Keltson Gene Blackburn - "An Eternal Mission"

In this life, we are privileged to meet amazing people. Those people become imprinted in our hearts forever. My very best friend, soon to be missionary, and one of those amazing people I know returned home on Saturday night.

I should've seen the signs when I couldn't sleep, and I would lay in bed until 3am for 3 days thinking about him. What his day was like...what things he was looking forward to in the week, what it would be like to have him hold me again, to feel that security...what our future together would hold...at least hoping there was a future for us.

They say to make sure you tell people how you feel about them, because they day may come when they won't be there, when their tomorrow becomes eternity. That day came for me. They day of no tomorrow, where I no longer can tell him my feelings, how much i've missed him, still miss him, how much I have and always will love him.

Keltson Gene Blackburn died instantly in a car accident on October 11, 2008. He was doing everything expected of him. Going to church, spending every second with his family that he could before leaving on his mission, he was (is) a worthy priesthood holder. His life on earth was complete. He did what he needed to do. Heavenly Father has bigger, grander plans for him. Ones we can only dream about. What an amazing and valiant Son of God the Lord has with him at this time. But...then again....God already knew that.

This is the hardest thing I have ever had to face. Ever. I prayed to Heavenly Father today asking him to never make me go through this again...at least not for a very long time. It was one thing when my grandma passed away, when my parents got a divorce, when I had to move away from one life and find myself a new one, even when my grandpa died earlier this year. But when, in your lifetime, someone dies by accident, is your age, that you had a close relationship with, that you loved, and you both could see yourselves making a family together, spending eternity together........that is an entirely different kind of hurt.

I vow, from this day forward, that whenever I am thinking about somone, or feel the urgency to tell someone "i love you" I will do so. Mark my words. I will never feel this regret of not letting someone be reassured of my feelings and genuine care for them.

Keltson, I hope you know that I love you. I always have. I always will. You have touched my life in ways no one else has. You meant more to me than you could ever know. One night you told me "..babe, I just hope with everything I have, that you enjoy being with me as much as I love being with you..." I pray, with all my heart, that I reciprocated those words to you. I hope that I did what I could for you. I hope that I genuinely made you happy. You are THE most amazing young man I have ever known. The people in heaven are lucky to have you as their teacher. This is why the bishop told you "where you're needed, you aren't needed yet." God was preparing you for just this. You are my sunshine -- not a day goes by I don't think of you. When I die and go to heaven, if I am married or not, I will find you, give you a big hug, and tell you the impact you have had on my life. These words I can reciprocate to you as well "...from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were special, and that is the last I have seen of my heart."

When I look up at the stars, the sky, the heavens above, you will be in my thoughts. I could never, and will never forget you. Keltson Gene Blackburn, if you didn't already know, I love you.

"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."