I love you Ungle Mike

This is the hardest post that I've ever wrote.

I don't have the emotional energy to say much. So I'm going to share a victory that I've shared with my Uncle Mike. Or Ungle Mike as my kids have always said.

After Rick and I were married, we moved to NKC. I was less than 30 minutes from Aunt Pam and Uncle Mike (Heather and Josh still lived at home at that time). I spent most of my free time with them.

One night I spent the night and started asking questions about God. I knew that they went to church and it was very important to them. All the things that I knew about God were confusing and filled with rules. I thought He was "a boss" and I didn't want "a boss". I thought His stories were far fetched and unbelievable.

I started asking Mike and Pam questions that night. Question after question as a matter of fact. I'll never forget sitting on a barstool in their kitchen. It's almost as if God has preserved that memory fresh for me.

I asked how? How do I know for sure that Jesus is my answer? Why is there so much anger and sadness and violence in this world? Do we really have an enemy? And is hell a real place?

All those things that were confusing to me, we suddenly simple. Instantly, a lightbulb was turned on in my head, I believed. I believed all the Bible stories that before seemed crazy. I believed that God was good and just and the way. I believed that I needed Him.

I said the sinners prayer that night in my shower. Just the Lord and I. At first I thought it was crazy that I made such a huge spiritual decision in the shower. Now the symbolism is priceless to me. I was washed clean.

I don't have my Uncle Mike on this Earth anymore. But I'm POSITIVE that I'll share eternity with him in Heaven. I KNOW that I will hug him again. And I HOPE that God brings Mike to me when I enter the gates to walk me to Jesus. Because that is what he helped me to do on Earth. I pray that God gives him jewels in his spiritual crown for me, my husband and my children.

We love you Mike and we're going to miss you like crazy.