Practice with Salvation's Rock, October 1, 2011

First United Methodist Church of Zephyrhills has provided us with an amazing church family. Among other things, we've played on the church softball league together; played together with Salvation's Rock, the contemporary service's praise band; and grown together through various ministries. Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings are practice nights for the band, and Quintin spent several years running among the musicians and up and down the church aisles while Kevin worked out the bass lines and I worked on vocal harmonies, in preparation for the week's service. His favorite time, however, came each practice when Brent Dunlap, our talented drummer, handed over his sticks for a while and coached Quintin through complicated sounding beats. We feel so blessed to have spent time with Brent, who lost his long struggle with brain cancer last year. Brent's patience and upbeat attitude, along with an awesome sense of humor, touched all of us. Quintin came with us to Hospice as we laughed and cried together one last time. I am especially thankful to Brent for demonstrating to Quintin the real beauty of a life well lived; I hope that our son carries Brent's life message of love with him always.