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!
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29 comments:
Janice, Kim, Kevin, Brandy & family: We are so sorry for your loss. I am crying with you and praying for you. You have an amazing family. We love you and wish we could be there with you. Thanks for taking us with you on this journey.
With Love,
Esther, Dave, Sarah & Ryan Morad
Dear sweet Janice and family...
I am beyond stunned as I read this blog tonight and my heart just breaks for you all...I just cant believe it...Please know that you will be continually in my prayers during this difficult and sad time..You have been so strong and Steve has fought the good fight of faith...My love to you all...
Love
Lisa Mackiewicz
I am sorry for the loss of your father's company here on Earth, but I rejoice that he is now healed in the presence of our loving Savior. He is walking, talking, and breathing with no problems. Your blog has been an encouragement and comfort to me as you lean on Jesus during some very hard times. I'll be thinking of you and praying for you all today.
Our thoughts & prayers are truly with all of you as we remember Mr. Steve! Brian & I have such fond memories of the years we spent with you at Sandy Cove & America's Keswick. Mr. Steve had a huge impact on SOOO many lives, including our own. He will be missed, especially in your lives! We will continue to lift you before HIS throne, praying for peace & comfort in the days ahead. We love you all so very much! Thanks for sharing Mr. Steve- your husband & Dad and Grandfather, through all the years with all of us!
In Him~
Love,
Brian & Donna Bitler
Jesslyn, Julia, Joel & Jeremy
Dear Janice, Kim and family
I just can't believe he is gone. I have been following your blog from the start, praying for you all each and every day. Your love and caring have been such an inspiration to me, you are an incredible family.
Yes, I did get a phone call last night around 10PM to let me know that Steve was now with our Lord and I just had the question of why?? After reading your blog entry this morning I know why, our Lord has healed Steve and he is now in his presence and I praise Him for that....
I am praying for you now, and will continue to do so.
Thank you for letting us into your lives through this blog.
with Love
Toni, Stefan, Stefan Jr and Tyler
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Steve's homegoing. Bill Welte told me last night. What sadness for those left behind, but how sweet to know that Mr. Steve is in the presence of our Savior - healthy and whole!
Mr. Steve was an incredible man. I always enjoyed working with him. I will never forget one time when I was having a bad day and seemed to be doing everything wrong. Mr. Steve came in and, with just a few words, made it all okay. I will never forget that day and have even shared it with others since then.
I know Mr. Steve will be greatly missed by many people. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.
Love, hugs, and prayers,
Susan Mahoney
Dear Janice, Kimberly, Kevin, and Family,
I was so sad to hear that Mr. Steve was not here on earth anymore and so happy to hear that he is in Heaven. Thank you for all you have meant to my life. I wish I was closer. I am so grateful that technology brought so many of us back into each others lives after so many years.
We are praying for you!
Jen(Turk)Nicholson
I am a friend of Joy Taylor's and she has been asking us to pray for your family. I am so sorry to hear of your loss and pray that God will comfort you in the days ahead!
Aunt Janice, Kimberly, Kevin and Brandy,
I am so sorry for the loss of Mr. Steve. We will continue to pray for all of you through the next days, weeks , months. One memory I have of him is when I would come and sleep over to your house with Kimberly we would drive in the very back of your station wagon. Mr. Steve would have the radio on and be singing along to old songs. Many I still know and learned from those trips. :)
He will be missed.
Love you all,
~Julie
for the Houston family
So sorry for you all. I'm praying for comfort and peace as you walk through this time.
Mrs. Steve, Kevin, Brandy, Kimberly,
My heart aches for you all this morning. Dad called me right away last night and I was in shock like so many others. Mr. Steve is finally home and HEALED from all his troubles. As I sat last night and thought of him, I am hoping that Lindsay was at the gates to welcome him home. Your Dad has touched so many lives and has been a Dad to so many. He will be missed so much. I love the verse that says weeping shall come at night but JOY comes in the morning.
