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

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!