Brad and I went to Washington DC in November 2006 after his last MRI scan was clear of tumor. We had a brief discussion about how to respond to scan news. This is what Brad said to me, "God is good and faithful whether I am healed or not, He is good and faithful to His promises. We should pray to him for help, healing, and strength." After we received the news in January 2007 that he had a hen's egg size tumor in his brain, Brad said to me, "Jesus pleaded with God in the garden of Gethsemane to take away suffering; if God didn't with his own son, how can I call him unjust?" The second-most listened to song at 21 times on Brad's iPod was "How Firm a Foundation", a hymn we sang at his funeral.

We are thankful for the way Brad endured suffering and persevered with courage, humility, obedience, a good attitude and faith. As Emma said recently, "Daddy went through fiery trials and still praised God." God did not deliver Brad from death but He did deliver Brad from unbelief. We are thankful for this. We are thankful for God's good gift to us in Brad and for the love Brad poured into our hearts. His companionship, wisdom, knowledge, wit, kindness, and care are missed daily in our family. Last November, I asked the girls what was important to them about celebrating Christmas and the first thing Claire said without hesitation was "to go to Daddy's grave". In January, Annie walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, "My Daddy is great!" I responded to her, "yes, he was, that is why we miss him so much."

Our hearts are very sad and full of sorrow. We long to see him and to be with him again. We look forward to that day with anticipation and joy. We love him. "He fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) He will always be our hero.