All My Love,
Laura, Jon, Tanner
Dear Janice, Kimberly, Kevin and kids, I am still in shock that Steve has gone on to heaven. We will continue to pray for all of you during the following days and months to come. You are all strong but I know the moments will come and that's when we will be lifting you up to our faithful Heavenly Father. We love you all. Thanks for letting us be a part of your lives again, not physically, but through this blog and before Jesus. You are loved.
Love,
Jan for all the Weltes
To a wonderful family: My heart breaks for your loss her on Earth but is greatly comforted knowing that Mr. Steve is with our Savior. Your family is a testiment of God's love and how powerful it is. Thanks for sharing Mr. Steve. Praying for comfort and peace over the coming days. In Christ, Love, Amy (King) DeLisi
Janice, Kevin, Kimberly
I don't have words right now.
I am so sorry.
Kim
Mrs. Steve, Kevin, Kimberly,
I did not want to understand what I read on blog today. It hurts so much... Know that I pray for all of you. Mr. Steve will always be remembered by us, whose lives he touched. Be strong and one day. One day, we will all meet again and it will be the best reunion - eternal one.
Matus Dedina (Sandy Cove 1996)
Hi Mrs Steve, Kevin , Kimberley
There is nothing I can say to make the pain / feeling of loss go away.
Mr Steve was a great man of God, with a heart as big as the ocean. You have all played a special part in my life remember Christmas 96? you guys took me in. I know Mr Steve is with Lord and I find strengh in knowing I will meet him again one day. God Bless Love and prayers Roy Simspon
Janice, Kim, Kevin, and Brandy,
I am at a loss for words at the news. But Mr. Steve is better now! He is with Jesus and healthier than ever! I hope that gives you the peace to get through this time. You have been in my prayers throughot this hard journey and will continue to be.
In Christ,
Sarah Heubel
Mrs Steve, Kevin, Kim and family: I read last night about Mr.Steve going home to be with our precious Lord and Saviour. I am so sorry for your loss and will be in prayer daily for you all. Reading this blog has gotten me closer to the Lord, as did reading Lauras blog about her little girl. Mr. Steve helped me out so much when I first got to the Cove. He knew I didn't have a car, so he loaned me his truck for a month, remember that? He took time to get to know me and encourage me. He left his mark on my life as well as many others. He was so highly respected by soooo man people. I am blessed because I got the chance to know him.
Janice, Kevin, Kim, Brandy & Family,
Mr. Steve impacted so many lives, he will be very missed!
I know that he is no longer in pain which I am very thankful for, but I will miss the long talks! All of you have always made me feel like part of your family and for that I will always be grateful! May God give each one of you the strenght and wisdom that you need to get through one day at a time.
Love You All!
Bonnie & Tom
Dear Janice and Kim and family,
It was with great sadness we heard the news last night. We know Steve is happy with Christ but can't help feeling grief that he is no longer in this earthly world with his family.
We will be praying for you and remembering Steve's many talents. So many church dinners to think about where he served the church body with amazing skill and grace. I appreciated his work with the children at Bethel. I will remember his teaching in the kid's Sunday School and children's church. Always an example of Christ's love to my kids. What a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" Psalms 116:15
With sadness , prayers and hope,
Joy and Jim Bennett
Please know that our prayers are with you all.
Scott & Jill Brown
Dear Janice,Kimberly,Kevin,Brandy,Anna, Ella, Baby Derek, and Dennis:
We are deeply sadden upon hearing the news. We rejoice knowing that he is in the presence of our Heavenly Father. You have been on a incredible journey over the the 11- 1/2 weeks. We know that Steve will be greatly missed. He touched so many lives through Church,Sunday School teaching the children God's Word, Church dinners, his past business (Soupy's), America's Keswick, and Sandy Cove, and many others.
We share in your loss, as it has brought back so many feelings of our losses of last year (June and October 2007).
Thank you for sharing your lives with all of us, through this blog.
