Today we laid a very thoughtful, kind and caring, and loving person to rest. Starla’s dear mother, Ruth Dout, passed away on Friday morning. She was a very good woman, and once she accepted you into her family, once she saw that you had good in you, she would do anything for you and you truly were one of her family. Sometimes Ruth had a tough outer core, as many do in life when you have been hurt SOO many times, but inside she was the sweetest woman. She was mom to me too, and I love her and appreciate her accepting me as her son too. Ruth had gone to visit her sister in KY about a month ago. On Thursday we got a call that she was not doing good and that we should head up there. She had been sick since her heart surgery in April, and basically passed away from complications of that surgery. Starla and her sister were able to be with her in KY during her last night. She just went to sleep and joined Starla’s dad in Heaven.

These times are always difficult, there is nothing that anyone can do to make a loved one feel better. Starla is tough, but I know this will be one of the hardest times she will go through. She will be ok, but it will take time. One of the hardest parts about her passing is the timing. After waiting 2 1/2 years, we are within a couple months of getting our referral. All we wanted, all Starla wanted, was for her mom to be able to meet her baby, to be able to spend time with her mom and our baby. Unfortunately the Lord had other plans, I don’t know what His plan is and why it couldn’t involve a baby meeting her grandmother but I will have to trust in Him.

To you Mikayla, whenever you read this, I want you to know my thoughts right now. I want you to know that your Grandmother was a very kind person and a very caring grandmother. She was looking forward to you coming to be with us and wanted to love you as her granddaughter. She always asked when we would get your picture, and like your Mom and Dad couldn’t understand why your not home yet. I know she was getting excited knowing that you were getting closer to being with us. She fought her illness with all she had for all these months. Even when she almost died once, the nurses and doctors said she only had hours to live, she came back, and came back strong. I can’t help but think that some of that fight was because she wanted to be here to meet you. I am sorry that your grandmother will not be here with you, but I KNOW that her heart and soul will live on and that she will be with you. She lives in us all, if you look closely I know you can see her. And I know that she loved you as her granddaugther already.