July 4, 2013

I've never really been exceptionally great dealing with the loss of a loved one... but then again, who is?

Yesterday was Trevor's viewing and today was his funeral. At the viewing the line wrapped around the building and as family members and friends walked in we asked how long they had been waiting and they replied, "An hour." -Talk about an incredible person to have that many people come to support your family at your funeral. (Way to be Trev!)

I wrote a post about Trevor months ago, talking about how its all God's will and sometimes its hard to trust that and have complete faith in that; But, I forced myself to. For those of you who don't know Trevor.. here is his story.

• Trevor was born July 19, 1978 to two amazing parents that I am proud to call Aunt and Uncle.
• Trevor went to Kearns High School and was on the Kearns High Madrigals.- He loved singing and he let that be known.
• He has 2 brothers and 4 sisters, all of whom are insanely funny and the most loving bunch you'll ever meet. -Proud to be their cousin.
• Trevor was the most Christlike, charitable person I have ever known. A couple of his siblings mentioned in their talks today that in high school, Trevor was carjacked on the night of jr. prom. The gang members stole his wallet and with the story he would tell me his CTR ring. He said to me one family party, "I actually just handed it to him and said, here you go! Choose The Right!!" If that doesn't define Trevor... I don't know what will. I laughed so hard and I remember thinking what a positive giant he was, especially at a time like that. His siblings told part of the story that he failed to mention to me, that he ran home... in the snow... in his tux. The whole way home after they dropped him off in a field. He ran because he was worried about them getting to his family. They had his ID and now knew his address. Was Trevor worried about himself? No. Just his family.
• Most die hard BYU fan I have ever known and the only BYU fan that I would make the exception to wear that color of blue.
• Trevor was called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the La Paz, Bolivia mission. It was there that he contracted a disease and was sent home a year early. The doctors put him in remission and he chose to go back out and serve the Lord. They sent him to Virginia where he finished out his mission. Since that time that he got ill, he was in and out of doctor offices and his health was slowly declining. -Never once did he complain. Not once.
• January of 2013 he was sent to the hospital where he was put on a ventilator to help him breathe. His lungs weren't strong enough to work on their own, but he fought. Just like he always did. He fought for 5 1/2 months... who is that strong?? Trevor. 
• After the long hard battle of trying to regain that strength... he knew that to regain that strength was to return home. He was taken off the ventilator and passed away peacefully.

So... here we are now. I never really knew Trevor healthy, but the best part is that he is MY family... and I knew him anyways. I was thinking back to all of my memories with him and one that stands out most is when he surprised me at my birthday dinner. It would have been a year ago in August. My dad told me, "I have a special guest coming for you tonight." I had no idea who it was, but I knew my dad wouldn't let me down.

When my front door opened and Trev stood there with the biggest most sweetest smile on his face... gosh, felt like a celebrity had just walked right in to celebrate my special day with me. -Never will I forget that.

This post isn't to be sad, its to celebrate what I knew of my cousin and the kind of light he was/ is in my eyes. Boy, let me tell you, its a bright one. Now, like I said at the beginning of my post... death is not easy for me but knowing this gospel, knowing eternal families, knowing the plan of salvation just lights my heart on fire. Trials, experiences like this puts life in perspective for me and it reminds me how to live it. There is no doubt, no fear, no worry that Trevor is in a much more beautiful home, with our loving Heavenly Father and son, Jesus Christ.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." -2 Timothy 4:7

Love you Trev, til we meet again!