In memory
Side note: I don't know why LJ is creating such crazy fonts and not keeping things uniform, but I don't have the strength anymore to try to fix it.
May 13 letter to my life group friends:
Hi ladies:
I'm sure by now some of you have heard of the death of Chris Kuykendall, who was for many years a youth leader and integral part of the Jr and Sr High ministry at Gateway since practically its inception. He was killed in a single car accident Tuesday evening in Bryan when he flipped his Jeep.
Chris was one of Scott's and my best friends. He and Scott had been close friends and played in high school band together, and Chris brought me and Scott to Gateway for the first time back in 2003. He was a groomsman in our wedding, spoke at our ceremony gave a toast at our reception. Chris was Scott's and my Barnabus; he poured into and challenged us, and as iron sharpens iron, so Chris helped sharpen us.
Please lift up his sweet family in prayer. His parents are Randy and Ginger Kuykendall, his brother is Terrel. There was a memorial service last night at one of our favorite hangouts with Chris, Parr Park in Grapevine. After, Scott, me and our sister Emily went out with Terrel and some other friends to fellowship and keep him company. Terrel is being strong right now for his mother, and he's waiting to have "his time" not until next week after the funeral.
Please also keep Carolyn Dotti in your prayers. She and Chris were in a courtship relationship and would have soon been engaged. I know we hurt right now, but the devastation she's feeling now is unimaginable.
And please keep us in your prayers, for the loss is simply stunning. We rejoice that Chris is present in the glory of the Lord, but the cruel part about the death of a friend is the truck you feel is hitting you each time you realize there's this void in your life, and your best friend isn't here anymore and theres nothing you can do to alter that. I go to work but I can't concentrate on anything, I just find myself combing through emails, notes, pictures and blogs from Chris.
My friend Alex who works at the church are says she's never seen anything like what the kind of affect Chris' death is having on so many congregants. It isn't surprising, though, since Chris was such a leader and friend to all, and his and Carolyn's family mean so much to our church. They're having the funeral service at Gateway Southlake on Monday at 1 pm.
Love you girls.
Erin
May 13 letter to Sarah, my sister-in-law
Hi. Thank you for your note.
We're just here, I guess. I move between stunned and devastated and then denial. It's just too impossible to comprehend we're not going to see him again since he was such a constant fixture in our lives. I've personally never lost someone this close to me, especially someone so suddenly and at such a young age.
I know Chris is happy, so I don't mourn for him. I'm jealous for the glory Chris is witnessing now.
But I'm sad for the void that's left without him. He was our Barnabus, and as iron sharpens iron, so Chris sharpened us. Whenever we were dealing with a family/friend issue, we nearly always went to him after seeking the Lord through prayer.
I used to daydream about the future when we had kids, and how we'd all still get together like we try to do now as young folks, and we'd all bring up our children together. Chris was so good with kids of all ages, but especially teenagers, and I so wanted him to be an uncle to our children.
There's a photo of Scott's baptism day I treasure because I was privileged enough to share and witness that event as his friend back in 2003. I looked at it today on my wall and noticed Chris standing right behind Scott, who's all dripping wet. I thank the Lord for placing Chris in Scott's life as a constant godly influence who shared the Gospel for years and was a light for the Holy Spirit to use to stir Scott's heart into conviction.
Anyway, those are just some of the things going through my mind right now. I appreciate y'all's prayers and thoughts.
May 18 letter to Sarah
Thank you for your prayers. We are exhausted. I'm back to work today for the first time since I left early Thursday. We've spent the past few days accessing Chris' computers, drives, phone, etc. and combing through 100+hours of tape for Courtney to make the memorial video. We spent a great deal of time at his parents' house, and we had lots of other close friends of Chris' (some I'd never even met until now) use our home as a refuge to go through all the memories, pictures, and videos.
The service was indescribable. There will be a DVD made, so we'll have to send that to you. We're estimating about 1300 people attended. We had a time of worship I'll never forget. Scott spoke, and I was so proud to be his wife as he allowed God's beautiful words to channel through him and give honor to Chris' ministry and life. Scott's been receiving many kind notes from those in the service and we're so blessed that the Holy Spirit touched others through Scott's testimony.
I first met Carolyn at a women's retreat in the fall of 08 and I was looking forward to getting to know her better--Scott and I have spent time with them at our home, at the lake for bbqs, given them rides home from the airport, taken care of her dog, but I wouldn't say we've had the opportunity to grow close, especially since she was at school 3 hours away most of the year. But I've loved her because Chris loved her, and I shared some things about Chris with her on Sunday night at the visitation. Hopefully we'll continue to grow close.
Scott and I are going to Bryan, Texas next weekend to visit the ranch Chris worked at and visit where he died. It may sound morbid, but It'll continue to be closure for us. The ranch children came to the service and they were such amazing kids. We shook their hands, gave them hugs, and reminded them over and over how much Chris loved them.
