Lori's Rambling

When this scholarship was established back in 2014, it was with the purpose of recognizing an adventurous spirit who takes many steps of faith throughout their youth career, including steps of faith in living out their walk with God, steps of faith in stepping up in leadership, and steps of faith in trying new things.    This year as I thought and prayed about the presentation and what to share,  God kept bringing Molli Colver to mind. In the world’s eyes both Scott and Molli were taken way too young.  Yet the impact of both their lives will be felt for eternity because of who they lived for.  In the celebration of life service for Molli and the stories and writing prompts that were shared, it was quickly evident who Molli was, who she lived for, and how to accept the gift of salvation.   I can’t think of a better way to describe a life well-lived - one that points others to Christ.  Molli understood that as Christians we are called to ...

47.  Today you would have been 47 years old.  You left us 6 1/2 years ago without warning.  While I take comfort in the fact that there is no sadness in heaven, I am sad for the moments and memories we “lost” with you and that you “lost” with us.  There is not a soccer game or significant event or accomplishment in Jaelyn’s life that I don’t think of you with sadness that you are “missing out.”    This is a time in her life that you would would have loved — watching her play soccer, winning awards at school, and growing into a beautiful young lady inside and out.  You would be busting out with pride of who Jaelyn is and her journey to get here, especially despite the trauma of losing you.  She has not allowed your loss to define who she is.  As much as I grieve the fact that Jaelyn doesn’t have you, I grieve the fact that you aren’t here to enjoy her growing up and maturing.  I remind her often of how much you loved her, protected h...

In June of 2012, we organized family pictures with Scott’s family, knowing that once our nephew, Nando, left for college in August it might be difficult to get everyone together at the same time, but not knowing that in a short six weeks Scott would be gone.  Those family pictures have been a tremendous treasure for all of us, as well as a reminder of the uncertainty of life.   I have regretted that we never did family pictures with my family before Scott’s death.  I think that one of the reasons we never did it was because of my brother, Jason, no longer being with us and any family picture would be incomplete.  After Scott’s death, this was even more the case, with both Scott and Jason gone.   About a year and a half ago, it really began to hit home that the longer we waited, the more likelihood that more loved ones could be missing from the pictures.  So for Christmas of 2017 Jaelyn and I gave my parents a gift certificate to have family pic...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Because my mom had breast cancer 23 years ago, I have been having mammograms done since 2007, at the age of 34.  This year I am 44, the same age as when my mom was diagnosed.  I have mostly been consistent with getting the mammograms done, with two gaps of a couple years and a few gaps of a year and a half in those 11 years.   I had my yearly mammogram done last Friday, 13 months after my last one. I remember thinking when I went that I was the same age as when my mom received her diagnosis and having a feeling that this year I would get a call back for additional scans.  When I checked the online portal on Monday evening for the results (first time that I had setup the portal for PennState Health), not expecting the results to be there yet, I found that unfortunately my feeling was correct.  The report indicated a change in one of the scans of the right breast as compared to the last three mammograms and a re...

My brother, Jason, was an extremely talented young man when it came to mechanics and vehicles.  He had his first car and had rebuilt the engine the first time by his 13th birthday.  He knew from a young age what he wanted to do with his life.  By the time he was 18, he was working full-time as a machinist and had completely redone his car - both engine and body.  He had bought a truck and rebuilt the engine and had started working on redoing the body.  His car and truck were his pride and joy. And then the unexpected happened — he was severely injured in a work accident which left him in a coma and in the hospital and rehab for a year before my parents were able to bring him home with round the clock nursing care.  Because his car and truck were his pride and joy and so much of his blood, sweat, and tears were poured into them, our family couldn’t think of parting with them.  He never recovered from his injuries and was left significantly disabled...

As we come up on 6 years this Friday since Scott died, I find that I am more aware of and grieving more for what Jaelyn has lost.  I find myself being more observant of father/daughter or father/child moments that remind me of Scott’s relationship with Jaelyn and what she has lost.  This morning in church, a young family came in with their two year old little boy (who we have enjoyed spending time with him in the nursery once a month for the past year).  His father was carrying a Turkey Hill slushy and for all of those who knew Scott well, you know that he was “addicted” to Turkey Hill slushies.  It was touching to watch him kneel down and share spoonfuls of the slushy with his little boy.  Jaelyn was a little bit older when Scott developed his slushy addiction, but it was exactly what I could picture Scott doing with Jaelyn if she had been that age.  I leaned over and told Jaelyn what I was thinking as I love those moments when it is a visual picture in f...

Today was the presentation of the fifth annual Scott Bradley Adventurous Life scholarship.  The scholarship winner is chosen each year through vote of the youth and youth leaders based on criteria of living a life of faith and adventure. Each year I find out who the winner or winners (there was a tie one year) are just before the presentation.  Coming from a rather large church, some years I am familiar with the name and face of the winner and some years I am not.   It is always interesting to hear from Pastor Marc a little bit about each winner and what makes them special.   This morning when Pastor Marc told me that the winner this year is Alex Almer and that he had shared his testimony in the Easter program, I immediately understood what made Alex special.   I am glad that I had the honor of hearing Alex's story and testimony during the Easter program.  It was not a surprise to me having heard his testimony when Pastor Marc told me that Alex had w...