Bethanyism #6

It's Monday! 

Which means it's time for another Bethanyism. 

This week's Bethanyism is following the same theme as last weeks, which is a statement on love. 

For those new readers, you can read this post for the explanation on what a Bethanyism is. I post a new one every Monday with the hope that they will inspire, make you think or spark some creativity, either in myself or others.

 

Being someone's first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect.

 Yes, that is a picture of me! My 18 year old self, that is. 

Matthew's best friend, Dan (you remember Dan, right?) took this picture the night that Matthew came home from Coast Guard boot camp in September 2001. I still look at this picture and I can't believe how young we looked! 

Matthew was not my first love, and I was not his first love. We had both had our hearts broken, but absence makes the heart grow fonder. The night that this picture was taken, I saw Matthew in a totally new light. He was the same guy who had been my best friend for the past four years, but at the same time he wasn't. He was so much more. 

Matthew and I had 11 wonderful years together, before he lost his battle with cancer last October. It's amazing to realize that I may not have been his first love, but I was his love until he drew his final breath. What I special gift that is, something I will treasure always. 

Sorry if my story made you sad, that wasn't my intention. I just wanted to share a little piece of myself, and a part of my beautiful love story. 

What do you think about this weeks quote? 

Does anyone else have a beautiful/tragic love story to share? 




 

My Little Valentines

I was walking through Michael's the other day, trying to decide how to use my Christmas gift cards, when I stumbled upon a display that was all set up for the next major "holiday." 

Valentine's Day. 

Ugh!

Matthew was never really a fan of Valentine's Day, but we always did something, however small to celebrate the day. This year is different because it's the first year in a very, very long time that I don't have a Valentine. 

Then I realized, I don't just have one, I have 4... 

These sweet faces are all the Valetine's that this broken-hearted Auntie could need! 

 So I scooped up this package of heart shaped boxes to make little valentines for my sweethearts! 

 And a little Valentine candy for some inspiration...

 I pulled out my paints for the first time in way too long, and went to town! 

 I used my awesome Silhouette machine to cut out sayings graphics for my heart boxes with pink vinyl. 

 Then I applied the graphics to my little boxes.

 After applying the vinyl sayings, I applied a coat of polyurethane varnish to keep the paint from chipping off. 

Once they dried, I was finished.

 Now I have cute little treat boxes to give my nieces and nephew, and even a few extra to give to a few special people I know... now I just have to decide what to put inside. 

Have you done any Valentine crafting yet? 



I'm sharing this project at the following link parties: 

~ What's In The Gunny Sack @ The Gunny Sack ~ Tutorials & Tips Link Party @ Home Stories From A to Z ~ Take-A-Look Tuesday @ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ Tell Me Tuesday @ Him & Her ~ Time to Shine @ A Diamond in the Stuff ~ Too Cute Tuesday @ Funky Polkadot Giraffe ~ Lil Luna Link Party @ Lil Luna ~ Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts ~ Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims ~ Wicked Awesome Wednesday @ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Show & Share @ Southern Lovely ~ Creative Juice Thursday @ Momnivore's Dilemma ~ Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage ~ Wildly Original Link Party @ I Gotta Create ~ BFF Open House Link Party @ The Answer Is Chocolate ~ Delicately Constructed Friday @ Delicate Construction ~ Anything Goes Link Party @ Bacon Time ~ Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity Now ~ Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots & Jello ~ Free For All @ Young & Crafty ~ Strut Your Stuff Saturday @ Six Sisters' Stuff ~ Show & Tell Saturday @ Be Different Act Normal ~ Think Pink Sunday @ Flamingo Toes ~ Sunday Show Off Linky @ Twigg Studios ~ Sundae Scoop Link Party @ I Heart Naptime ~

Thank you for featuring this project!!!

A Beautifully Written Tribute To A Great Man

I wanted to share with all of my readers the beautiful obituary that Matthew's best friend, Dan wrote. I was going to post it earlier, but life has a funny way of keeping me really busy lately.  

Matthew Aaron Compton

May 27, 1982 - October 7, 2012

KEIZER - Matthew Aaron Compton passed away quickly and comfortably after a long battle with Cancer. He was surrounded by a subset of his many friends and family who honored him in his final moments as he wished.

