Dear friends,

We wanted to share one final post as we close out this CaringBridge page. This has been a vital tool in communicating with our friends and we’re so grateful for how you’ve checked in, prayed for us, and shared Dad’s story with your own circles. Dad has been gone for 2 weeks now and we are still receiving cards and messages from friends who are just now hearing the news.

Earlier in the year, my parents planned a Christmas trip for our family to Ruidoso, NM. This is a charming resort town that has become a haven of rest for my parents over the last few years. When dad was hospitalized, we canceled the cabin reservation. However, on the evening that he died, we were sitting around the fire in my parents’ living room and knew we couldn’t pass out presents and celebrate Christmas there as we had for so many years. Thankfully Mom found us a wonderful cabin that could hold all of us (Mom, my family of 4 and Will’s family of 3) and we rebooked the trip. So this last week, we spent December 23-December 27 in Ruidoso. It was a beautiful trip. We hiked every day, took walks around the neighborhood, took lots of pictures (silly & gorgeous), and played many rounds of Skip-Bo. Nonnie baked with the grandkids, we all wore matching pjs, Santa filled our stockings, and the fireplace roared all day and night. We laughed a lot and we had quiet moments of deep sorrow. We are two weeks out and yet I don’t think it’s truly computed with any of us that my dad’s not going to walk around the corner and join us again. But this trip was a final gift from my dad and allowed us to make new memories in a place that he loved. I imagine many more trips to Ruidoso in the future.

Now begins the hard journey of life without Dad. We are all taking things one day at a time. My family still lives in my parents’ house as our house slowly gets closer to completion. We had planned to move in over Christmas break (even without a kitchen!), but we aren’t in a hurry anymore and we are grateful to be with my mom.

I could go on and on about the love and generosity that’s been shown to our family. I will always remember the care we’ve been given and will try to pay it forward every chance I get. Thank you for continuing to pray for us and letting us know that you are thinking of us. This means more than you might know. Also - please pray for the ACU Math Department. My dad’s dear colleagues and friends. They are deeply hurting and have to quickly pivot as they start school in 2 weeks without one of their own. We love this group of professors as if they were family and we are praying for comfort and resilience as they move forward and carry my dad’s spirit with them.

Finally, I wanted to again share the information about the endowment that has been set up in my dad’s name. Any amount that is given will help this fund grow into a thriving, meaningful scholarship that will bless students who are pursuing actuarial science - a program that my dad created at ACU. We are so proud for his story to continue in this way.

www.acu.edu/giveonline

*Please designate your donation using the dropdown menu. Under “Student Affordability,”
you’ll see the Dr. Mark and Debbie Riggs Endowed Scholarship for Actuarial Science.

Peace be with you, friends.