today we went to church without thomas, yet realizing he will never miss church again. he will be eternally worshipping God in all of God's glory.
Thomas felt most at home in church; at crestmont christian missionary alliance our first home church for 25 years or our chippewa e. free for the last 6 years. the family of God is so big and has no boundaries.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
birthday
today would be our baby Rachael's 26th birthday. just like her father, Thomas, she was born and died on her birthday. her birth and death were the same year, whereas thomas' birth and death were 52 years apart.
a dear friend wrote an unintentional, yet divinely inspired story for us after thomas left this life in which the meeting between thomas and rachael was described. with our friends permission we would like to post it here at some point in time.
a dear friend wrote an unintentional, yet divinely inspired story for us after thomas left this life in which the meeting between thomas and rachael was described. with our friends permission we would like to post it here at some point in time.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
FIRST OF THE FIRSTS
tonight will be our first night alone. we picked up thomas' remains today at the funeral home. the words ashes to ashes , dust to dust ring in our minds. we are being comforted by the Holy Spirit.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
MEMORIAL SERVICE
just want to advise of a pre-arrangement date for a memorial service. i have been in touch with Pastor Jeff , senior pastor of chippewa evangelical free church and we are looking at 2 dates the first week of August.
thank you everyone for your love and concern and interest in this blog. the comments mean soooo very much to us.
thank you everyone for your love and concern and interest in this blog. the comments mean soooo very much to us.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thomas was reading a book "Heaven" and was impressed with a quote from D. L. Moody that said. "When you read my obituary in the paper....don't believe it for a second because i am more alive now than i have ever been."
Thomas is home now where he belongs and longed for. he did not want to leave us but was not afraid to go.
to everyone who loved thomas, please be comforted by knowing he is safe and secure and knows what we only hope for.
we love him so much.
Thomas is home now where he belongs and longed for. he did not want to leave us but was not afraid to go.
to everyone who loved thomas, please be comforted by knowing he is safe and secure and knows what we only hope for.
we love him so much.
Friday, July 10, 2009
JOHN 5:24
JESUS SAID, I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WHOEVER HEARS MY WORD AND BELIEVES HIM WHO SENT ME HAS ETERNAL LIFE, AND WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED, HE HAS CROSSED OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE..
THOMAS LEFT US AND HIS BODY AT 12:15 A.M., SAT. JULY 11--HIS 52ND BIRTHDAY.
THOMAS LEFT US AND HIS BODY AT 12:15 A.M., SAT. JULY 11--HIS 52ND BIRTHDAY.
thomas is now on morphine to ease his breathing. he is in no pain. he takes a sedative every 4 hours. he is still communicating with us with mostly sign language and eyebrow movement. he is still the classic tom.....still wanting fruits and drinks and not losing his gag reflex which surprises the nurse. we continue to sing songs of praise with him and kiss his face and hands and assure him of our love.
lenny smith, friend of tia & nathan from center is here visiting. he was close to thomas. thomas was his boys brigade ranger at church.
lagios/sullivan family will be stopping on saturday. friend sherri mclaughin will be arriving tonight.
sincerely.
lenny smith, friend of tia & nathan from center is here visiting. he was close to thomas. thomas was his boys brigade ranger at church.
lagios/sullivan family will be stopping on saturday. friend sherri mclaughin will be arriving tonight.
sincerely.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
thomas has rested well today. this evening he had some trouble breathing because of the congestion. we prayed him through it with help from some meds.
the previous blog was added by nathan just to let each of you reflect on a great man's life.
of course, thomas would say that Jesus is the greatest of all. that is true, but thomas comes in second in my opinion.
we know his time on earth is winding down. we ask of God for peace and comfort for thomas as he crosses into eternity with his savior.
the previous blog was added by nathan just to let each of you reflect on a great man's life.
of course, thomas would say that Jesus is the greatest of all. that is true, but thomas comes in second in my opinion.
we know his time on earth is winding down. we ask of God for peace and comfort for thomas as he crosses into eternity with his savior.
