Family Photo

Here is a sneak peek of our weekend and our grandma's funeral.  

Thanks to Kami for this picture

The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away...

...blessed be the name of the Lord!  

Sunday, August 4th, 2013 started off like a normal Sunday in our household other than for a few differences.  The first was that I didn't need to get up extra early because my grandma, who had been suffering with Alzheimer's for many years, didn't need fed.  She stopped eating anything on Friday but had only a few nibbles each morning a week before that.  We knew her life was coming to an end but thought it was probably a week or 2 away.  The second difference was the rush to get the last minute things done to have company after church.  I know it was a little odd to plan a party during this time but I think the week before the party would have been very long if we hadn't had something to look forward to and plan for.  

On this morning, my mom was in with my grandma making sure she was comfortable, when she choked really bad (which had been happening) and it scared her.  Mom decided to remain home from church to be here with my grandpa in case she choked again.  

During the singing before the sermon, I kept hearing lovely phrases about heaven and the joy and peace we have in Christ so it was really hard for me to sing and I had to choke back the tears many times.  The songs really touched my heart and made me rejoice in God and thank Him for caring so deeply for His people.  

We didn't stay for the shared meal but rushed home to help mom get things ready for the 50 people that were coming that afternoon.  People began arriving and the fellowship was so sweet!  God's people are amazing and such a comfort to those who are hurting!  The party was a huge balm to our souls!  We all checked on her often throughout the day, loving on her.  Everyone enjoyed long games of volleyball in the hot sun, we had a sprinkler for the younger children to romp in, the ladies sat in the back yard talking and playing with babies.  After dinner the guys wanted to head to the creek to go swimming so us girls and a couple moms decided to go with them and cheer them on.  Before we left I went to check on my grandma and turn on some hymns for her to listen to.   I knew she was dying, even if it was slowly so I turned it down rather low so it wouldn't bother her.  When I checked her I noticed she had a long pause between each breath and when she did breathe I heard a rattling sound in her throat.  I didn't think much of it at the time because she had issues with mucus in her throat for a month, but later I realized what it was.  The death rattle, but that can go on for a couple days before they die.  I loved on her and told her I loved her, rubbing her face and arms. I didn't know at the time but that was the last time I was ever going to see her living in this world...

We headed to the creek.  Most of the people piled in Taylor's truck but my dear friend Michelle and I decided to walk since trying to make room wasn't looking too promising.  We had a lovely talk and she asked me how I was doing knowing my grandma was dying.  She sweetly asked how she could pray for me.  I was touched and felt so blessed!  Everyone laughed a ton and enjoyed the creek, watching everyone play and swim in the water.  After hauling everyone out of the water and getting them home, the younger guys took on the dads for a game of volleyball.  There were a lot more younger guys but the dads won!   We enjoyed watching the challenging game.  

When that was over it was almost dark so we turned on the flood lights and pulled out the cd player for dancing!  We had quite a group join in and we all had a lovely time.  The mosquitos  didn't stop us!  A couple families headed out but we decided to continue dancing.  Between  dances we were catching our breath when Mrs. H came up to me and told me sweetly but with some seriousness that my mom needed me in my grandma's room.  I must have asked if grandma was okay because she said "Just go".  I didn't know at that point if she was gone or just nearing the end but when I got to the kitchen I saw Nathan, a friend of ours, looking really sad and I knew then by the look on his face that she was gone.  I ran the rest of the way right into my daddy's arms.  They said yes, she is gone.  No more pain!  No more sin!  No more sickness! But oh!  The pain in our hearts!  But the joy welled up in us when we thought of her being in the presence of God!   The door between our house and grandpa's was shut letting our family, along with David and Keslie, cry in each others arms.    We all hugged and kissed the woman we loved all our life and said good bye to her.  We loved her!  Oh, our hearts ached!  After a bit I turned on "It is Well with My Soul" and we all sang along with it while grandpa sat crying and holding his wife's hands.  It was precious beyond imagination!  Those moments of being together as a family, mourning the loss of this person we all dearly loved, will never be forgotten.  After a while we tried to dry our eyes and mop up mascara streaks and went out to our friends.  What a reunion!  We came out and the whole crowd of people were gathered in our kitchen and dining room waiting for us.  I walked into Michelle's arms and we cried together for a long time.  There were tears from nearly everyone in the house and we felt greatly loved when one after another of our friends hugged and comforted us.  They were amazing!  God was so good to make this day and evening such a blessing even though we lost our grandma.  My head was in a whirl, my knees were weak and I didn't know what to do, but our dear friends jumped in and cleaned the kitchen.  One guy grabbed the vacuum from me and vacuumed the kitchen and dining room.  After seeing the mob of people working in the kitchen I went out back to pick up from the party.  Much to my surprise and delight it was clean!  Wow!  A few guys followed me and were able to carry in a few pieces of furniture and tell me not to pick anything up but to let them do it.  What a joy!   The rest of the evening was spent talking and praying together and then good-byes were said among our friends.  We enjoyed the company of 3 of them for a while longer which was a huge blessing because we were just waiting for our dear hospice nurse to get there and the funeral home to arrive.  After they took her body away David and Keslie got their brood into their van and went home.  

