Goodbye to a dear friend

Tonight I just found out about the passing of our dear friend Jeff Whetman. He was our Home Teacher and great friend and has been battling cancer for over a year now. It still doesn't seem real that he is gone and in my mind it is like a video being played over and over of little snap shots of him at various moments. The Whetman family has been SO strong and great examples to us all of how to deal with trials with grace, faith, and gratitude. I have become so close to them over the past year as there have been times that I have been able to stay in their home to help take care of their sweet little two year old Maria (my friend Amy is like Maria's second mother and took the most beautiful pictures of her while she was taking care of her). Luke, Emma, and Gavin have also become so attached to their family and every evening prayer they gave mentioned Jeff in it. I never saw Suzanne lose faith and she was always so positive, even when the doctors said there was nothing more they could do and they were sending Jeff home for his last days on earth, Suzanne accepted God's will and her faith turned to Heavenly Father that he would give her the strength to go on with this outcome. I don't know how she remained so strong and put together. The other night when I dropped off dinner to their family Suzanne was there meeting with someone. I don't know if it was a doctor or someone about funeral plans. Anyway I slipped in and dropped off the food and then slipped out not wanting to interrupt. Shortly after I got home that night there was a message on the machine with Suzanne thanking me and complimenting me on what a beautiful meal it was and going on and on about how grateful she was. I know she had a million things to do, chase around a 2 year old, take care of her dying husband, make sure her teenagers homework was done, the list goes on and on, but she took the time to call. I hope that if ever I go through a trial as enormous as the one she is going through right now, that I will remember to have a grateful heart and take the time to thank people for the smallest things like a simple meal.

I will never forget poor Jeff getting up in Sacrament meeting about a month or two ago to bear his testimony. He walked up there like a frail old man with a patch over his eye and had to stop every few sentences to grab the pulpit and steady himself and catch his breath. He still spoke with such eloquence, and conviction of his love of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also got to see him in the temple 2 months ago, he spent the whole day there doing family names and by the time we saw him he could barely stand. I think he knew his time here was coming to a close.

He has always been so proper and impressive. He was in the Navy and LOVES flying planes. (the above picture was taken about 5 years ago as Jeff and Suzanne were going to the Navy Ball and left their boys to stay with us for the evening). Often times his Home Teaching lessons had stories related to his experiences. After his service in the Navy he was an airline pilot. But shortly after 9/11 he had to switch careers and was "behind a desk" as he would put it for a few years. Right before he found out he was sick he came to visit our house beaming as he told us he was finally going back to doing what he loved, flying. He was back to being a pilot but shortly after his battle with cancer began.

He was our Elder's Quorum President in our ward years ago and Matt had the opportunity to be in his Presidency. I know Matt learned a lot from him, as did I. Matt had the opportunity 2 weeks ago to sit by Jeff's side and talk to him and read scriptures to him. What a tender moment. We love you Jeff and will try our hardest to help your family through the trials that lie ahead as they mourn your absence here on earth! Thank goodness for the knowledge we have that FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!!!!!!