God has brought this verse to mind:]
Revelation 21:4
"He will wipe every tear from from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Steve has shown us the peace that surpasses all understanding.
We will continue to pray for each of you during this difficult time.
We love each one of you.
Our Love, Dave, Marcy, Christina, Garrett, Danielle, and Jeremy Kerr
When I was driving home from work today, I was thinking about all of you and realized that Mr. Steve went home to be with Jesus right at the end of Mercy Me's set at the Harvest "08 last night. They were singing "I Can Only Imagine" at very close to the same time or maybe even the very same time that Mr. Steve breathed his first breath in heaven. He doesn't have to imagine today.
Deichert Family,
May God's peace comfort you and may you know that Mr. Steve has touched so many lives. I am indeed one of those lives. I just found out today about this tough journey that you all have gone through. I am so sorry.
Mr. Steve was a wonderful 1st boss for me at Sandy Cove June 1991. You all became my family away from home for the many summers I worked there. Thank you for reaching out to me and keeping an eye on me. Mr. Steve had a big heart and cared so much about us. We were his kids for the summer and he took that responsibility seriously. I have so many memories with each of you and I am grieving with you all.
Kimberly you have grown into such a beautiful Godly young lady that your Dad is very proud of, thanks for sharing from your heart. I read almost the whole blog today.
Thank you for opening up yourselves so that we could be a part of your lives. I will be praying for you all as the weeks ahead will be difficult. But due remember you are not alone, Jesus is with you and carrying you through this together.
Words of Encouragement
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Psalm 62: 1-2, 5-8 have been tremendous encouragement to me in times of grief and loss. Cry out to Him who knows you well. I am crying and grieving with you all and rejoicing for Mr. Steve that he is with the Lord, in His loving arms.
Beth Hulehan Slotkin
(Kevin's birthday buddy)
(Kimberly's singing buddy)
Atl, GA
I am in shock and in tears as i think back on the past few months of Steve's life. It all has happened so fast. I guess that is why scripture refers to life as just a vapor. I am grateful that we have a loving savior who orchestrates all of our circumstances and what we call life.
I am relieved that Steve is no longer in pain and joyful that he got his jump shot back. Yet, my heart aches for all of us who have had the honor to know such a special man. He is, and will continue to be missed.
Our love and prayers are with you ,
Craig, Deb, Bekah,Ryan and Abbie Worley
There are no words to express all I wish I could express to all of you. Thank you for exemplifying unconditional love and commitment throughout this process for so many to see.
Much love to all,
Julie
We will be serving meals this week and remembering all the great times we had with Steve as he led us in preparing and serving meals for various ministries. He was a great guy and we loved him and your family. Don and Jan Davis and Family are praying for you and thank you for sharing with us. You have been such a testimony through this. Our love.
I am sorry and saddened for your loss. I was mostly in disbelief when I found out last night. Steve had always been someone I really looked up to and loved like a second father. I will miss him greatly and I have been thinking and praying for you. Today I have been able to find some joy in knowing he was no longer in pain and that we will meet again someday. I am blessed to have known him and to know your family. Janice, Kim, Kevin, if there is anything that I can do to serve you, please let me know.
In His hope and Love,
Craig Fisher
Mrs. Steve, Kim, Kevin, Brandy and family,
I just found out about Mr. Steve's passing. I am so, so sorry, and heartbroken. Words can't express the sadness I feel right now. Mr. Steve was my spiritual father, the first man to really show me the ways of the Lord. He taught me great things, including how to work... but mostly about Jesus. I'm so sorry I didn't get to see him in these last days. Family emergencies have consumed us over the last months... I guess I thought I had more time. This is a good reminder that the day is short. I pray God's perfect peace and comfort over each of you. I know Mr. Steve leaves a void that cannot be filled; I pray that the deep deep love of the Lord touches you in that place, everyday. I love all of you and will keep you continually in my prayers.
Jen (Petti) Kliewer, for Jeff and Abby also
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