Coincidence? I think not.

On Tuesday night, a huge group from church went over to Katrin's to celebrate her 40th birthday. And it was just that - celebrating, healing - a joy to hear laughter in the walls of that house.

It seemed wrong to not have Robert there. In fact, in church on Sunday, when Katrin slipped into the pew beside me, it felt like I should ask, "When is Robert coming back?" It was as if he was gone only temporarily.

I think he would have been so proud that night. His family and friends remembering his wife on her birthday and being there for her. His wife, not at all forgetting him but trying not to postpone her own life.

How fitting it was that Robert, back in July, had planned a surprise birthday celebration for Kat. Her mother was visiting from Germany and her brother and his family from Texas - and he thought it seemed like a great time to get the rest of the family and friends together to celebrate her special day, albeit just over two months early. The rest of the Lehmans all drove up from Edmonton, just for the day, only to return that same evening. But they made the effort to come - because relationships are what matters.

How amazing is that.