Two Years

"I believe that we will always have one hand reaching back in time, hoping to feel the touch of that marvelous life, looking back to get a glimpse of the best part of ourselves"... 

2 years ago today Shaun went home. For all who were blessed to love him, June 6th will always mark the date of our hearts darkest tragedy...Death may hold no sting - but living does.
Two years... should that seem like a long time? Should it seem short? Time dances between the two extremes, binding yesterdays to todays. It dulls the sharpness of vivid memory with its lengthy passage, but moves so quickly that the heart remains wholly untouched by time.

And so we love. Regardless of time or space between hearts. And although there's a sting, we can also learn to live.

I love you Shaun. As much today as yesterday... and will love you as much tomorrow. Your eyes were my hearts greatest blessing.
I celebrate you today - all you offered the world. All you offered me.

Tomorrow is a long time...

Tomorrow Is a Long Time - Link to song

...There is beauty in that silver singin' river...

There is beauty in that sunrise in the sky...

But none of these, and nothing else can touch the beauty...
That I remember in my true love's eyes... ~ Bob Dylan

Miss you...

Time with Dad

I had a wonderful weekend with Shaun's Dad, Norm.

I can't quite express how connecting it was to spend a weekend doing nothing but talking, laughing, and crying about our favorite topic. 

Shaun felt closer when Norm was here... the apple didn't fall far.

My heart dropped a bit to see that fabled yellow-jeep of so many of Shaun and Norm's adventures disappear into the fog.  What a precious son, and a precious Dad.  Thank you for sharing your heart Norm, and with it, some precious insights into your sweet son. 

There are some wounds time doesn't heal.
Until Heaven...
We love you. I pray that knowledge is deeply felt in your heart. You have left us aching... but you also left us with a beautiful heart to follow and memories to make us smile at night.
Someday when I find the right words to express the uniqueness of your spirit I can stop trying - but until then - I'll continue to somehow try to thank you for all your heart gives me, simply by being you. And to do a small part to help the world still be impacted by your goodness.

He is with me still... his audible voice is quieted, but my heart can still hear...
Companionship doesn't always come with a warm body... sometimes it's in the quiet of the heart. And when I can find the strength to see beyond this temporal world, I recognize I need never feel lonely.

Remembrance of a Beautiful Life - One Year

This is Heidi’s sister, Becky.

June 6th, 2009 marks one year since a tragic accident took Shaun from this world (shaunlunt.typepad.com). For some, including my sister, life will never be the same. This coming weekend we will be having a small celebration of Shaun’s life. I wanted to ask all of you to please participate.

Shaun always hoped his life would somehow make a difference. And he lived in a way that secured an incredibly beautiful legacy.
Something that has been very meaningful to Heidi as she has continued to grieve over the loss of this tremendous man, is hearing how he made and still makes a difference in the lives of others.

Some of you know and love him greatly and some of you never met him, yet still feel his impact. Whether you knew him well or not at all, if you have any comments or thoughts about his story, his life, remembrances and memories, or how his story or life have impacted, inspired or made you want to be a better person – PLEASE SHARE! You can email me directly at jbek07@gmail.com.
We will also forward all the comments to Shaun’s mom, dad and sister. They, along with Heidi, will cherish knowing how Shaun made a difference in life and still makes a difference in his absence. These comments will be read as we love and remember Shaun and his life on Saturday, June 6, 2009.

Breathe in, Breathe out

What do I say about my sweet love...

I very much want Shaun's life to continue to influence others - and if I can help in that by sharing some of him, some of me - I want to. These past few months have been some of the hardest. Sometimes night is just night... with no cliche about stars or dawn. Sometimes it's just dark and hard.

I don't want to focus on the sad part of things - but the truth is, as incredible as this man is, he is gone from the world. Whether it's a brief or lengthy sojourn until we meet -- the empty truth is he is absent. And the hole is unavoidable. Grief never goes away... it never lessens... but I suppose our hearts continue to beat nonetheless. Grief does not equate depression. It's a rich burden... one that I gladly carry.

I have loved hearing from so many people who know or have never known Shaun, and are impacted by his life. I have also appreciated hearing from folks who still struggle to breathe from losses of their own.

I haven't written in a couple of months, not knowing how to even sort-of contribute to the legacy he wordlessly left the world with.
All I know is I still ache for this incredibly good man. I'm trying to figure out how to balance the desire for life to speedily move forward to the glorious end, and somehow living purposefully and leaving a legacy of my own.
So - until I figure out those age-old questions - there is still peace in the rivers, in the mountains, and in the quiet villages of Ireland. Guess I'll have to visit them all...

