August 30, 2000

Dear Family,

Yesterday would have been Skylar's sixth birthday had he still
been here with us.

I did some work in the morning, participating in a conference
call with a collegue from the office. Then Aunt Lynn (my sister)
and I drove over and picked up Skylar's brother Chris and we
drove over to the coast for the afternoon.

Suzanne had given me what I took as a wonderful suggestion. We
bought some pretty balloons and took them with us in the trunk
of the car. I showed Aunt Lynn the way to a small park at the
north end of Morrow Bay. We had walked along the rocky shore
there with Skylar and Chris a couple of years ago.

We ate some avocados, corn chips, and dried pears for lunch as
we watched waves break and flights of pelicans soar by. I washed
my hands in a tide pool and then showed Chris how the sea anemones
pull in their tentacles when they are touched.

Back at the top of the ridge, we took the balloons and my guitar
out of the trunk of the car and, one at a time, we let them fly
up into the wind to celebrate Skylar's birthday. "Here's one from
Nana" I said as I let fly a blue balloon marked "It's A Boy!".
Chris let go a balloon with tiger stripes; Tigger from the Winnie
the Pooh stories was one of Skylar's favorite fictional characters.
We watched the balloons for a long, long time, until they were tiny
specks that at last vanished from our sight.

We sang "Happy Birthday" in Skylar's honor, and then we flew a kite
for a while. Later, we drove a way up the coast, seeing the sights.
We saw some seals on the beach up beyond San Simeon and Hearst Castle.
On the way home, we stopped for ice cream cones at a shop in Morrow
Bay where I used to take both boys for a treat.

Is it possible for loved ones at home with the Lord to see us here?
That is an interesting question, and one about which I would welcome
any scriptural contemplations you may have. In any case, I asked
the Lord if He would give Skylar a birthday hug from Papa.

Our celebration was mostly for our own comfort in remembering Skylar.
We have talked of how Skylar has received the best birthday present
of all, to be with the Lord Jesus and to be safely out of the reach
of any more pain or suffering. Skylar celebrated his birthday in
the best place of all! We also celebrate Skylar's "birth" into his
new life with Jesus.

"And I heard a voice from heaven, saying "Write, 'Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit,
"that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with
them." - Revelation 14:13

"O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The
sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But
thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ! Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is
not in vain in the Lord." - I Corinthians 15:55-58

Thank you, family, for your love for Skylar and for us.

-Dann (for us all)