Sunday, November 6, 2011

More funeral announcements

Greetings,

The funeral, taking place on Tuesday, at 1:30pm Pacific Time, will be available via livefeed online.  If you are interested in watching, check out http://www.langleycanrc.org/ and then I think you click on live video tab near the top.  We have been overwhelmed by the continued support from the communion of saints across the country and beyond.  We continue to Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Great is God's faithfulness

The service for commemorating God's faithfulness in and for dad deBoer is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8th, 2011, 1:30pm at the Langley Canadian Reformed Church - 21804 52nd Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Langley Hospice Society - memo: residence.  We are greatful to the LORD that He guided things so that dad could spend his last days at the hospice.  The care dad received, and the love we all received has been most overwhelming and generous. 

We continue to rejoice in God's goodness and we Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Promoted to Glory

On November 3, 2011 our husband and father was promoted to Heavenly glory at 9:55 pm. We are thankful that his suffering is over and that he is now in the presence of our Father in Heaven.

Praise God from whom all blessing flow.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Every day the Lord has appointed

Dad was appointed another day on Wednesday.  This too, is from the LORD.  While we pray that his suffering may soon come to an end, we recognize God's goodness in allotting dad yet another day on Wednesday.  He was more awake on Wednesday - this has pros and cons.  When dad is a bit awake, he is quite confused, but he is not forgetful.  What I mean by that is that Dad recognizes certain people - he recognizes voices, he holds hands, he says our names, he enjoys our singing, he enjoys the reading of scripture etc.  It is hard to imagine what dad is thinking and it must be difficult for him to want to communicate more with us, but he is unable.  The difficult think for dad, and for us to witness, is dad's frustration and confusion.  He was quite agitated yesterday at certain times but when that happens, we try to sing dad's beloved Psalms and Hymns.

On Wednesday, when we told dad certain people were here, or when people spoke with him he did respond as though he knew exactly about whom we were speaking.  Today, dad's sister from Ontario is coming - we pray that dad will recognize her voice as well.  As well, today Joanna (Chris' wife) and children are arriving.  We pray for travelling mercies for all - also Uncle Ron (mom's brother) and Aunt Ina who are driving from Ontario.

We wait on the LORD - His will be done - We pray that He will redeem His servant from this earthly suffering and bring him into the great mansions above.

We are truly blessed to be able to:
Praise God from whom all blessing flow!
Chris

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Waiting on the LORD

God teaches us to put our trust in Him and in His ways:

Isaiah 40:28ff.
"Have you not known? Have you not heard?The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Today, dad has been mostly sleeping or sedated.  His breathing is getting a bit more laboured.  He occassionally has bladder spasms that cause him a lot of discomfort.  He is able to respond to some touches and sounds once in a while.  For this we are grateful.  When we read the scriptures, sometimes he moves his hand to hold hands with those around him.  If one tries to let go, he might squeeze it, suggesting that you not let go.  It is difficult to see him this way, but we are grateful to the LORD that dad is quite comfortable on the whole. 

It is such a great comfor to know that all these things are in the LORD's hands - His ways are higher than our ways and they achieve His purposes.  We pray that dad's suffering would soon come to an end, and we continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of God's love as expressed by the communion of saints. We all continue to:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Chris

Monday, October 31, 2011

October 31, 2011

This morning we could visit with dad's doctor. She was quite saddened that Dad had such a hard weekend. She was able to tell us that the calcium levels are not coming down and that Dad will probably not become any less confused. This means that they will take more measures to ensure that he is comfortable and not agitated and that his time here on this sinful earth will not be much longer.
He is no longer eating or being hydrated by artificial means. He will drink a little here and there but not much.
As a family we are thankful that he is quite calm and at peace today. This morning while I was there some of us were able to sing and he did join us occasionally. What a beautiful sound it was to here him sing "I love the Lord..." In this, too, we can

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. :)

Belinda.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Our outer nature wastes away...

What is your only comfort in life and in death?
That I am not my own, but belong with body and sould, both in life and in death to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.  A comfort indeed!

Today (Sunday) was a very difficult day.  Dad was very confused and he wanted so many different things.  There are times that he can't communicate what he intends, and then there are times that he doesn't mean to communicate what he does.  It is very challenging to follow what dad wants and we patiently try to understand what would be good for dad and do as much as we can for him.  We are so grateful to God for the hospice in Langley.  The nurses are most wonderful and they work diligently to give dad the care he needs. 

We pray that dad's suffering may soon come to an end.  The Lord also preserves us in such a way that without His will, not a hair can fall from my head.  We thus pray to the LORD that His will would be to have dad's suffer end soon and grant that he may enter into a mansion that the Lord has prepared for those who love Him!  Indeed, Dad loves the LORD the fount of life and grace!

We can indeed: Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Chris