Carol Hiestand

(Start HERE  for full “Before and After” series) This evening we will be at the funeral home greeting friends and family. People and flowers and food flowed into the house. This white flower was one of the first and the most striking in appearance and fragrance. Notice the new Testament and Psalms. Carol and I “lived”…

(Start “Before and After” series here) “The most wasted of days is the one without Laughter!” E.E. Cummings To prepare for the Memorial Service tomorrow, Galen gathers us together in the living room and asks us to think of the words that come to mind as we think about Gordon. There is lots of laughter…

(StartHERE for full “Before and After” series) see HERE “for Day 5 part 1 Today has been difficult. I cry what seems to be buckets of tears. And then Galen reminds me that while this is a pit, it is not a bottomless pit because of Jesus. This comforts me and gives me hope. It is surreal…

(Start HERE  for full “Before and After” series) I go with Carol to pick up his “things.” Four days later and they’re still soaking wet. (Yes, those are his shoes.) Soaked – everything, even his wallet. Carol looks through everything, her hands shaking. “He didn’t even eat his Skittles.” There are wet matches, his wallet, and…

(Start HERE  for full “Before and After” series ) Go HERE for Day 4 Part 1 ___________________ A lot happened this day. The two visits with Collin and Paul were key as we beginto process what has happened   As we left home, I grabbed a few choir CD’s. “Rescue” a song we learned just a…

(Start HERE  for full “Before and After” series) Visit to A Funeral Home We must go see him, but it’s not him. Why must I see him like this? I know I must. But my legs don’t want to move. My feet do not want to take me down this hall to where his body lies….

(Start HERE for full “Before and After” series) Alone Again I am in the middle of a DC10. It’s dark. We don’t turn on the overhead light. I can’t believe I am taking this journey. Mom and Dad sitting across the aisle a few rows ahead their hearts breaking like mine.   “I’ll miss his phone…

(Start HERE for full “Before and After” series) Tuesday, November 8, 2005 – He’s gone 4:30 am Carol calls to tell us things do not look good and they are airlifting him to Billings. She says we should plan to come and I wonder why. I still don’t believem but for the first time I am…

(Start “Before and After” series HERE) I remember a few vignette’s from the day, but very little of how I felt. Mostly I was numb.T he possibilities were too terrible to contemplate. I wake up – How did I sleep – denial? I am to facilitate a small conference call at 9:00 am, but I…

It’s the 7th anniversary of an event that became a “before and after” event in my life. Seven years ago my brother, Gordon, was hunting in the mountains, got lost, and was not found before he died of hypothermia. As this website is a place for me to record my journey for me and for…