SURPRISES
thomas said he was hungry and thirsty yesterday evening. he had watermelon, applesauce, jello.
said he would like to take me to italy before he meets jesus at the gate. what a sweetheart he is.
the nutters' formerly from chippewa E.Free and a pastor friend came last afternoon and prayed and anointed thomas and read scripture. how comforted we all were. my mom, nanny, is here for a few days.
thomas michael climbed up in bed with "pop pop" to watch a movie for a tidbit of time. precious.
we told him pop pop will someday sleep and sleep and then wake up in heaven with jesus. he said "when, tomorrow after pop pops nap?" he said i believe in Jesus too!!
thomas had a restful nite of sleep. we are so grateful to the Lord for His grace he has given us.
we cling to every moment we have with the strongest, kindest, pure, dedicated, caring, faithful man we have EVER known. and we have known many of these men. but none like Thomas.
be of good cheer everyone. know that we are being carried in the cradle of the loving arms of Jesus.
said he would like to take me to italy before he meets jesus at the gate. what a sweetheart he is.
the nutters' formerly from chippewa E.Free and a pastor friend came last afternoon and prayed and anointed thomas and read scripture. how comforted we all were. my mom, nanny, is here for a few days.
thomas michael climbed up in bed with "pop pop" to watch a movie for a tidbit of time. precious.
we told him pop pop will someday sleep and sleep and then wake up in heaven with jesus. he said "when, tomorrow after pop pops nap?" he said i believe in Jesus too!!
thomas had a restful nite of sleep. we are so grateful to the Lord for His grace he has given us.
we cling to every moment we have with the strongest, kindest, pure, dedicated, caring, faithful man we have EVER known. and we have known many of these men. but none like Thomas.
be of good cheer everyone. know that we are being carried in the cradle of the loving arms of Jesus.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
LIGHTER SIDE
as i was asking the hospice RN if she thought thomas was in a declining state, she acknowledged that he is, thomas (who has been unable to speak hardly at all) raised his hands up and said firmly----"MAYBE". he has a tenacity for life that is remarkably god-given.
he is now not eating and drinking and is mostly sleeping.
i am in awe of the birth and death events of life.
he is now not eating and drinking and is mostly sleeping.
i am in awe of the birth and death events of life.
PRAY
i had to call 911 at 4 AM. thomas could not breathe well. hospice could not get oxygen to him for 6 hours so we went to the hospital. he is home now and resting comfortably. will probably have to continue to use oxygen as the tumors in lung produce fluid and he is not able to expectorate the fluid. the ER doctor said thomas is very, very ill. we know, but hearing it is hard. Jesus has comforted thomas on this cancer journey every footprint along the way. we know they are HIS footprints in the sand and not ours.
please do not be discouraged. thomas is not afraid. his faith is built on the promises of God through Jesus Christ His Son.
Nathan and Tia struggle with the thought of losing their father in this life, yet they know where he is going.
please do not be discouraged. thomas is not afraid. his faith is built on the promises of God through Jesus Christ His Son.
Nathan and Tia struggle with the thought of losing their father in this life, yet they know where he is going.
Monday, July 6, 2009
VISITORS
thomas had a challenging week.
we decided nathan should come down for the rest of the summer to be with his beloved dad. how nice to have both our adult children with us.
thomas has lost significant weight, yet his eyes reveal the depth of his kind heart. his spirit is renewed by his Savior every day. we love thomas so very much, just like so many others do.
his sister and mother, my brother and his daughter, fortunato, shust, shust, and shust families, hess and hess families and lagios/sullivan family(soon) have visited and laughed and cried and reminisced and filled our fridge and did chores and ministered in music. what sweet fellowship we had.
thomas is feeling better today.
we decided nathan should come down for the rest of the summer to be with his beloved dad. how nice to have both our adult children with us.
thomas has lost significant weight, yet his eyes reveal the depth of his kind heart. his spirit is renewed by his Savior every day. we love thomas so very much, just like so many others do.
his sister and mother, my brother and his daughter, fortunato, shust, shust, and shust families, hess and hess families and lagios/sullivan family(soon) have visited and laughed and cried and reminisced and filled our fridge and did chores and ministered in music. what sweet fellowship we had.
thomas is feeling better today.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
HEALTH UPDATE
Thomas is sleeping more and eating less.
His voice is hoarse and finds it difficult to speak in long sentences. This is due
to the compromised lower lung areas. We did not realize how much we use our lung
air to speak.
Today Thomas' mother and sister will be visiting. My brother and neice will be visiting on Saturday.
How nice and comforting to have Nathan and Tia with us. They have risen to the occasion of becoming very helpful adult children. Thomas is so content to have them here.
As always, we know Who holds our hand and our future.
Blessings to all who read this post.
His voice is hoarse and finds it difficult to speak in long sentences. This is due
to the compromised lower lung areas. We did not realize how much we use our lung
air to speak.
Today Thomas' mother and sister will be visiting. My brother and neice will be visiting on Saturday.
How nice and comforting to have Nathan and Tia with us. They have risen to the occasion of becoming very helpful adult children. Thomas is so content to have them here.
As always, we know Who holds our hand and our future.
Blessings to all who read this post.
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