Guardian Angel

In the last couple years my family has gone through a particularly hard time. I, for one, still struggle with it. There are just some things that will never be the same again. Or at least not in our life time. Family gatherings, April 1st (April Fool's Day-perfect for Mark), Easter break, the spring, holidays, euchre, Friday night football games and Bw's after, and the list goes on.


I read the obituaries in the paper from time to time or hear of tragic things happening to other people's families, but I never think they will happen to mine. Mark was a 46 year old, husband, father, uncle, son, brother, brother-in-law, and basically all around family man. His life was taken because God decided that it was his time. The firefighters call it "answering his last alarm". He could be funny and blunt with his words, sometimes impatient, but those were the things we loved and miss. For us, left on Earth, there are so many unanswered questions. I wonder why him? Why so young? Why do this to his family? But he was in shape. He took care of himself. He was a productive citizen of society. He was hardworking. For a long while and even now I still question God's decision of taking him away. It is selfish of me to wish he was still here. I have prayed about it and tried to find the answers to my questions. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and there was a reason for this. I am still trying to figure out what that reason is. But I am keeping the faith. I still can be driving or sitting in my apartment by myself and cry about a memory I have. It is a pain in my heart I have struggled to accept.


"The young women will dance for joy, and the men --old and young--will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing." Jeremiah 31:13


Mark is my guardian angel. He watches over. I just have to have faith that my family and myself will see him again someday.


Guardian Angel


A guardian angel stands by me,
Wherever life may lead,
He's watching from way up above,
And wiping away my tears.


I feel him in the car when I drive,
He takes control of the wheel,
Even though God took him away,
When I need him, he feels alive.


From day to day I walk through life,
Continuing to ask why?
Why did God steal a loved one away,
Is it so he can be with me everyday?


The empathy I feel for the rest of my family,
And crying because they hurt,
Wants me to find the answers to our questions,
To bring peace to our hurting hearts.


Thank you for the angel,
Watching over me everyday,
It has helped me appreciate the little things,
And appreciate my blessings in every way.


I love you Mark!


Lastly, I believe Mark loved his family so much. I think his wife and three kids were his life. And I am sure that everytime he left for work he prayed to God for his family to be safe no matter what happened to him. This is for my aunt and cousins.


When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an
older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if according to my fate I am to lose my life this day,
Please bless with your protecting hand my family this I pray.


The Huber Heights Fire Department made a wall of honor for Mark and I saved the pictures from facebook. I loved them and of course I cried. So here are some of the pictures that were taken.