This is Tom Small. I want to thank you all so much for your prayers and support of our entire family during this process. While I may be a bit biased, I know Jennifer brought so much to everyone she came in contact with. She possessed a caring spirit, genuine wisdom and true compassion. She wanted to utilize the challenges of life to provide encouragement and share the testimony of her personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you feel at all fortunate for having a friend like Jennifer, I can only begin to tell you how spoiled I have been these past 33 years to have her first as a girlfriend and then a wife. My life is different and better in so many ways because of her; she brought out the best in everyone.
Jennifer and I spent a lot of time talking about these days after her passing. Rather than hold a traditional funeral service, we wanted to take a few weeks and then host a Celebration of Life memorial service. We were hoping the delay would allow those who would like to attend the necessary time to coordinate schedules. If you are unable to attend, I do plan on streaming the service on YouTube and it will be available to watch at a later date.
The memorial service will be Saturday, October 16 at 11:00 am, and will be held at Eastridge Baptist Church (12520 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98031). I will post this information on her Facebook account as well. If you know anyone that may not be following this blog or Facebook, please share the information with them for me. Thank you.
We have received some amazing flower arrangements at our home and it smells wonderful around here! For the memorial service however, Jennifer asked that donations be made to Compassionate Healing Foundation in lieu of flowers.
It will be really nice to get together to remember Jennifer; I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Tom, it is so good to hear from you. Thank you for posting the information on the Celebration of Life for Jennifer. Know that you and your precious girls continue to be lifted up in prayer.
Oh Tom I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS.
Thank You for sharing her with me thus the years
Memories are treasured
Please keep in touch somehow
Praying for you all
I am close to you all
Tom, thank you for the information. I think this is a wonderful way to have the service. I will be looking forward to being able to watch it on TV through YouTubTube. I continue to pray for all of you.
My prayers continue for you, the girls, and all of your family.
Blessings, Shanna
Thank you for the update. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with your family!
Yes, Jennifer, was so very caring, compassionate, courageous & encouraging. So has taught & shown us so much thru her words & the way she lived. God blessed me & others through Jennifer. Thank you for the update. We’ll keep praying for you & your loved ones now & through the years. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Ps. 34:18 We’ll all see her again & it’ll be glorious!
Tom… We are praying for you all, and have been so blessed by your family’s God honoring response to the many trials you have been through!! You have been an amazing example of trusting in God, and I know that has brought honor to His name…. I wish we could be there for the service, but we will watch on YouTube, and will continue to pray for you in the days ahead! …with love, Stan & Sue
Dear Tom, I wish so much that I would have been able to meet Jennifer in this life. If we had grown up on the same side of the country, I believe we would have been more than just cousins, we are kindred spirits. What we did share is the beautiful heritage and faith that carries us through life. It is how I know that we will meet, in person, in heaven. I look forward to seeing the service online. I will continue to pray for you, the girls, Paul and your parents in the days and months ahead.
Tom, thank you so much for sharing this. We all loved Jennifer very much. She poured love into our lives and ministered to us in so many ways. We’ve been praying for your family and will continue to do so. I live in Georgia so I can’t make the service but would love to watch it. I was diagnosed with stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer in June 2014. Jen and I connected through my blog. Our friendship grew over the years. I miss her so much. God bless you and the girls. I’ll be praying for all of you continually. Much love, Bonnie Annis
Dear Tom. Thank you for sharing the information for Jennifer’s memorial. I know that it will be absolutely wonderful. We are praying everyday for you and the girls for comfort from our Almighty God. But we know that it is heart wrenching to not have her with you for now. Someday we will all have the best reunion. I wonder if she has seen Frieda yet. Take care of yourselves and again sending prayers of comfort your way.
Love in Him, Dave and Patty