Three Months Ago today

It has been exactly 12 weeks since the start of the roller coaster Mom and I have been on called "AVM burst."

My family and I would like to thank all of you who have read this blog and have left comments to encourage us and Mr. Steve. I would like to thank those who made it out for the funeral and/or viewing last week. It was such a testimony to see all of the people impacted by my father's life. He was a great man, he left a legacy. I am proud to call him my dad. I said at the funeral, I loved my father, but I also liked him a lot. He was the best man I ever knew.

There are a lot of people in the world that never get to meet their parents. Some children have terrible parents that they run away from. There are some that have good parents that watch them get married and have children of their own become successful and get old. And then they bury their parents.

But then there are a few of us who end up burying our parents for one reason or another when we are just starting out in life. I never thought I would say my life hasn't begun and I'm already through college. I thought in college that my life began and was now over because those were supposed to be the best years of my life.

I am not saying that they were terrible or that they were the best years of my life but they were a time where my father was alive. I am thankful that my father saw me graduate from college. I'm glad he saw his daughter do something he himself did not do.

I am thankful for all the disagreements we had before, during and after college. I am glad my father loved me that he cared about me. He was proud of me, I know that.

My wish now isn't a regret that I have; but a request I now have. All I want to do is talk to him. I'm not sure what I would say or if I would say anything. I want to give him a big hug and tell him I love him.

My father was not scared on his deathbed. He was not worried about the future of his family that he would not see. My dad had the clarity of mind to tell his son, "take care of your mom." He had the right mind to ask for me "where is my daughter," and hold my face and call me "precious."

What I will think about for years to come is what my father said over and over the last night of his life. It was when mom and I stayed with him at the hospital. He said "Its OK girls, I'll be fine."

I know that you were touched by my father's life in some way or fashion. If you have a story or a memory of my father, please email me your story (kimberlydeichert@yahoo.com). I will be compiling a lot of things about my dad over the next few weeks and months. I want people to know (his grandchildren) what their grandfather was all about.

Thank you to all of you who have read this blog even in its smallest part or if you have stayed with us over the long hall and read its entirety. Mom and I would agree that this helped not only you, but us as well. Some day I will look back and read all of the entries but that's not today.

Thank you all Sandy Covers that came up for the funeral it was great to see you there! Mr. Steve would have been very emotional have known you would come up for it! Mom and I will try to put something together so we can all reunite under better circumstances.

Again, thank you for your continued prayer support. Mom and I will need it these next few weeks, and even months and years as we grieve over the loss of a dear friend, father, spouse, etc.

Hopefully in the next week or so I will be posting a video of dad so stay tuned for a few more posts.

And in case you didn't know...there have been over 700 people that have viewed this blog!!!!

Funeral Arrangements

Here is the obituary that the funeral home put together for us today. We are now on our way to discuss the service plans at church. Thank you for your comments, thoughts and prayers.

Keep 'em comin...


Follow this link for the obituary...

http://www.northeastobits.com/posts.cfm?st=34&obit=28057

Home with Jesus

I'm staring at my fingers on the keys of this computer, and I can't seem to know the right words to write.

Some of you may know, and some of you may not, but my father finished his race today around 8:00pm.

Yesterday around 6pm he choked on some water and Mom was the only one home so she called 911. They took dad to the ER and we discussed our options. The options were to put him on a ventilator for 15 to 20 days then talk about a trach and surgery on the lungs. When he aspirated something went into his lungs. Dad was awake and able to talk so we talked with him about what we could do. He said that he did not want to be all wired up. And he understood that he would be kept comfortable; but that there was nothing more to be done. He was put on a morphine drip from then on.

So last night Mom and I stayed in his room with him. He had difficulty breathing through the night. Kevin and Brandy drove through the night so they could be here because no one knew what would happen.

Today my dad met his grandson. Held his grandson and talked to him. Dad also saw Anna and Ella today and told them he loved them.

People in church were told of dad's condition and that he was now considered under "comfort care." Several families stopped by to see him and he had a GREAT last day on earth! He was laughing and joking and having a good time.

I showed up around 4pm (I left after Kevin & Brandy got there so I could take the girls home). It was around 6pm that Dad was having a severe time breathing. Mom called Kevin to come back to the hospital.

It was from around 6:30 until 8:30 that Dad had a tough time. We increased his morphine until he was comfortable and he went home to be with Jesus around 8:30pm.

The nursing staff was amazing at the hospital! I am so glad they were there to help him and us! They were crying along side of us as we watched him take his last breath.

Thank you all for following in this journey we have been on for a few months.

I'll post information about the funeral arrangements, etc. tomorrow so check it tomorrow.

God has healed my father and I am so grateful for the peace I have knowing everything is going to be all right. My dad is up in heaven seeing the face of His Savior! I will miss him, any daughter would, but I know God is still worthy to be praised no matter what happens in my life. Thank you heavenly Father for giving me such an amazing Dad!

