Tomorrow we will celebrate the life of our friend, Tom.  Tom and Vera and their kids and grandkids have played a special part in the life of our family.  Tom was an elder in our church in Visalia who helped guide a young, sometimes "radical" youth pastor named Scott.  Vera hosted a baby shower for us when Kamryn was born.  We were included in their family Thanksgivings and Fourth of July celebrations.  Katie and Ashlyn, their grand-daughter, have been good friends since kindergarten.  We have many great memories of a healthy Tom.  At family gatherings, he was often found sitting in his chair by the computer desk in the family room chatting with different people.  He always had on coordinating outfits (bought by Vera, I'm sure.)  I always appreciated his quiet nature.  During our conversations,I could count on him asking me how teaching was going and how my parents were doing.  I can still hear him chuckle at something one of the grandkids or Scott would say.  After Tom was diagnosed with Leukemia, we made a stop in Visalia to see him after a tough round of chemotherapy.  He was in a lot of pain and we couldn't get too close.  He sat in his chair and we talked and Scott read scripture and prayed.  As soon as we sat down to visit, though, Tom wanted to make sure that Scott was doing OK in his new church.  Tom felt after reading Scott's Christmas letter that Scott just wasn't his carefree, happy self.  He said, "I always knew that Scott was a bit radical, so I was kind of worried."  We quickly reassured him and Vera that we were doing fine and that things were going quite well, actually.  I just thought it was funny that here he was so sick, but was worried about us being OK.  It also meant a lot that in one of their visits to So. Cal. last spring after Tom was feeling better, they wanted to come to our church and to our home.  This summer we were able to attend the wedding of one of Tom and Vera's grand-daughters.  Scott had teased Briana several times that one day she would marry a "hairy man,".  Scott was overjoyed to see that this actually came true.  It was kind of little joke at the wedding and Tom thought it was hilarious!  It is a great memory to think about laughing with Tom about Scott's joke with Briana. We have been so blessed by this man of God and are thankful that he was a part of our lives. We know he is in a wonderful place, but will miss him!