Ben Stickling's Funeral

I was a little early at the meeting place for our walk this morning. The boys saw me walking up the lane came galloping over to show off.

I'm really going to have to start carrying the camera, the phone just doesn't really work well with action shots. Today we celebrated Ben's graduation, his graduation from this hard life here on earth to his heavenly home with Jesus. After the funeral, Spark made the comment that was the best funeral service he had ever attended. We all agreed. Ben had asked his son Craig to have the service and gave him the verses he wanted read. They were almost all on forgiveness and love. What an amazing earthly story Ben had and what a legacy he left by his 6 children, each one a pillar, not just a pillar in the church but in the world. I will say that was one of the hardest funerals I ever had to sing at. The tears and sniffs were abounding up in the balcony. My wish is to get a copy of the message and share it with each one in our family. Ben was given a gift of 8 years and in those 8 years his family grew by 22. Craig listed off the births, baptisms and marriages his dad was able to see by those extra 8 years. You see Ben was in the same hospital the same time as dad those 8 years ago. Ben was not suppose to live while dad was suppose to. Both families shared the same waiting room for days. Ben received a miracle according to his surgeon while dad got a new body and a new home.