Nov. 22, 2011 - Those of us who were in Austin (Mom, Dad, Derek, me, and Tirzah, and Madison) went to the grave at around 5pm. We noticed there was a man's body buried to the right of Marshall's grave. Looks like it was buried last Dec. - we hadn't been to the grave for a whole year! The other side are Mom and Dad's plots so those will stay open until they go to God.
It was pretty cold so we didn't stay very long. Next we stopped at the crash site. The cross looked more worn on the top - some of the paint is wearing off. It always smells bad next to the dump.
It was windy and cold so we didn't stay there long either. We headed back to the Hagen house and had dinner together. Later we skyped with Hannah and Richard and talked through memories of the day of the accident and the following days afterwards. I think it was pretty hard for my dad but helpful for my mom and me; Hannah shared some things that happened that my mom didn't even remember as she was so focused on Mason's condition. Oh what a crazy, desperate time. I shared the memory of when we had first gotten to the ER and heard that Marshall hadn't made it for sure and my dad sunk to the floor and cried out to God that He would raise him back to life like Lazarus. Madison crouched in the corner between the wall and a couch. I sat on the couch in a ball. I don't know where Derek was. Mom hadn't gotten there yet. Hannah and Richard were driving to Ohio for a wedding. When Mom got to the ER they asked if two of us wanted to go back and see Mason. He was on a stretcher being triaged for his burns.
Even though it was hard and sad to talk about those things, it was very comforting just being together and being able to talk with Hannah via skype. We really missed Mason not being there with us.
I'd like to write up the whole story sometime to be sure we don't forget it. Even after 5 years we felt like some of the memories were foggy.
Then Dad read I Thessalonians 4 about the coming of the Lord:
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
This is our hope! Praise the Lord that He has promised us restoration, healing, joy, and RESURRECTION!
