On A December Day

This is one of the hardest posts I have had to write. When I woke very early this morning I began to read your blogs and try to catch up a bit. My thoughts for the day were many - things to do, preparations to finish for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - all the normal morning thoughts. Within minutes a phone call from our dear daughter shattered the early morning quiet and instantly our world was turned upside down. Our dear son-in-law was in trouble. The ambulance was on the way to their home and we were asked to come. I stayed with the three young children as my sweetheart took her to the hospital. After a very long day of waiting and many phone calls between the hospital and me the call I dreaded the most finally came from my daughter. He was gone. Our son-in-law suffered two massive heart attacks today - one at home and a second after arriving at the hospital. I fed the children and kept them busy until my sweetheart and our daughter arrived home with the task of telling the children about their father. There have been many tears and a lot of hugging each other close through the evening and I'm certain reality has not yet really begun to settle into their young hearts. Our hearts are heavy as our daughter faces the road ahead to raise her young children alone. And our hearts grieve for the son-in-law we loved for a few short years.

I will be away for a few days in order to help get the children and the rest of the family through Christmas with some kind of order. I appreciate your prayer support through these difficult days ahead. There are decisions to be made and many things to do. This I know - God is faithful, even when we don't understand! And He is our Rock, our Shelter in the time of storm.

I wish for each of you a wonderful Christmas. As you celebrate, hold each other close and treasure every moment you have together. Be sure to tell your precious ones how much they mean to you. Take every chance to make the most of every minute you can. Thank you, dear friends, for your friendship. It means much, especially at times like this.