One of my favorite memories with my Great Uncle Al is the time he took me prom dress shopping. As the oldest daughter of four children, it was usually my mother, his niece Kathleen, who took me dress shopping. This one particular time it was such a privilege to have Uncle Al take me! The enormous enthusiasm & energy he had throughout the entire process of us scouting the mall is a definite testament to his patience, as he waited at countless stores for me to find just the right dress without rushing the lengthy process of my trying on nearly every dress that caught my teenage attention. We had such a good time laughing and making friends with many of the store representatives. It was lucky for me that he had a great sense of fashion and style to guide me throughout the gigantic mall, until I found just the right black sequin dress. Ive since worn it a few times in my younger years and have packed it away for my daughter as its a classic that isnt going out of style any time soon! This past Christmas I sent him a card reminding him about our fun memory together. We ate a yummy meal after all that energy-depleting shopping & most of all, I felt special -almost spoiled-by all of his attention. Afterward, I remember him taking me to a pretty beach to gaze at the water as we talked about life. It was absolutely our best day together ever! Of course, there were many more, starting from the excitement of visiting him & his family in NY as a little girl (when his son Kenneth would spin me round & round and then wed talk!) as well as the thrill of his visits to our family in NC during my teen years, all the way until when he moved to Franklin & my husband and I went to see him & introduce him to our son as a baby. We stayed up late as I curiously asked him question after question about our family history while looking at photos of loved ones. My Mother has always spoken so highly of Uncle Al and regarded him as a wonderful Uncle, of which I too found to be true! Hes had such a special place in our family. Were all of the same blood, of one love passed down in generations. We love our Uncle Al so very much. We already missed him as weve all grown up and live far apart. Now that hes gone to heaven we will miss him that much more knowing we wont get to see him again this side of heaven. Thats the best part though...when we do itll be in heaven! Maybe God has a perfect department store and we will all dance to the joyful sound of music in worship of Our Creator. Hopefully Uncle Al will get to take me dress shopping again only this time we wont need money or patience and itll be perfect joy to the snap of a finger in time...all of us together...youthful, healthy and content...Gods children. Im thankful for Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.