Spread the Word

This is an early evening post, but I think I need to rest (I have a slight fever) so I'm writing my thoughts now.

Right now Harvest 08 is going on just over the river at the Wachovia Center. I'm praying that people's hearts would be moved and God would do His mighty work tonight and the rest of the weekend. I will be heading to Harvest tomorrow night and Sunday. If you are in the area I encourage you to make it out to at least one!

Life now goes like this:

God has a funny way of making me COMPLETELY dependent on Him.

Yesterday I purchased the van I've been looking at for about a month or so. I found the van online, and I test drove it last week. After speaking to several banks, I got the loan over the phone and the check was mailed to me yesterday. I went straight after work to get it!

The dealership I went too was up in Trenton. There are only two guys that work there, and they are the nicest guys on the planet. I would buy a car there again anytime!! The price is right, and the warranty is amazing:)

It was as I was getting in the van that I turned around and shook the hand of the gentleman that helped me. I said, "Bryant, I would recommend you guys any day of the week. I appreciate everything you've done for me. Thank you." It was then that he said "You are one very special woman, and it was my pleasure to meet you. You are going through a tough situation; and you are handling things better than I could."

Here's the van...

2005 Town & Country 40k miles...

StowNGo:)...

Stressed out? I have A LOT of reasons to be stressed out. And honestly, this week I've been more stressed out than I'd like to admit.

But...

As much as situations in my journey can cause me to question everything, I take pride knowing that God thinks I can handle it.

Life is not at simple as"when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." (I'm actually not a fan of lemonade; I prefer sweet tea!)

It is in I Peter and James that we learn that God challenges whom he loves, His children. As Evan Almighty would say, "Love me less." God loves me so much, that He gave His only Son, that if I believe in Him I will not perish but have eternal life.

But it doesn't stop there...

If you love me, you will do what I command (John 14:15).

I'm studying Philippians with ladies at church and Kay Arthur helps us to see that Paul was given the platform of imprisonment to spread the gospel message.

So this is what God has said to me today:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice!
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.

Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
If you do this, you will experience God's peace,

which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

So many people think that what this says is "Rejoice in EVERYTHING"...and people interpret that to "Be Happy all the time"....but its not like that...God wants us to rejoice in the promises he has given us...

When?

ALL THE TIME.

There are too many requests to mention at this time; but please pray for me if you get a moment. Also pray for Dad that he would make serious improvements as constant care can take its' toll on a small woman a.k.a. my mom. Pray that no matter what happens this week or next, that people would see that the platform of my fathers illness that my mom and I are on is just a platform to spread the gospel message.

"a full night's sleep for Steve"

Mom's remember when your infant slept through for the first time? Well, I woke up a number of times last night waiting for Steve to wake up. Fortunately or unfortunately for me - he slept from 10:00pm to 6:18 am. Praise the Lord - the first uninterrupted night's sleep he has had since July 15th! He was breathing kinda hard because he had his mouth open and he had had a night sweat. So I was worried that something was wrong. I woke him and asked if he had to go to the bathroom. He said yes - then began becoming more alert. He peed, I then told him that I wanted a half an hour of quiet then he could talk. I was the very silly one. I should have slept soundly myself. It was good to get the longer sleep! When I woke him up we talked about what happened. He also remembered about waking up startled when the kids were babies. It was good that he slept and tonight I will sleep much better! He told me that he was looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight again. I promise not to wake him this time.

This adventure is very long and there is soo much to learn. I am so thankful for Christian radio stations! When I am in the car I listen to the speakers and they have something that I need to hear. Whether it is a familiar passage of scripture or a meaningful song - I love the way the Lord encourages me each day. Today the pastor talked about "going through the fire and we are not consumed - He is with us" This was comforting to remember. I will share this with Steve tonight.

Thank you for praying for us. It is great to know that your prayers are being answered. Thank you for praying for the little things - like a good night's sleep.

Good night.

Janice

"please Lord - no fever"

Just a quick blog tonight. It has been a very busy day today. With working and a meeting a preschool this evening. Then Kimberly at work and student ministries this evening. We are both bushed. Thank you Vicki for Mr. Steve sitting this evening. You were a life saver. Thank you also for going the "extra" mile and attending to his unmentional need.

Please pray that his low grade fever goes away. With the AVM we know that the body temperature goes wacko from time to time. It's like having a hot flash - ladies. But he gets sweaty in the am and needs to have his chirt changed which is no easy task as I am trying to get things done in the AM. For all of our peace of minds - please pray that this is just a small phase and that it will go away very soon. The fever is 99.4 - but to me any fever is not good. He did have these in the hospital and went on anti-biotics and found nothing.

Have a great evening or Thursday.

Janice