Where has the year gone? It is almost over! (the school year that is) More interruptions have followed this winter, but Luke and I still have over 150 days of school in! YAY. I will add a summary or list of things we have been up to since my last post.
The biggest change that has come for us in 2010 is the home going of my Daddy in on March 22. His battle of 12 plus years with Alzheimer's has ended. It has bitter sweet for the entire family. Daddy was able to go to hospice for his last week of life and it was a wonderfully peaceful experience. I am not sure of the history of this service but I believe it is God breathed and inspired. We could feel the spirit of the Lords peace as soon as we entered the doors. It was a palpable feeling of the Holy Spirits grace and strength. Daddy went home to be with Jesus at 9:45 AM on March 22. His passing was peaceful and my Mom was with him, as she had prayed to be. She sat by his bed gently stroked his head and spoke sweetly to him during this week. What a strong faith she has. It has been a difficult journey, but God gave it a peaceful end. I just find it so hard to be sad. Daddy is in the presence of JESUS! The one he loved and taught about so many years. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that today he is healed and whole. It brings me great peace and YES, even joy that he is there! That is the most wonderful gift to give your family. The assurance that you will go to heaven and that there is a chance to see your loved ones in Christ again!!
His funeral was so sweet! It was a true celebration of Daddy's short life. He was 67 and had this disease for 12 plus years. A dear friend and pastor, Dr. Larry Blanton began the service by teaching on and painting the most beautiful biblical picture of heaven! There was a song played next that I picked out by Vince Gill, "Go Rest High On That Mountain". A song that I felt told the best story of Daddy's life. As it played, yes I cried. I cried even more as I felt my sweet little 7 year old boy reach up ad place his arm around my neck. I looked over and and he too was in tears. At that moment I realized that I had lost one of the most amazing men in my life, but that God had given me 2 replacements; my husband and my son. What a memory and gift that I will treasure in my heart for as long as I live. After this song my sweet husband gave Daddy's eulogy. I will never be able to express in words what this meant to me. He was so transsparent with his feelings for my Dad and gave a beautiful synopsis of the awesome man that my Daddy was. From begining to end Daddy touched and changed lives, that is why we are here afterall. In closing My mother's pastor, Reverend Tim Snyder closed the service by "drawing the net" to the audience and paing tribute to a man he knew only through word of mouth and testimony. The tesitimony being what a great man of God he was, what a Bible scholoar he was, and last but not least the awesome father and husband he was. The service ended at the grave side with scripture reading by both pastors. And my oldest brother, David singing while playing his guitar, "Haven Of Rest"! He was amazing, and comforting as always when he picks up that guitar. The icing on the cake was that the Air Force was there and performed the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of tapps on the trumpet! WOW, what a moment! My Daddy would have been so honored!
The biggest change that has come for us in 2010 is the home going of my Daddy in on March 22. His battle of 12 plus years with Alzheimer's has ended. It has bitter sweet for the entire family. Daddy was able to go to hospice for his last week of life and it was a wonderfully peaceful experience. I am not sure of the history of this service but I believe it is God breathed and inspired. We could feel the spirit of the Lords peace as soon as we entered the doors. It was a palpable feeling of the Holy Spirits grace and strength. Daddy went home to be with Jesus at 9:45 AM on March 22. His passing was peaceful and my Mom was with him, as she had prayed to be. She sat by his bed gently stroked his head and spoke sweetly to him during this week. What a strong faith she has. It has been a difficult journey, but God gave it a peaceful end. I just find it so hard to be sad. Daddy is in the presence of JESUS! The one he loved and taught about so many years. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that today he is healed and whole. It brings me great peace and YES, even joy that he is there! That is the most wonderful gift to give your family. The assurance that you will go to heaven and that there is a chance to see your loved ones in Christ again!!
His funeral was so sweet! It was a true celebration of Daddy's short life. He was 67 and had this disease for 12 plus years. A dear friend and pastor, Dr. Larry Blanton began the service by teaching on and painting the most beautiful biblical picture of heaven! There was a song played next that I picked out by Vince Gill, "Go Rest High On That Mountain". A song that I felt told the best story of Daddy's life. As it played, yes I cried. I cried even more as I felt my sweet little 7 year old boy reach up ad place his arm around my neck. I looked over and and he too was in tears. At that moment I realized that I had lost one of the most amazing men in my life, but that God had given me 2 replacements; my husband and my son. What a memory and gift that I will treasure in my heart for as long as I live. After this song my sweet husband gave Daddy's eulogy. I will never be able to express in words what this meant to me. He was so transsparent with his feelings for my Dad and gave a beautiful synopsis of the awesome man that my Daddy was. From begining to end Daddy touched and changed lives, that is why we are here afterall. In closing My mother's pastor, Reverend Tim Snyder closed the service by "drawing the net" to the audience and paing tribute to a man he knew only through word of mouth and testimony. The tesitimony being what a great man of God he was, what a Bible scholoar he was, and last but not least the awesome father and husband he was. The service ended at the grave side with scripture reading by both pastors. And my oldest brother, David singing while playing his guitar, "Haven Of Rest"! He was amazing, and comforting as always when he picks up that guitar. The icing on the cake was that the Air Force was there and performed the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of tapps on the trumpet! WOW, what a moment! My Daddy would have been so honored!
This journey makes me even more hungry for heaven than ever before. Heaven is truely sweeter and also, dear friends obtainable through the work of the cross of Jesus Christ. Won't you meet me there!? The joy and peace I have experienced throughth is horrific event of watching my Daddy leave us little by little and then completly can come only through a power greater, higher than anything we have ever seen! Jesus promises this to all who accept him and what he has done for everyone through his death, burial, and resurection! Death has lost it's sting because of Calvory! I have lived it, I know!