May 13 letter to my life group friends:
Hi ladies:
I'm sure by now some of you have heard of the death of Chris Kuykendall, who was for many years a youth leader and integral part of the Jr and Sr High ministry at Gateway since practically its inception. He was killed in a single car accident Tuesday evening in Bryan when he flipped his Jeep.
Chris was one of Scott's and my best friends. He and Scott had been close friends and played in high school band together, and Chris brought me and Scott to Gateway for the first time back in 2003. He was a groomsman in our wedding, spoke at our ceremony gave a toast at our reception. Chris was Scott's and my Barnabus; he poured into and challenged us, and as iron sharpens iron, so Chris helped sharpen us.
Please lift up his sweet family in prayer. His parents are Randy and Ginger Kuykendall, his brother is Terrel. There was a memorial service last night at one of our favorite hangouts with Chris, Parr Park in Grapevine. After, Scott, me and our sister Emily went out with Terrel and some other friends to fellowship and keep him company. Terrel is being strong right now for his mother, and he's waiting to have "his time" not until next week after the funeral.
Please also keep Carolyn Dotti in your prayers. She and Chris were in a courtship relationship and would have soon been engaged. I know we hurt right now, but the devastation she's feeling now is unimaginable.
And please keep us in your prayers, for the loss is simply stunning. We rejoice that Chris is present in the glory of the Lord, but the cruel part about the death of a friend is the truck you feel is hitting you each time you realize there's this void in your life, and your best friend isn't here anymore and theres nothing you can do to alter that. I go to work but I can't concentrate on anything, I just find myself combing through emails, notes, pictures and blogs from Chris.
My friend Alex who works at the church are says she's never seen anything like what the kind of affect Chris' death is having on so many congregants. It isn't surprising, though, since Chris was such a leader and friend to all, and his and Carolyn's family mean so much to our church. They're having the funeral service at Gateway Southlake on Monday at 1 pm.
Love you girls.
Erin
May 13 letter to Sarah, my sister-in-law
Hi. Thank you for your note.
We're just here, I guess. I move between stunned and devastated and then denial. It's just too impossible to comprehend we're not going to see him again since he was such a constant fixture in our lives. I've personally never lost someone this close to me, especially someone so suddenly and at such a young age.
I know Chris is happy, so I don't mourn for him. I'm jealous for the glory Chris is witnessing now.
But I'm sad for the void that's left without him. He was our Barnabus, and as iron sharpens iron, so Chris sharpened us. Whenever we were dealing with a family/friend issue, we nearly always went to him after seeking the Lord through prayer.
I used to daydream about the future when we had kids, and how we'd all still get together like we try to do now as young folks, and we'd all bring up our children together. Chris was so good with kids of all ages, but especially teenagers, and I so wanted him to be an uncle to our children.
There's a photo of Scott's baptism day I treasure because I was privileged enough to share and witness that event as his friend back in 2003. I looked at it today on my wall and noticed Chris standing right behind Scott, who's all dripping wet. I thank the Lord for placing Chris in Scott's life as a constant godly influence who shared the Gospel for years and was a light for the Holy Spirit to use to stir Scott's heart into conviction.
Anyway, those are just some of the things going through my mind right now. I appreciate y'all's prayers and thoughts.
May 18 letter to Sarah
Thank you for your prayers. We are exhausted. I'm back to work today for the first time since I left early Thursday. We've spent the past few days accessing Chris' computers, drives, phone, etc. and combing through 100+hours of tape for Courtney to make the memorial video. We spent a great deal of time at his parents' house, and we had lots of other close friends of Chris' (some I'd never even met until now) use our home as a refuge to go through all the memories, pictures, and videos.
The service was indescribable. There will be a DVD made, so we'll have to send that to you. We're estimating about 1300 people attended. We had a time of worship I'll never forget. Scott spoke, and I was so proud to be his wife as he allowed God's beautiful words to channel through him and give honor to Chris' ministry and life. Scott's been receiving many kind notes from those in the service and we're so blessed that the Holy Spirit touched others through Scott's testimony.
I first met Carolyn at a women's retreat in the fall of 08 and I was looking forward to getting to know her better--Scott and I have spent time with them at our home, at the lake for bbqs, given them rides home from the airport, taken care of her dog, but I wouldn't say we've had the opportunity to grow close, especially since she was at school 3 hours away most of the year. But I've loved her because Chris loved her, and I shared some things about Chris with her on Sunday night at the visitation. Hopefully we'll continue to grow close.
Scott and I are going to Bryan, Texas next weekend to visit the ranch Chris worked at and visit where he died. It may sound morbid, but It'll continue to be closure for us. The ranch children came to the service and they were such amazing kids. We shook their hands, gave them hugs, and reminded them over and over how much Chris loved them.