Thankful People: Family leans on faith in midst of trials

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thankful People is a group of stories put together every Thanksgiving by the Southeast Missourian that focus on local people who have special reasons to be thankful.

Kevin and Diane Edwards have remained thankful in the face of tragedy.

In 2000, their oldest daughter, Lacey, died at age 9 of a cerebral aneurysm.

Eight years later, their 6-year-old daughter Lexis was diagnosed with cancer. This news came two weeks after Diane's father passed away.

Then came June 1 of this year when their Cape Girardeau home of 27 years was severely damaged by a fire.

Despite all of this, the Edwardses remain thankful and positive people.

"If you are thankful for all the small things -- health, a roof -- it's hard not to smile when you lose someone," Diane Edwards said. "I decided I will not let what I lost destroy what I have left. We are so much more than what we possess."

Kevin Edwards noted this positive attitude is displayed in the family's home.

"Diane picked out a plaque for our kitchen that says, 'Happiness is something you choose ahead of time.' Circumstances and conditions will pass," he said.

The Edwardses have not let the tragic events define them.

Diane Edwards said Lacey complained of a headache, was in a coma within 10 minutes and died 11 days later.

Kevin Edwards said on the day Lacey died he asked God how to deal with the pain of losing his daughter.

"When Lacey passed, it was the worst day," he said. "I asked, 'Father, show me the good in this,' and I experienced the most intense, indescribable peace and love."

As he spoke at her funeral, Edwards said it was strange to see Lacey in the casket, but he had an abiding sense that she was fine.

"We have come to look for the good in everything," he said. "There's freedom in being able to let go and let God. It's a faith that I know, not wishful thinking, but something I've experienced that no man-made belief system can describe," Kevin Edwards said.

Diane Edwards said planning a funeral for a child is not something she would wish on anyone.

"It happened," she said. "We won't allow that to take away our faith, our smile and our joy, and Lacey wouldn't want that to happen. She is fine where she is. She would want us to learn and grow and be better people. It's not that we're better than anyone else; everyday we can be better than we were before," she said, noting that the family keeps a room for Lacey in their new home.

The fire, which began when an engine exploded in the garage, caused an estimated $1 million damage. The couple said they could have lost much more had the fire occurred at night because the point of origin was directly below their middle daughter Natalie's bedroom.

With son Colton home alone when the fire began, Diane Edwards is thankful no one was injured.

"When Kevin called and told me the fire alarms were going off, I was trying to get there as fast as I could,"she said. "There was fear and panic when I saw the black smoke billowing up over the ridge. When I saw our son in the yard, I was relieved. The house wasn't as important, and I knew it was going to be OK."

Diane Edwards said a small army of supporters -- firefighters, neighbors, friends and family -- rolled up their sleeves in the aftermath. Firefighters retrieved pictures, videos and photo albums. Neighbors helped salvage valuables and offered water to the firefighters. Friends and family provided comfort, food, a place to stay the night, and, within 48 hours, a relative offered a place to stay while rebuilding their home.

"We looked around at the people who helped us," Kevin Edwards said. "Everyone worked together. We realized love is being able to see yourself in another person, and it reminded us what is important."

The Edwardses have remained positive, faithful and thankful through all circumstances.

"When Lexis was diagnosed with cancer, I hit the ground and thought, 'How can this happen?' But there was peace and joy from God. Regardless of what happened, we could say 'Thank you, God,'" Kevin Edwards said.

Lexis has been free of cancer since 2009, and the family has been able to look past challenges of the moment and see the big picture.

"Our life is like a tapestry," Diane Edwards said. "If you look at one inch, it doesn't make much sense, but we trust God will make it all work out."

"We don't believe in worrying or complaining," Kevin Edwards added. "That just makes more problems, like feeding a monster. We can share and make a difference with what we have. What we see isn't real. Real is what is inside and unchanging and we can go with an attitude of wanting to help someone."

The Edwardses have come to see their tragedies as opportunities and are thankful for what is truly important.

"Hurdles are opportunities to become stronger and better," Kevin Edwards. "We are thankful to be blessed with health and finances that have allowed us to help other individuals and organizations. We realize to whom much is given, much is to be expected."