Last March and April, I took about a month off work to go to Geisinger Medical Center and help out with my dad. We had many ups and downs during this time, but I am so glad that I was able to take that time off. Family is so important and I guess you really do not realize that until one of your loved ones is gone. Such a cliche, but one that is so important to remember.

Last March, I wrote in a journal and on this blog about spending my days with dad. He was in the hospital bed but we had the most intriguing conversations of my life. I could really tell how much my dad loved me and how proud he was of me. It is kind of sad to me that some of my last memories of my father is that of him lying in a hospital bed. However, I will never regret taking the time off work and being able to spend some quality, still time with my dad. It makes this spring different for me in the fact that now- I can have all those great memories of my dad and I sitting still and talking, which really did not happen that often for both of us- Maybe, I can learn from that experience and try to take time and sit still now…

This is our first Christmas without dad. I miss him tremendously and  know more than ever that God is the only one that can get our family through this.

I have to remember that last year at this time our family spent  the Christmas season and the rest of the winter crying, spending the night at the hospital, and not knowing if my dad was going to live or not-

I now know that dad is living. He is just in heaven-

To all those who lost someone special in your life: remember the good times and remember that God’s grace is sufficient.

My father spent about 8 months in the hospital and then God allowed him to be at home for a little over 2 weeks – here are some pictures.

WE LOVE and MISS YOU DAD. Thank you for fighting so hard….

                             

             

         

I have a friend who always tells me that everything is all in God’s hands. If anyone would have told me that a week ago my father would take his last breath, I would have definitely told you that was not in God’s hands.

However, God knows best and I can praise him because 3 people came to Christ and accepted Jesus in their hearts as a result of my father’s funeral. My father is rejoicing because those 3 souls will be saved from eternal damnation.

I now see that THIS IS all in God’s hands- our family had the best 8 months together that we would not have had if my father didn’t go through all he went through.

My dad kept saying that he wanted to be a testimony and he definitely was. He fought the good fight (many times), he finished his course, and he kept the faith. When he faltered in that faith, the faith kept him!! It is comforting to know that God never gives up on his children.

The funeral guy told us that he doesn’t know how dad stayed alive as long as he did because he had nothing left inside- I know though- it was in God’s hands and I thank Him that he gave our family 8 to 9 months of precious family time.

My father was ready- I miss him so much sometimes it makes my heart just ache- but I take comfort in the fact that my dad does not have any more pain to endure or hospitals to go to.

Thank you God

Well,

I called my father Friday night August 29th and he was not having the greatest of days, but was still so happy that he was home.

All my dad could say in the last couple months is how he did not want to die in the hospital and he wanted to be home.

My dad loved being at home- he was so content and was giving God the glory for what he brought him through.

My dad seemed to be spiking an infection though and just didn’t feel the best. A little while later, my dad was looking at a picture in the living room and said that he wanted to go home. My mom said you are home Joe- he said that’s good- I don’t want to be anywhere else. The next minute my dad just looked peaceful- my mom called 911 and my dad asked what she was doing. The ambulance arrived and worked on dad for over an hour. He was non-responsive. He did not have a pulse when they got here. He passed very peacefully and had no pain. We truly believed that he did not suffer and mom heard no bad sounds from him.

My dad is truly home now- in HEAVEN!!!!

So now- this is the true test of faith- how are we going to handle this? Pastor Palmer just said to us- God’s grace gives us peace!

 By the way- last week I came to see my dad and read the entire blog to him- he cried and just thanked God.

We believe that dad just got a clot in his lungs and with all the other complications- his body couldn’t handle it. Dad was already on a blood thinner and they did not want to do any more surgeries.

Dad is reunited with all of his family in heaven and he is probably fishing and telling his hunting stories to everyone up here.

please pray- I know God has a purpose for this- I guess this truly will be a test of our faith-

My dad’s one desire was to walk the aisle in church and shake Pastor Palmer’s hand- he won’t be able to do that- but he will be watching us at the church during his funeral.

                

I just talked with my father and he wanted me to thank everyone for your PRAYERS, kind words, visits, and cards. This is truly just a gift from God and that is the only reason my dad is still here. I truly know that God gave us this miracle and I am definitely a life that was changed. With the Lord’s help- I want to remember how blessed our family was to have this happen and tell everyone about God’s grace!

Thank you for your prayers and thank you for your continued prayers as my father still has a great way to go-

I will be posting pictures of his homecoming soon- I just can’t wait for our family to be all together again at HOME!!!

My father just turned 61- Happy Birthday Dad!!!

I am praising God because on Tuesday (August 12th)- God is being gracious enough to allow my father to come home again for the 2nd time. By the grace of God, my dad came home from Vietnam years ago and now God is proving himself again by providing yet another miracle and allowing my dad to come home after 8 months of suffering!!

