose to wait until Thursday. Mike would be home and in more comfortable surroundings. Janna understood. 11:20 Wednesday night she called to tell us that Mike had passed. So we made our trip on Thursday with heavy hearts. Then due to other circumstances we ended up making our way back home early Friday morning. 

I have had mixed emotions:

• Extreme disappointment. I never got to tell Mike one last time in person that I loved him (I was doing it by text over the last few weeks) and to thank him for loving Janna and giving her life back to her. 
• Shame. I never had that last chance to talk to him about his soul. At this point, I don’t know. 
• Guilt. For not just saying, “No. We are going (storm or no storm).” But then, how was I supposed to know?
• Hurt. For Janna. She found one who truly loved her for who she was and now she’s alone again. 
• Grateful. For her close friend, Shauna, who has stood by her side, and continues to do so.

I’ve cried. I’ve prayed for peace. I’ve prayed for Janna. She has friends, but I’m not sure-in fact pretty convinced-they are not Christ-followers. 

I’ve also prayed for forgiveness. I never told Mike about Jesus. The opportunity never presented itself. He knew who and what I was. I’m sure Janna told him. {Side funny: when they were talking about me early on, Mike asked Janna what I was like. Would I sit with him and have a beer or two? Janna laughed and say, “No. Don’t think so. Dad has never had a drink in his life.”} But Mike never stopped being Mike and I never asked him to not drink a beer at a meal. There are more important things to concern myself with. But I also never allowed myself to be more open, to find the time to ask him and tell him about Jesus. In fairness, we were never alone for any extended period of time. Maybe 5-10 minutes max. When we were together for one of the last times (which he had not been to the doctor yet), we talked about something else that seemed to be more pressing. Tragically, his destiny is sealed. It is known only by God. 

Thanks for listening to my rambling. Your continued prayers for Janna, Tami, Jo and me would be appreciated. His celebration of life is September 19th at the Pickle and Chill Club where Mike and Janna loved to play pickleball.