Matt attended Whiteaker Middle School, McNary High School, and served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard at the National Motor Lifeboat School. Matt also earned a degree at WyoTech College chasing one of the many passions he had; precision, high-performance metalwork and custom fabrication.

Matt married the love of his life, Bethany, in 2012. They met in Math class at McNary and enjoyed many adventures together since. Up or down, thick or thin, and no matter the physical distance imposed upon them during their journey, they never left each others side.

Among the infinite things Matt was: a man to help build an impossible contraption with, a best friend in good times and bad, a man to share a campfire in the wilderness under the stars, a man who knew the right way to do something and had the fortitude to see it through properly; Matt was a true Renaissance man.

Matt is survived a large and loving family, including his wife Bethany, his mother Jenny, his father Bruce, his step-mother Lori, his step-father Mark, many step-brothers and step-sisters, as well as in-laws. Matt always regarded everyone within his family with love regardless of how they got there. Matt is also missed by his dog, Luna.

Matt was an amazing light in the universe; always a force for Good, a loyal and humble companion who always knew just what those around him needed. Matt's song came to an end far too soon, but his energy and the ripples he made amongst those who knew him will be carried always. May he Rest in Peace.

It All Started With A Picture...

If you missed this post here then this blog post won't make a whole lot of sense. 



The night that my Matthew passed away, I gathered in the garage of my parents house with a few of my siblings and close friends. We poured a shot in Matthew's honor and toasted him a time or two. 

One of his good friends Brad and I were talking, and he said he thought things were not right when people started posting pictures, before another good friend called to tell him the news.

I had no idea what he was talking about.

Apparently on Facebook, some of Matthew's oldest friends started posting and sharing pictures of him on Facebook. It started with one, then another, then another... 

When I got home in the early hours of the morning I got on Facebook and saw a beautiful thing. Pictures of Matthew that I'd never seen before. Pictures of him when he was young, happy and cancer free. So I posted a status saying that I was loving all the pictures being posted and that I would love it if anyone had a picture to share if they would post it and tag me. 

I wasn't exactly prepared for what happened next. 

courtesy of Tillman Bennett

courtesy of Tillman Bennett

courtesy of Tillman Bennett

  

courtesy of Derek Gerwig

courtesy of Derek Gerwig

courtesy of Terra Prange

 courtesy of Terra Prange

courtesy of Tillman Bennett

courtesy of Tillman Bennett

courtesy of Seana Kansier

courtesy of Seana Kansier

courtesy of Seana Kansier

 courtesy of Seana Kansier

courtesy of Brandy Jeanne

courtesy of Brandy Jeanne

 courtesy of Brad Beverly

courtesy of Kim Fraizer

courtesy of Christine Breckenridge

courtesy of Christine Breckenridge

courtesy of Christine Breckenridge

courtesy of Christine Breckenridge

courtesy of Melissa Garner

courtesy of Melissa Garner

courtesy of Melissa Garner

courtesy of Melissa Garner

courtesy of Melissa Garner

courtesy of Tillman Bennett

courtesy of Tony Carillo

courtesy of Cheri Kincaid

courtesy of Rosemary Pohlenz

courtesy of Rosemary Pohlenz

courtesy of Traci Cook

Everyone started sharing pictures! 

It was wonderful to see the captions that people posted with them, and the comments. It's so evident how much he was loved and how much he will be missed. Every picture that was posted felt like a hug from the person that posted it and it made my heart smile.

I'd like to thank everyone that reads this blog for all of their support. It means so much to me that my family and I are in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you!

May 27,1982 - October 7, 2012

Matthew Aaron Compton

May 27,1982 - October 7, 2012

My best friend and husband, Matthew lost his battle with cancer Sunday evening, surrounded by myself, his parents and two of his oldest and dearest friends.  

We always knew that Matthew's diagnoses was terminal, but he fought such a valiant fight and survived so much longer then everyone expected. Sunday was a day to let go of hope and say our last good byes. He was loved by so many and that was evident by everyone that came and saw him, said prayers, gave hugs, shared a favorite Matt story or two, shed tears & told him how much he was loved just one last time.