In March of 2019 we made a family trip to the Smokey Mountains spending the week in a cabin. From our back deck we had the magnificent mountains above and the beautifully night lit city of Gatlinburg below. At that time Tami had no symptoms of ALS and we vacationed like there would be plenty of tomorrows, having no idea the smallest of symptoms that would begin even in the next month. 

In November of 2020 we take one final family trip to the Smokey’s. And it is in beholding the splendour of these mountains where I pen these words. For you see, Tami wished to be surrounded by people she loved, people who loved her and come to the place of laughter, relaxation and just being overwhelmed by the greatness of God one final time. 

As I sit watching the night give over its hold to the dawn, the clouds breaking over the mountain peaks, owls giving way to the song of the Carolina Wren I can hear the stillness; and I understand. Tami’s journey with ALS has been vicious, relentless and moved with incredible speed taking away her ability to do every. Single. Thing. That is, everything except her ability to love others and her ability to fall more in love with Jesus longing for her Eternal home. We often say that lightly, but what Tami would want you to know, it is anything but “lightly”. She can sit today and look out over this valley towards the majesty of the mountains and boldly say without reservation.......”I look up to the mountains, does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). Because Tami knows Whose she is, she can sit here in this very moment of overwhelming beauty and speak with all confidence in the face of this grandeur....”No eye has seen, no ear heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9). And yes, with all the hopeful expectation, look forward to being wholly healed in the very Presence of the Living God. 

And now, December 28, 2020, we mourn because this journey here on earth has come to an end and our sadness is in knowing our days will have an emptiness about them and we will miss her deeply. But those who are in Christ know that this is but one short chapter of the rest of the life story.....of Eternity. And it is this unwavering truth that we can rejoice with her! It is not because of Tami’s good deeds, acts of service or loving Shad and Christopher, but because of her relationship with God that she enjoys “daughtership”; intimacy with the King of all kings. Because Tami knows Jesus she is now sitting at His beautifully laid out banquet table laughing, singing, and giving all praise to the Father.

Tami has chosen to donate her earthly body to Vanderbilt for research in ALS in the hopes of helping those who will come after her find a cure. But here is the beautiful thing; those mountains, those glorious mountains that she has loved so much will be where her ashes will be spread at her request. Tami would want you to all read this and not weep, for the earthly body is no longer suffering, and the Eternal body had stepped into His radiance, whole and well. 

And now, let us complete that Scripture from earlier, “I look up to the mountains, does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD Himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Psalm 121) .......My sweet Tami, you have stepped into the beauty of HIS “forever.”