-Please pray for my dad and thank you for your prayers already- I just can’t even fathom how great God is-

My dad can’t walk on his own, but will have home health care coming in everyday to provide therapy for that-

 Isn’t it great to know the comforts of our homes? As a believer, One day- we will have a far greater home than the one on this earth though and that will be in HEAVEN

Thank you God!

For the last 7 months- this has been my dad’s home:      

Here is how my dad got there….    

My mother and father have been faithful to see what God is going to do through this.

    

I can’t tell you how difficult this year was for our family. At the same token- it was a year filled with blessing and also a year that I would never give back. God definitely has a purpose for the situation with my dad. Yes, our family missed Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversary’s, 4th of July together, but God brought our family closer to each other and most importantly, closer to God through all of this.

I love to hear my father say that God brought him through this and praise God and not blame him. He is giving God the glory, praying for people, and has a changed heart. For that, I thank God everyday. I have prayed for years that dad would come back to God. From not knowing when the phone rings- that someone on the other line is going to tell me that my father passed away to the phone ringing today with my mother telling me that dad is moving to a place for therapy-

TODAY: My dad went to a local nursing home for therapy….. He went outside for the first time in 7 months- God is good!!!!

This makes me think that this world is not our own- we are truly just passing through! I sometimes wonder what our “mansion over the hilltop” looks like- My high school teacher always used to tell me that my mansion in heaven will be full of lime green shoes and purses:) What will yours look like? Who will thank you for leading them to salvation and their home in heaven?

I am challenged by my dad’s situation- it makes me think that this world is very temporary and I need to do whatever I can to help reach souls for Christ. After all, sinners who are not saved by grace- are headed for hell. That is worse than any hospital ever could be- I am challenging myself to see who I can tell about Christ today!!

Thank you for praying- it is ONLY by your prayers and God’s grace that my father came through 20 something surgeries, 20 minutes of coding, and all the other complications- and is now out of the hospital with no brain damage- Our God is AWESOME!!!! Keep praying- God answers prayer:)

Jesse just gave a devotional on Encouragement- wow, what a great time to speak about encouragement- we all need it!!

I have to pray everyday that I can encourage someone. It is so important to encourage our brothers and sister’s in Christ. Encouragement can be a great testimony for the unsaved as well. I just spoke to my father and I can definitely tell people are praying for encouragement for our whole family!!

MY FATHER STOOD UP TWICE TODAY!:)-  This is another miracle- God has performed so many… I made a list of SOME of the miracles that our family have witnessed with my father. I hope these miracles encourage YOU to keep fighting the good fight for your FAITH…..

12/14/07-Dad coded for 14 minutes- survived; life-flighted to Danville- no brain damage

12/21/07- Dad opened his eyes when Peter (brother-in-law) spoke to him. He responded to us and kept waving to us- (his hands were tied down).

12/28/07- asked for soda and ice cream- wrote some things down

12/30/07- Dad was very alert- playing “air guitar” and being very comical with Melanie and I and the grandchildren. He tickled the grandchildren and joked around with all of us saying- that if he didn’t get something to drink soon- he was just going to die and then would imitate himself dying. He still had the vent in.

12/31/07- Dad remembered the exact rent money due at the beach house; he got the ventilator taken out

1/4/08- Pancreas ruptured/ Dad made it through another emergency surgery- he died on the table- he was brought back and then sent back to the room. He started to bleed- they had to resuscitate him while he was in there in order to perform yet another surgery- He was very stable throughout the 2nd surgery and made it!!

1/24/08- Dad got two MAJOR infections that usually kill people and had to have many operations and fought many fevers, but yet survived.

2/14/08- Dad told us he wanted to be a testimony for Christ

3/2/08- Dad got out of ICU after 79 days!!!- down to the 3rd floor

4/12/08- God allowed dad to live through his 15th surgery!!!! This was another emergency surgery- the doctor really didn’t know what to do- Dad said he wanted to give God the glory; we had family devotions- dad told all of us he LOVED us!!

4/30/08- Dad’s central line came out

6/4/08- The doctor’s were able to graph my dad’s skin and close his belly

6/21/08- Dad got moved to the 6th floor- (a regular room)

6/30/08- TODAY- dad stood up twice- and compared it to Peter walking on water- he said how important it is to keep looking at Christ-

These events are only a glimpse of what my family has been through- There are so many more miracles that God did. If you would- please pray for my father and maybe write him an encouraging note-

Please let me know how Jesse and I can encourage and pray for you-

Fight the good fight….

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEqWRC8S9G0)

           June 21st is my parents 39th wedding anniversary-

Our family never thought that dad would be alive right now- God has proved himself over and over that Love gives more than it takes-

Please take a few moments to tell my mother and father Happy Anniversary!