At the beginning of every year, you wonder what is going to happen that year. This year on New Years, just after midnight, my mother-in-law asked this question. We were wondering who would get married this year, who would have babies, and just what the year would hold. We never even dreamed that 5 days later we would get one of those horrible phone calls informing us that one of Shawn's best friends from high school had just been killed in a motorcycle accident. Not a good start to the year. We were so heartbroken for his family. Matt Smith was absolutely an amazing father and husband, and anyone who knew him can't say enough about how genuine he was in everything he did. We were in so much grief at this news, and just hurting so much for his poor little family.
The Smith's have been living in Greensboro, North Carolina for the last year, so we weren't sure what their plans were going to be for funeral services. Tricia (Matt's wife) called us the next day to inform us that there would be two services, on out there, and one here in Denver where Matt would be laid to rest. She asked if Shawn would give the eulogy, and then asked if we would like to spend a day with her and the kids while they were out her. We were so happy that we were able to help out in any way, and still only wish we could do more. We did spend one day with Trish and her 3 kids, and I think that they had a lot of fun playing with Lucy.
Adam is the oldest, and he is 7. He is so smart, definitely and advanced student. I was impressed when I was playing "Play Nine" with Adam, and he was keeping score.
Lucy, as always was just so excited to get to play with "my friends!" She and Ashley hit it off so well, it was hard to have to leave and not know when we will see them again.
And this is Ashley. She is 4 and is such a mini Tricia. I met Trish while she was pregnant with Ashley and can't believe how fast the time has flown. Ashley and Lucy played so much that we really didn't see them the entire time we were there.
Tricia's baby is Lexi, and she was 6 months at them time. She is such a happy baby, and she looks exactly like Matt. Tricia says that Matt loved that little girl so much, when he got home from work everynight, he would do things one handed just so that he could hold her.
This was the last time we saw Matt and Tricia before Matt passed. We went to California for a BYU basketball game, and the whole Disney deal, and visited them on that trip since they were living there at the time. It's crazy to see how much the kids have grown in that time.
Matt was a man who definitely left a mark, and is sorely missed.
1 comment:
Matt Smith was such an awesome individual! Excelled in everything he did -most importantly as a husband, father and friend! He made a huge positive impact on so many people. He'll surely be missed!!!!
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