Part 4: "The Church"

At Jalene's memorial service, Rowan fell in love with "Live the Life" Church in San Antonio.  Not just the surroundings, or the staff, or the praise and worship music (which were all great too), but it was more than that.  Rowan would tell anyone he met, that he saw Jesus there.  Not just like he felt God's presence...but that he literally saw Jesus there.  Now, Rowan had lots of dreams of Heaven and his friends playing there, and dreamed about Jesus often...but the only time he actually told us that he saw Jesus while he was awake, was at Live the Life Church in San Antonio at Jalene's memorial service.  Rowan said that he saw Jesus hovering over Jalene's casket, looking out at the crowd in the Church, smiling really big.  He said that Jesus was smiling because of everyone that Jalene brought to Church to see Him. 

After that service, whenever Rowan and I would attend Live the Life, Rowan never wanted to go to their Children's Church/Sunday School.  I always encouraged him to, telling him it might be cool to go be with kids his age, but he refused.  He would tell me, "No Mom, I like it out here...and I might see Jesus again".  And he would close his eyes, clap his hands and worship God...like this...

When Rowan got baptized, January 24th, 2016, it was of course held at Live the Life as well.  He told us that he wanted to get "dunked all the way", and that he wanted to do it at Jalene's Church, since that's where he saw Jesus.  So, we of course held his baptism there.  What a day that was.  He was so excited! Many of you joined us for that celebration, and watched as Rowan shot out of that basin with his fists raised in the air...victorious.  A moment I will never ever forget.

When it came time to plan his funeral, so much of the planning was difficult, but not where it would be held.  We envisioned Rowan entering Heaven the same way he came out of that baptism basin, fists held high...victorious.  He wasn't just seeing Jesus now, he was with Jesus.  So having his memorial service where his sweet friend Jalene's was, and where he got baptized...that was an easy decision.

Thank you Lisa Allen.  For allowing Rowan to tell the congregation at Jalene's private service (the day after her open memorial service) about him seeing Jesus there, and why Jesus was so happy.

And, thank you for being the one to dunk him (his request), during his baptism.  Finally, and coming full circle, thank you for leading his own memorial service, just a year later.  He didn't just see Jesus at Live the Life, I know he saw Jesus in you too.  And I know he was so pleased with where we decided to hold his memorial service, and with who we chose to lead it.  And I can only imagine how happy he and Jesus and Jalene were, sitting up there in Heaven looking at another packed Church, filled with people coming to celebrate Rowan and see Jesus.

I love you and I miss you Rowan.

I've had 30 days without you...

but you've had 30 days with Jesus...