When Aimee was 4 or 5 or so, we had a 16′ boat with lots of freeboard for safety.  While crabbing at Newport, Winona pointed out how calm the ocean was.  I had mentioned going out some day, and if any day was the day, this was the day.  We bought some ocean-bottom jigs and set out.  The further we went, the smaller the boat got and the less we could see shore from the tops of the swells, but things were smooth.  We dropped our lines to the bottom, including Aimee’s Zebco, with instructions to leave it down on the bottom because it takes so long to get it up and down again.

The highlight of the voyage was the breeching of a large whale, near enough to see it in great detail and see and hear it’s huge spout, but at a safe distance, although I couldn’t help but wonder if he had seen our hull and veered left.  We were still in shock when it submerged and wished we could have had time to grab our cameras.

Aimee began reeling in her little Zebco.  It was rare for Aimee to not follow the ‘rules’, so I asked her why she was doing that.

“I want you to throw it out on that side so I can catch the big one.”

By: Ron Goertzen, Daddy

Did you know?

• Aimee was very involved in Awana’s. She was always one of the best in everything. She memorized enough bible verses to always be one of the very top kids in every grade to win awards. She won free trips to Black Bear Camp in Washington. With the help of her dad and brother she would usually be one of the top winners in the derby car races. She had buttons all over her vest for memorizing bible verses. And if you completed all your work  for every grade at the end of i think the 6th grade,  you had a plaque with your name on it put up in the church foyer. They would put them in a row up next to the ceiling. It was quite an honor for only 1 or 2 kids made it a year.
• Aimee went to Clackamas grade school K-2nd grade. Since she was home schooled she had extra time to spend on her favorite things. She loved reading and read around 10-15 books a month.
• She had her own flower garden and some years her own herb garden. She would dry some of the herbs and make tea. She also had numerous books on flowers and plants. [Read more…]

This isn’t a story its the last few paragraphs of the Obituary that I wrote for Aimee. In all of our duress this version never made the service … its just an outsiders view of what I saw in my friend…

Ian Ernest Olson was born, February 28, 2006. It wasn’t the easiest pregnancy but the birth of that little guy made all of the bed rest more than worth it. As you can well imagine Ian is Aimee’s crowning achievement, she adored him with all her heart and she always referred to him as her buddy and little sweetie. They had special snuggle time every morning and Ian called her his snuggle bug. Aimee’s parenting style was tender yet firm. She always followed through with what she said she was going to do, whether was doling out consequences or stopping whatever she was doing to make time to play. [Read more…]

One year ago, July 8, 2011, at 10:00 PM, Aimee completed her long transition to citizenship in heaven.  I have a treasured memory that needs retelling.  During the afternoon, I was sitting with Aimee,  loving her, doing some crying and some praying, trying to approach what she had claimed repeatedly, “Perfect peace.”  There had been little or no response from her.   I told her goodbye and that I loved her with all my heart.  After considerable time, she said, most unexpectedly and audibly, “I love you, Daddy.”  I don’t really know, but I like to think it was the last thing she said.  It’s a truly precious memory.

by: Ron Goertzen, Daddy

I met Aimee when she and her dear friend, Tiffany, signed up for a women’s mentoring class I was teaching.  She was a blond and I didn’t have a clue it was a wig.  She wore it well. A few weeks later this bright, happy young woman met me, but this time she didn’t have on her wig, just beautiful brown curly short hair.  She was one of the classmates that didn’t say many words, but spoke volumes.  Knowing her story, I marveled at her.view of life and her walk with the Lord.  She was the object of our prayers, but she was so gracious.

When we found out that Aimee wasn’t doing as well as we thought, she and Ryan had a party for her friends to show everyone her new house.  During that afternoon, Aimee and Ryan were baptized.

Over the next few weeks, I watched Aimee in an incredible visual witness of her walk with the Lord and she taught me some lessons, some renewed truths about God and gaining a closer walk with Him.  I would like to share them. [Read more…]