It is still hard to believe she isn't here with us anymore.  No more morning feedings, no more turning her every 2 hours 24-7.  No more changings.  No more stroking her face and rubbing her hands.  But instead those sunken cheeks we used to kiss are no more, her shriveled hands we loved on are gone and her tiny lips are forever smiling giving forth their warm radiance!  Once more she can worship her God with her voice and now her tiny feet are whole and can dance to the tunes of heaven!  

There were so many wonderful details God worked out so perfectly during the evening that we are brought to our knees in thanksgiving to God for His plan.  The first thing I remember thinking was that she died while we were dancing!  She always was the life of the party and loved to sing and dance and have a wonderful time.  She died during a party and a dance!  I know she heard us dancing, laughing and the music because her window was open because of the heat.  Little things like that are so special and make us so happy!  

The last couple of days have been filled with funeral plans.  The funeral will be held near our home and then burial one more mile down the road.  From there everyone will be coming to our home for a meal.   My grandpa is doing well and we're always making sure he's okay.  Right now there is so much to do but I'm sure that when things slow down he'll have a harder time.  But that is what we're here for!  To keep him young and happy!  He has been such an amazing example of a loving and faithful husband who loved her till death did them part.  For 59 years they were married!  You can read a tribute I wrote for them HERE.  

"How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!  My soul longs, yes, faints

    for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.  Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,    where she may lay her young at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.  Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!"  Psalm 84:1-4

The passing of a dear woman...

Today marks the day a dear woman, Mrs. Dick Moeller, went to be with her Lord and Savior! She has been ill with cancer for about 3 years and now she is praising God with a new and perfect body that knows no pain! I visited the Moeller family the end of June and was blessed to get to know Mrs. Moeller and her family in person. Her daughter Amber has become a dear and precious friend and I have treasured our talks and times together. Even with the thought that their wife and mother is no longer in pain, the Moeller family will miss her terribly. She was a selfless, kind and dear woman and her wisdom and smiles will be missed in their home. Thank God for the hope we have in an eternal home where there is no sin and misery! The thought of her worshiping God in His presence is glorious to picture!

I would like to ask for prayer for the family. The days, weeks, months and even years to follow are going to be hard for them. Their hearts are hurting.

The Moeller Family prayer blog

Thank you for your prayers!

My Dad's step Dad

Sunday morning, May 18th, mom got a call from my dads mom saying that her husband was in the hospital and not expected to live much longer. He had bleeding at the stem of his brain and was in a coma. After my dad preached at our church that morning, he went to be with his mom. In the evening grandpa Everett passed away. My heart goes out to my grandma because of all the pain she must be going through at this time. Watching a loved one slip from you is always hard and heartbreaking.

Grandpa Everett was in youth ministries and was a pastor for many years. He also was a ventriloquist for many, many years. Before he married my grandma, my mom went to a performance he put on when she was in school. When he could, he would bring his dummy, Wally, to our house and tell us bible stories with him. We thoroughly enjoyed those times and laughed often at Wally!

Several years ago he had a couple minor strokes and since then hadn't fully recovered to his normal self. This last weekend he had a major stroke and then on Sunday evening he was called home to his Maker.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord!