I love you Shaun. That is one part of my soul that is calm and peaceful... it is sure. I miss you...

Blue skies and tail winds :)

Just found this picture today. Shaun emailed from his iPhone letting me know what he was up to. 3/23/08: "Surfing the internet with my paternal".

Father and son. More importantly - respected equals and the best of friends.

shaunlunt.typepad.com

Happy Birthday to Shaun

Shaun's Birthday - 2007

It's Shaun's birthday today.

Last year I got to spend it with Shaun. He spent a large part of the day flying. He got up at about 4 am, announced that is was cold and dark and he would just "microwave my underwear and go for it", and flew the cub from Spokane into Salt Lake #2 Airport - landing right about...now! I picked him up - and we drove to Zinn Bistro to celebrate over a dinner of Spinach Crepes.

The next morning we bundled up for some snowmobiling! There was way too much snow and we had to keep moving constantly to avoid getting ridiculously stuck. We rode for a few hours and then bailed to go hop in the plane instead.
Shaun flew us into the mountains - trying to throw me off with some aerobatics - even though that meant the super cub would get covered in splashed oil. I loved flying with Shaun. He made attempts to teach me - but my patience wasn't always as long as my learning curve :)
I always felt completely safe with Shaun - he was certainly a master of his domain. We'd be flying along and all of the sudden he'd pull the stick back and do a backwards loop - then look behind him with a mischievously innocent smile. We hopped around - landing in various fields and diving into mountain gullies... Shaun was at peace when he flew.

Today is probably one of my best memories with Shaun. He held me tight for the first time and I remember wondering how it could possibly be fair that one person could be so incredibly handsome on both the outside and the inside. Shaun has always felt like coming home. I miss him.
Shaun was a sweet little boy - and became an incredible man. His parents and sister are truly some of the best people I've met. The apple didn't fall far from the tree... Norm and Margie - you raised a tremendous son. I feel very blessed to have had him in my life. Thank you.

Merry Christmas - and to quote Shaun - "may the peace of this season yada yada yada"

Happy Birthday Shaun.
Love you.
Heidi

Birthday Wishes - Nov. 2008

It’s my birthday today. I spent the better part of the day today reading through Shaun’s notes, emails, etc. I’ve avoided much of that over the last couple of months… thinking that it might relieve some pain. It hasn’t… it’s just made things feel… well, empty.
Re-living where we were a year ago today, I have had the biggest smile on my face that I’ve had for months. Granted, there were tears flowing freely, but the sweetness of his heart, his witty charm, chased the darkness out and made me laugh the gut laugh! Like he always has, his humor, his silliness, and his love lit a flame of warmth and light inside me.

Shaun is so clever and delightful with words… but he is also so concerned, real, and humble in his testimony. It seems like his words are more for me right now than they were then…

“I don't understand it all. God tells me I won't understand it all until I'm with Him. Ahh, there it is again... faith. Man that's a tough one. For whatever God has in store for you, I don't know, but I know he'll take care of you for relying on Him. His Grace is sufficient. We all hurry to make our lives something, but I think God's timeline is much different. He's working in our lives through a process of us learning to trust Him. Patience is something I struggle with, seems like it's been long enough, in my eyes. And yet I pray for God's Will to be done...so I must let it be His Will and not mine.”
- Shaun Lunt – 12/01/07

Such a sweet man. He simply and transparently shares words of wisdom.
I wish he were here.
I wish I were there.

Anybody know if Birthday wishes on candles actually come true? Except I didn't actually have a cake... or a candle...

But, as Shaun reminds me even now, faith has to win. God’s timeline is different than my own. Bad days eventually come to an end. Heavenly promises are always kept. He’s working in our lives… be patient… let it be His will and not mine.

Missing you always.
Heidi

Isaiah 41:10 - For the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Shaun :) - xo xo

SHAUN LUNT

The last picture of Shaun - sent from his iPhone earlier in the week with this little note:
"Just landed on the knik river, sitting in my chair. Awesome! (close to anchorage, so have a signal for my iPhone)". He is happy.


