January 12, 2012 was the day that my father James Joseph Blaser went into glory to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I remember that day like it was yesterday. During the last weeks of his life I was with him a lot. I was blessed to be able to minister to him in his final days on earth. For me, it was one of the greatest honors to care for my father at the end of his life knowing that he cared for me at the beginning of mine. I was not there when he took his last breath on earth and for that I am still heartbroken. My dad was more than my father, he was my friend. Because of my relationship with him, I have tried to be more involved, more intentional, more available, in the lives of those around me, those that I love and those that I know love me. Due to my father’s passing I have come to a more intimate understanding of what is written in *James 4:14 Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].* During my recent illness, there were a few times when I begged God to take me home, to heaven, because I was tired of the pain and suffering. Since I recovered, I know that God is not done with me yet. I liken to the words of Charles Spurgeon, “Surely, if there could be regrets in heaven, the saints might mourn that they did not live longer here to do more good. Oh, for more sheaves for my Lord’s garner! more jewels for His crown! But how, unless there be more work? True, there is the other side of it, that, living so briefly, our sins are the fewer; but oh! when we are fully serving God, and He is giving us to scatter precious seed, and reap a hundredfold, we would even say it is well for us to abide where we are. Whether our Master shall say “go,” or “stay,” let us be equally well pleased so long as He indulges us with His presence.” Our lives pass quickly. I regret the time that I wasted time on the wrong people. I feel sorry for the people that I spent time with that did not appreciate it. But, I will never regret investing in the lives of those God has put under my care because that is where the greatest harvest has been and I believe where there will be more to come. My beloved, looking forward to seeing you here, there, or in the air!