From Melody

WOW. I need a lot of big deep breaths. My mind is going through images of
your house in azusa, your roommates, the pool table, your room, your
playlist, your posters, your basket of freshly-laundered towels (I still
don't get it!!!), your curly hair, your littly tooshy, your smile and your
laughter. I don't want to sound cliche, AT ALL, but really, I have such
vivid memories of your laughter and smile, maybe because that's what I saw
the most of!

Some of my favorite memories of you, which I hope are some of your favorites
of us:

Driving up to Julian for some apple pie, but finding the "Cats Cats CATS!"
store instead. I still have that picture...MEOW!
Playing pool...again and again, until i won! (well, until you let me
believe I won fair and square)
Laying on your big bed just listening to so many new songs....
Inviting you over to our mod, only to dress up with becky in the ugliest
clothes we could find and give you a care package to get you better again!
you were so unamused...
Watching Spinal Tap until it was unhealthy for any normal person. maybe
eleven times...
Going to the Huntington Library and playing cards in the grass. "FER DA
DUCKS!"


The memories go on, as I am sure they do for many of you who knew dan. but
to dan: i will forever guard closely the time I shared with you. I count it
such a privilege that you let me in to your world as you did. You were
honest with me. You let me see you as you were. You laughed with me. You
loved me. You valued me. You listened to me. You cared for me. And I
cried with you. I struggled through tough questions with you. I laughed
till my face hurt with you. I made up jokes with you. I ached with you.
I lived more fully with you in my life.

Thank you Daniel James Boatwright. Thank you for showing me how to laugh,
how to love, how to live. Thank you for sharing your life with mine. I
will never let our memories die.

One Step at a time

 

It took me so long to write, because I�m still at a loss for words. Dan and I only knew each other from high school. We rarely hung out but we shared the same friends, which wasn't hard to do, because he was friends with every one. My memories of him are all cheerful. He was one of the few guys around that never did anything that made me question his character. He treated all people with respect. It keeps running through my mind why he had to pass early from this life. His heart was so big and so full of love, I'm sorry for your loss. I also know that wherever god takes away, he replaces somewhere else in other ways. I pray that the tender mercies of the lord may be apparent to you in your life and that you may be able to find some peace through this great trial you have been given. "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." {see Ecclesiastes 9:11; Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13}

To become a winner in the race for eternal life requires effort, constant work, striving, and enduring well with god�s help. But the key is that we must take it just one step at a time. I know that you have the most amazing people who love you all so very much. You will not have to suffer in silence. We are ALL here for you. I�m so sorry again for your loss. "Our hearts are heavy and sad, but our souls are of good cheer." You have been blessed with this great trial, I say "blessed" because as much as we have all lost by Dan passing, we have so much to learn, and such a great example to grow from. He will never be forgotten.

"All of us, in our own small way, have experienced the transforming power of a great emotional shock. It searches the soul, it opens up the mind to its foundations, it rearranges all the courses of nature and sets things going in an entirely different direction. It is hard, but it is wholesome. It shakes out the dross from the mind, and makes men bigger and better." -Author unknown

I�m a big fan of the Boatwright fam! Chris I remember you from Woodruff. Becky, I miss you! Call me anytime! Kate and Sarah, I barely know you but I think you are both fabulous! All my love and prayers to you all! Love always Tina Marie Bartlett Mitchell   Las Vegas Nevada  Tinamarie1999@hotmail.com