Jason's Launch

It is with overwhelming joy that I am writing to share with you that our astronaut, Jason Makaroff, officially launched today! I'm not sure I know how to describe all that I feel. I am so proud to be the wife and God-given partner of this explorer. Jason has always been "out of this world" and I am truly happy today that he has made it to the place that he was always meant to be and where he fits—with God.

I remember the day that God put His love in my heart for JMak. I could have never even begun to imagine the beautiful, perfect way that God would unfold our life together. We've had a beautiful 18 years together in this part of life. What I can sincerely say is that the last 8 months of our life together have been the deepest, closest, and most connected we have ever been. It is everything that Jason and I both desired and we had the blessing of experiencing it in this lifetime.

Today was more beautiful than I could have imagined. With his best friend, Jason Armstrong, on one side and me on the other, we watched our friend "launch" into his new eternal life.

Jason said something to me the other day that is very deep. "We can be working so hard to find God, we miss Him. Sometimes we just miss Him in everyday things.” Then he said to me, “sit down and have a cup of coffee.”

Jason loved to sit and talk. Always. I hope you can stop for a minute and grab a cup of coffee and a friend and enjoy something that Jason wanted me to give you all—signs and traces of the love and life he experienced with God these last 8 months. And then spend some time doing what Jason would have loved for all of us to do—be together. He didn't want us to miss any moment together.

“There comes a day when we will die

Time will stop and say goodbye

One more breath then close our eyes

But it's not the end, it′s not the end of everything

Life is short don′t waste it,

Breathe it in and taste it

God gives and takes it

So one day when I'm gone

I′ll leave signs and traces

Of our times and places

So you always know you're loved

And I am always near”

"Signs and Traces" by Tim Be Told

Update from Laura

Over the course of Jason’s journey with pancreatic cancer, we have talked as a family about Jason being like an astronaut and that one day he would “blast off” this earth to explore a big, vast universe of God's Spirit. 

We are getting close to Jason's “blast off” from this temporal life to his eternal one. The boys and I couldn't be happier that Jason is getting ready to experience God's presence all of the time. 

Just two weeks ago, we watched a documentary together about Mission Control and the Apollo missions to space. There is a moment in the movie that talks about Apollo 8 and the first time astronauts had orbited the moon and saw the earth. It was Christmas Eve in 1968. As we watched the clip, Jason cried. 

I know Jason. More than anything (more than life itself) Jason loves God. It gives me no greater joy than to see my husband, partner, and best friend drawer closer to the day that he will live with God forever. Jason told me the other day, "No sadness." And while I can feel moments that I will miss him, I truly do feel happy and content about the incredible life, love and deep connection in God that we have.

Today we talked to the boys and told them that the time for their dad to "blast off" on his eternal mission is close. 

Timothy said, “I know what I want for Christmas. I don’t want a game or a special thing, I just want a deeper connection to God. And I know my dad is going to see Him.”

Jonathan said, “I can feel like it’s what my dad would want. He wouldn’t want anything else right now. He would just want to be with God.” 

So on this Christmas Eve 2021, I want to share with you what those astronauts said in 1968 as they saw the earth come into view and took this picture.  

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

I know that Jason will soon be in the light. And that is good. 

Tonight, I want to echo the words of the astronauts of Apollo 8. 

"We close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you—all of you on the good Earth."

Signs and Traces

Update on Jason:

Jason isn't feeling the best, but he is on the way home from the hospital. He has an incredible care team at home with Laura Wilson Makaroff and Jason Armstrong.

Last week Jason wrote this post for us to share. We thought today was the right day to send it out.

FROM JASON:

"There is a song called 'Signs and Traces' that reminds me that God leaves signs and traces of His love for us.

A purple flower on the side of the road.

I want to leave signs and traces for my kids to know I love them when I am gone. We go through life not really understanding that God is always in control directing everything. He is always doing miracles every day but we miss them. We think it’s us or that it’s just the way things go. But then He allows something unexpected to happen and we see it as a miracle because it wasn’t what we were expecting to see happen.

Maybe we expected the worst and we’re pleasantly surprised by a different outcome. Signs and traces that He is there!"