Heaven if for Real...

So the last few weeks I have been thinking about death/dying more than usual. It all started with reading the book for our book club called Heaven is for Real. It's about a boys out of body experience to heaven while he was in the hospital having surgery. It was a beautiful book and made you think about things that are taught to you in church, but in the back of your mind not really sure if that is what happens to you when you pass. It confirmed my beliefs and showed how children can be so powerful and insightful if we just listen. Shortly after I finished reading the book on of our dear friends Austin Holst's father passed away unexpectantly. It made me start thinking about our friends parents starting to pass and how I'm just not ready for that chapter in my life. They had a very nice funeral and they read a letter that Austin's brother wrote to his father. It was about his appreciation towards his father and how he was a "good man" and how he wanted to be a "good man" just like his dad. It made me want to make sure the people I love know how I feel about them. I've always tried to tell my family how much I love them and make sure to hug and/or kiss them before I depart or hang up on the phone. It just comes automatic, but sometimes you need to really tell them for no reason that you love them and what they mean to you. This became even more important after an old friend had to bury her husband this weekend. She has two small children like myself had everything going for them like our family and then an accident changed everything. She has two explain to two small boys that daddy won't be coming home and now is their guardian angel. I can understand losing someone you love an in instance, but this is on a whole other level. My heart breaks for her and wish I could take away some of her pain. They had a beautiful service-celebration for him but I couldn't help but think what if it was me. What would I do if this happened to me would Nick know how much I love him and how he is my rock. Would Kenady and Klark know that they are everything to me and all I want for them is the world? Would my parents know how much I respect them and appreciate them for everything they have done for me and my brother. Would my brother know how proud of him I am of him and the man he has become? Would my friends know that I would do anything for them all they have to do is ask...I hope so and if not I'm going to make an effort to make sure not to leave anything in and make sure the ones I love know they are loved by me.