Dear friends and family,

Friday evening, my love - Shaun, returned to the Father who gave him life. He was doing what he loved, flying his Super Cub and hopping across beaches near Bethel, Alaska. He saw a cool whale skeleton on the beach and circled around to get a picture. He is an amazing and very skilled pilot. We're not sure exactly what happened, but it appears that he may have been trying to frame a great picture with one hand and flying with the other while slowly circling the skeleton. His plane stalled only 100' from the beach with no room to recover and spiraled down at about 70 mph. I pray that he didn't hurt. Although the pain is immense for his dear friend and fellow pilot Loni Habersetzer, who watched this happen, I am so deeply grateful that someone was flying along side him and he wasn't alone.

He is a tremendous spirit. It is a privilege to know him, and an even greater privilege to love him. He loves his Savior with a depth and passion I've never seen. He walks with God. He lived his life as an absolute testimony of his faith. Shaun paid the price to know God - in the everyday decisions that he made - he sacrified to know God. He so badly wanted his life to mean something - to make a difference. Shaun loves with the same depth and passion. He would give the world if it would bring a small smile to those he loves. He couldn't go more than a few days without calling his family. He needed their connection - and they needed his. His eyes would turn soft and he would smile whenever he spoke of them. They lived inside his heart. Shaun lifts those who know him. He reminded me who I was - and would in a way, miraculous and solely his own, lift me to a higher place and remind me that I always belonged there.

From our pictures you know that Shaun was adventurous and funny and silly - but the real heart of Shaun was brimming with love to be shared. He was always occupied with whether he was serving God enough. He was constantly concerned for the wellbeing of his family and loved ones. His depth over-powers me... I am continually in awe of who he is. I don't have the words to say. It seems like no amount of time would be long enough with him. The loss is so deeply acute.

Thank you to all of you for your love and prayers - they are so welcome and so appreciated. Please continue to pray for Shaun's family. They are so deeply overwhelmed with grief.

Words are inadequate to tell about Shaun - He is so rich and deep and indescribable. Along with all who have had the blessing of Shaun - I ache for the day when I can be with him again. He was an angel among men - EVERYONE who knows him could see that. I have beautiful memories... it has been a blessing to share some of his life with him. I am better for having loved him - that is all he would have wanted.

Nothing can express his legacy and nothing can express my grief at his loss.
I love you Shaun, until heaven...
Forever yours,
Heid

Death Valley - April 2008

Death Valley for a little hiking, camping and shooting stuff

Found some wildflowers in the sand dunes and decided to land and pull out the guns...

We shot the .40 S&W, 12-gauge shotgun (my first time shooting clay discs - I didn't stink too bad!), and the .454 Casull (which scared the crap out of me and I only fired it once!). Shaun on the other hand, was a perfect shot, once again...

We took off again to head toward Death Valley and found a really cool dried lake bed to land in. Only the crust was hard, about 1/2 inch below was gooey salty stuff - pretty interesting.

Ah, our little oasis in the desert... Just a few palm trees and a hot spring in the middle of nowhere.

Life is good...
Headed back to Southern California, found a gorgeous canyon to fly up. You can't really tell, but the ground was covered with wildflowers. We landed here and explored for a few... the Super Cub is awesome. But the pilot is even better. :)
Shaun found a lake and did a little Super-Cub-skiing :). Another successful adventure and a fun trip!

Southern Utah - March 2008

Shaun and I met in St. George for one more March adventure of biking, hiking, flying, and shooting stuff.

Shaun biking Gooseberry Mesa - all I know is that it's too hard for the likes of me...

Southern Utah redrock... did I mention I love it?

Shaun landed the Super Cub in some really cool places... I'm sure none of them were illegal.
We landed on the top of a butte and found some rocks that were patiently waiting to be trundled...

... we obliged.

We flew out to the desert and decided it was time to shoot some stuff...
Shaun's targets (radishes, we're eco-friendly)...

MY target... (little bigger, but again, eco-friendly).

I swear - the guy never misses...

Yep - Bought a gun. It's a Kahr .40 and I love it.
Rainy weather grounded us so we naturally turned to our favorite amusement - shootin stuff. We determined that fruit was no longer exciting enough and hit the dollar store for some 'targets'. Shaun decided that we needed a big remote controlled truck so we could have a 'moving target'. By the way, the dollar store doesn't actually sell many things that are a dollar.
We set up our lawn decor, ceramic frogs, exploding soda cans, etc...

Die bird, Die... Shaun is a ridiculously good shot. The bird never had a chance...

Valentine's Day - 2008 (Heidi Brunner and Shaun Lunt)

The coolest, funnest, sweetest, most bestest valentine...
Truly one of the best days of my life. Shaun made it absolutely magical - what a closet romantic!!