Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Memories of Cyndi

We would love for you to use these comments as a guestbook and for you to leave your name and a memory of my mom for us to read. Even if you don't have a memory to share, please leave your name. Click on the word comments below.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Mom's Funeral Services

Friday, December 31st


New Covenant Church
7201 Paseo del Norte NE
ABQ, NM 87113


Visitation from 9-10am
Service at 10am
Graveside to follow

If desired, memorial contributions in memory of Cyndi may be made to La Molina Christian Schools of Lima, Peru . Checks can be made out to ABWE Foundation Inc., PO Box 8585, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585.


"Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23M 87113

Monday, December 27, 2010

Home

This afternoon, mom went home to be with Jesus. We will miss her, but we are assured that we will be together again. We are thankful that she is now painfree and celebrating with her Savior.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." Ps. 116:15

"Blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burden. The God who is our salvation." Ps. 68:19

We will post information about the funeral when the plans are confirmed.

Update

The last few days have been very hard. Mom is very near death and struggling to take each breath. For the past month, we have thought that every day may be mom's last. I had always imagine mom going peacefully like Jason's mom went but so far that is not the case and she continues to be alert and in pain as she struggles for air. It is exhausting seeing your mom in so much pain and it is so hard telling her goodbye over and over. Everyone felt that last night would be her final night as her oxygen levels dropped into the 50s, her blood pressure dropped greatly, and her heart started beating very irratically. We all gathered around her bed and sat with her for over 5 hours. When her nurse checked her around 10pm, her stats had improved. There really is no explanation for why mom is still with us. It may be something we do not understand until we get to Heaven. Either way we are trying to be patient and wait for God's perfect timing but it is hard. Please pray that mom will go soon and will be in less pain and less alert today. Please pray for all of us through this excruciating waiting period.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Hope

From the beginning of this journey, I thought that it would be just horrible to lose mom on or around Christmas. This fear has become a reality in the past few days as mom's condition has declined greatly.  Seeing your mom struggling to breathe on Christmas day just seems wrong and it will be something we will never forget. But I feel that losing mom at Christmas is kind of special. Don't get me wrong, today was painful and hard but it was also filled with hope. Hope in knowing that we will one day experience happiness again. Hope in the promise that soon mom will be out of pain and in our sweet Savior’s arms. Hope in knowing that one day I will see my mom again healthy and happy. I guess that is really what Christmas is about anyway; the hope we have all because Jesus came to this earth to die for us and give us true hope. Christmas for our family will forever be changed, but what remains is the hope we have in Christ. How special it is to lose mom on or near the day that Christ was born. It is will always be a sweet reminder for us that through all pain and hardships, we have hope in Christ and can cling to God’s promise that we are not saying "Goodbye" but "See You Soon."
 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Faith and God's timing

Today we were blessed to have sweet friend of the family come to care for mom this morning so we could all go to church together. We went to Sagebrush and the pastor, Todd preached a sermon that really felt it was just for us! He talked about how God answers prayers in three ways: 1. Yes, 2. No, and 3. Wait. This is again a principle I have been taught since I was a small child, but once again God taught me something! Obviously we are in a waiting period right now. Todd talked about how when God tells us to wait, it's because He has a big picture view and He has something even more wonderful planned. This was just so encouraging! We are waiting for God's timing....His perfect timing for sweet mom to go home to be with Him. He sees it ALL!! He knows every little detail and has a perfect plan. He loves our family so very much that He planned out this period of our lives to bring Him glory, how encouraging! This brought me His peace once again! Todd also talked about how when Christ was about to sacrifice His life on the cross for our salvation, He asked God that if there was any other way to bring about our salvation. (Even in this request, Christ still desired for God's will, not his own). Luke 22:42 And God's answer was No. God allowed for the pain and suffering of Christ to occur to bring about the most precious gift we could ever receive....our freedom in Christ, our forgiveness of our sins and the victory to live with Him in Eternity! What a precious promise and gift! I know this is such a basic principle and promise...but I guess it came to life once again today and was encouragement to me! They sang this song today and it was such a sweet reminder that we are always in God's hands....and there is no other place I would want our family to be, in this trial or in any moment of our lives.

Your Hands by JJ Heller

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands

Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want, but what He knows is right.