My stepbrother, Mark, passed away after fighting a staph infection of the blood for the past month.  We traveled to Oklahoma to see him two weeks ago, right before he passed.  He was a great husband, brother, son and friend.  I am blessed to have known him.  I think that Mark’s passing has been so hard because he was so young, just 34 years old.  It reminds me how precious yet fragile life is.  We keep him in our thoughts always and continue to remember all of the good times we all had.  One of my favorite memories is when he proposed to his wife, Melissa, at our house while we were all together as a family opening Christmas gifts.  He had wrapped up a box of bridal magazines and after she opened the box he got down on one knee to pop the big question. We love you Mark and may you watch over us until we meet again.