Two years have passed since Rhys was called home.  I often wonder how God could train him for his new position in Heaven so quickly!  I’m still in the “training program.”  Rhys always was a quick study.  Some things, I guess most things really, about Rhys are so vivid in my mind and yet I am often fearful that I will somehow forget my son.  It is totally illogical.  Really what mother would ever forget her child.  And yet,  the thought creeps in anyway.  But then, Rhys’ friends and all of our prayer warriors call, send messages, make posts, etc. just to let Michael and I know that they are thinking of us.  How awesome.  It is then that I realize I will never forget.  I am so thankful that God could use Rhys to impact so many, his Dad and I most of all.  And, I am thankful for all of the people who have become our close friends  since Rhys was killed.  I am thankful for every single mother and father who has a soldier currently serving in our military.  I am thankful that we belong to a cadre of parents who have raised amazing and special children that grew into even more amazing men and women.

This has been a journey that will continue until we meet Rhys again in Heaven.  Michael and I hope of course that the time passes quickly because we ache to see our son again.  But, we see bits of him in his amazing daughter who already recognizes pictures of her Daddy even though she never saw him in person.  London has an amazing Mommy and we are blessed that Rhys made the choice he did, even at such a young age.

Time does truly march on, whether or not we want it to.  We often wish to freeze a moment in time for our own selfish reasons.  And yet, God’s plan is to mold us through time into his warriors.  Some of us are slow learners.  Some, like Rhys, catch on very quickly.  Time marches on and we move forward, anxiously anticipating the day when we no longer “see through a glass darkly.”  It will all make sense.

And in these crazy times, I hold on to the promises of God. ” I would have despaired if I had not seen the goodness of the Lord.”  Rhys was that goodness and Michael and I were so blessed to have had him for the short time we did.  We “love you and goodnight, Rhys.”

Welcome, I want to share with you my hero, my son Sgt. Rhys William Klasno of the California Army National Guard, serving with the 1114th TC in Al Asad, Iraq. He was killed on Mother’s Day 5/13/07 when an IED hit his vehicle as he was returning from a mission. He leaves behind his wife Stephanie who was pregnant at the time with their daughter London Eevie who was born July 29, 2007. Rhys was a true American Hero who served with faith, dignity, integrity and all of the other qualities we, as parents, strive to instill in our children. He lived life abundantly in his 20 years and treated each person he spoke with as though they were the most important person in the world.

God’s mission for Rhys here on earth is complete and we look forward to seeing him again. We are so honored to have been entrusted with his care for the time we had. He cared about every man and woman in his unit and placed their safety above his own. We have been honored by Americans everywhere who did not even know our son, by the Patriot Guard who selflessly rode at his funeral, and by friends and fellow soldiers. This was a man who exemplified everything this country stands for. We will continue to support our military’s efforts and our Commander in Chief, as we know all of you do every day. Our son’s honor deserves nothing less.

Thank you for continuing to vocally support our troops and the families who love them.

Faithfully in Christ,

Lynn Klasno