HBJ

I remember the day Hunter was born.  I was a freshman in college and attending an IU basketball game.  I heard the news and could hardly wait for the weekend when I could go back home and meet him with his Uncle Hap.  He was the first of many (really a continuation of many) Jolliff grandsons.  Months later, his first Christmas, Hap and I bought him a walker as a way of helping him along so he could be our ring bearer for our upcoming wedding.  And on our wedding day, he looked so cute in his oversized tux playing with the ring pillow on the stage.

Fast forward ten years and I won't forget him crying hard and hugging tight on our last night together before we moved overseas.  And Hunter grew and changed in our time overseas but it was always a joy to be back in the states to catch him playing games of baseball or basketball, and most certainly seeing him enjoy the great outdoors when we were at the farm.  I can picture his truck or four wheeler coming up the gravel lane to the farm.

He helped us move into our house, and took a nap on our hand-me-down couch that day.  But the last time I saw him, he was showing Abigail how to close her eye to shoot aluminum cans with the BB gun on a quick stop by our house with Jay and Beau.  And he (may) have showed off a bit by moving those cans back a great distance and impressing us all with his shot.

There is no way to sum up a life taken too soon and the heartbreak it leaves behind.  However, I am thankful that, "The Lord is near the broken hearted and saves those crushed in spirit."