Sixteen

    I work up this morning to the sound of my parents raised voices. As my brain began to once again function, the words became clearer to my understanding. "1986 means he would be 25!" "He is 24!""The numbers don't work out like that, there is no way that can be possible." "He died when he was 16 in 2003." "I thought he died when he was 15." My heart got heavy as I sighed and rolled out of bed. My mind began to think of how many years it had been and how time just slapped everyone in the face. 9 years. Almost a decade since that year of unknown. A year of doctors, hospitals, smiles, tears, goodbyes, and eventually darkness. However, this story of death comes two months later. This day is about life. His life. Luke's life. 16 years of utter and complete goofiness and high pitched laughter.

   I wasn't with him when he turned 16. He and my parents and little brother, Seth were all in California while Isaac and I remained in Nebraska. His 15th though was memorable for sure. The Stengels took him out and he shot his first doe. It was epic and the pure joy on his face that night was one that sticks in your memory. It is truly unbelievable to me how fast time has gone by and how surreal it seems some days.

  My little brother and I sat at the tablet his morning eating Luke's breakfast favorite of strawberry crepes. I asked him if he had heard the parents and he mumbles "Yeah, but I dont know what they were saying." After I told him what they were determining, in a low, firm voice he says, "He is 16." So happy sweet sixteen big brother, here's to you.