A blessed funeral

Hello! My aunt recently wrote our family this amazing e-mail about a young man who wanted only to live for God and spread His gospel. I hope you enjoy it and are encouraged by his child-like faith in his Almighty Creator.

Blessings to you!
Amber

___________________

We know a family, a large blonde Christian Dutch dairy farm family. They have five sons, all grown and in their twenties, and a daughter, in her twenties, just married this year. Everyone in the Treasure Valley, which is all around Boise, loves this family. They are fun, they work hard, they laugh, they play, they live vivaciously, and they had Case.

Case was one of the boys in this family. When he was nine years old he decided to lead a donkey by tying the lead rope around his waist so he could lead the donkey with no hands. The animal spooked, ran, and dragged Case and he hit his head on a cement water canal. He was in a coma for four months in a hospital.

His sister was 12 at the time. She knew all the "Christian stuff" her parents taught her and that the church taught her, but she didn't think much about God. Now she prayed. She prayed feverishly that God would not let come true what the doctors said. They said he wouldn't live, and if he did, they said that with 99% certainty he would be a vegetable mentally.

Well, sister and brothers sat around him in turns for months and they sang hymns and they prayed and cried. One day, as they sang a hymn, he put his hand up high and strong and made the family sign for, "I love you." Sister, Siska, says from that day on she knew God was real and very powerful.So Case came out of the coma, but he was not the same Case. He was like a four year old. He lived and grew but was always different mentally. He was home schooled with his four brothers and one sister, and worked on the dairy farm with his parents and siblings most of his life. He had great long-term memory, almost perfect and almost photogenic, but very little short-term memory. He could learn songs easily and jokes, but some things were hard for him. He wanted to witness to the Mexican men helpers on the farm but he couldn't learn Spanish, so he spoke in a Spanish accent speaking English. Of course that didn't do any good!!! So His big brother Rudy taught him a song that explained the Gospel in Spanish, and Case could learn that, and he sang it to the men. It took him a whole year to learn the song. He was one of those wonderful people with no inhibitions spiritually, so when he met people he instantly was warm and gracious with them and found ingenious ways of starting a spiritual conversation with them and quite soon was asking them why they hadn't asked Christ Jesus to be their Savior too! A couple of months ago, his oldest brother Rudy with whom he worked almost side by side at the dairy all day, noticed Case had his pockets totally stuffed full. Rudy asked what was in there. Well, he had six little bags full of mints from his sister, Siska's wedding reception, because he said he could start conversations with strangers by giving them a mint, then he could tell them about Jesus and he did! He was constantly explaining the glories and sweetness of Christ to people! Of course, most of what I'm telling you about Case I learned from his siblings speaking today.

Well, Saturday we received a call that Case had died in his sleep Friday night. He had seizures on and off most of his life after the incident with the donkey. He had a seizure Friday night and went to bed and never awoke. He was 23 years old. Ah, but he awoke in the presence of Christ for the Scriptures tell us, ".....absent from the body, present with the Lord."

All five of his siblings spoke at his glorious wonderful funeral service today from noon to 2:00. What incredible young people! What a life Case lived for God that it was "easy" for the siblings to proclaim without reservation that Case lived for Christ and for other people, always trying to be nice to others and do little acts of service for others in his simplicity. All the siblings told great little stories about Case that had all 500 of us in fits of laughter and streams of tears. What a well-lived life Case lived in his openness. The oldest sibling is training to be a pastor, and it is obvious that God has given him the ability to speak with grace and hold the listener's attention, and he speaks words of glory to God.

The music that we were privileged to sing with this family was just incredible. This is a family who attends Cloverdale United Reformed Church, and they also had an association with a church too called King's Congregation. So there were about 500 people at the two-hour service and we sang hymns with them, and these people know how to sing parts; it was strong and lovely and gorgeous. The hymns chosen were strong wonderful ones that Case used to sing with the cows in the dairy barn! Also, almost half the attendees were men, tall Dutch men, and these men sing!

Two pastors spoke, one young recently ordained, his prayer was laced with Scriptures, "...I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there you may be also..... precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints,.....I am the resurrection and the life, He that believes in Me shall live even if he dies" that are so incredibly powerful that speak to this event of death in the life of a believer that you wanted to shout for joy at the end of prayer!!!