I have been thinking a lot about death lately as it is a fact that it is inevitable and we are never sure when it will be our time. Maybe because I am getting older which means my parents and grandparents are getting older or that cancer sneaked up on me? There are some individuals who look at death as a scary situation as we may not know what will happen after we are no longer in existence. There are others who embrace it knowing that their time on earth is slowly coming to an end. I hear about stories where a mom with cancer who had months to live wrote her daughter letters for those big moments which would come without her presence. What about the stories of those who know it won’t be much longer so they decide to jump out of a plane or go on one last European vacation. I feel for those individuals who are suffering in long term care as they sit there not knowing when their time will come as they hold on to hope that they will get better. The young boy with brain cancer who has his whole life ahead of him and proves to us all that having a good attitude can get you places. Those instances where our loved ones are yanked out of lives with not being able to say good-by or have one last hug.  This all seems to wear on me emotionally when I see these stories or it hits close to home as I can feel the pain it causes the loved ones. The point is we just never know as most of these circumstances are out of our control, however maybe there is still something we can do while we are present.

---

“He was always there for them no matter what. His laugh, presence and love will be greatly missed.”

---

“She as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt who showed great concern and love to everyone she met.”

---

I always talked about leaving a legacy when I used to have college student employees as I knew all of them had potential for something bigger than themselves. We have a choice to be kind human beings and to me it is that simple. There are some of us who have children and are trying to raise them to be compassionate with a world full of hatred. We don’t have to be entrepreneur of the year or a top business person to make an impact as even simple gestures can sometimes leave a bigger stamp on our hearts. I try to keep this in mind when society shows us the bigger the better. Reading the obituaries in our local newspaper has caught my attention as I see these faces that have passed away and I have this urge to know who they were. All I can say is I have seen hilarious, sad, and to the point stories of these individuals I have never met. It has given me the urge to write my own, not that I wouldn’t trust whomever to write my obituary but why not take that off the shoulders of my loved ones.

---

     JoVal Jean (Schneibel) Wettlaufer was born on October 21, 1982 in Minot, ND. She grew up and attended school in Bottineau, ND and graduated from Bottineau High School in 2001. JoVal went on to college and later a full-time career but what mattered to her most was the idea of giving back to her community. She found a passion for volunteering/fundraising whether it be through her job, for a friend, or for her daughter’s extracurricular events. She led a simple life with the two LOVES of her life. JoVal met the man of her dreams when she was just five years old playing in a sandbox and the rest was history. Their beautiful daughter, Jocelyn Ann, was born on July 13, 2009 and she was JoVal’s everything. She enjoyed listening to music whether that be going to concerts or playing the occasional RockBand in her basement. She wanted to make a difference and leave the world behind her a better place. In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” ~The Lorax

---

This has been shared with my loved ones as even though I won’t be here to see it in the local newspaper at least I know it has been taken care of along with the rest of my celebration of life details. I believe this is something we should talk about even though it is a tough subject.  I will leave you with this story as this little boy lost his life too soon and as soon as I saw his picture I needed to read more about him.  He is an inspiration at such a young age and I would love to help continue his legacy with Jesse’s Toy Box. Please read the following:

https://www.wday.com/news/4406596-wyndmere-boy-who-inspired-jessys-toybox-dies

http://www.inforum.com/obituaries/4407193-james- jessy-haberman

If you would like to donate toys to this organization please contact me and Thank You!

---

Here are some songs that will hopefully be played at my life celebration:
Stars: Skillet (Click Here)
If You can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars

---

Lean on Me: Bill Withers (Click Here)
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

---

This is one to make us all think a little more!
If Today Was Your Last Day: Nickelback (Click Here)
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Until Next Time……..