This week I have been struck with the juxtaposition of the new life of spring popping up everywhere and the death of a dear one. (Edit: Make that two dear saints now… but both are cancer-free, pain-free, and with their Savior.)
I have been…
seeing: yellow daffodil heads swaying in the wind; pink and white magnolia buds ready to burst open; more pink and white in the curled, feminine form of hyacinth petals; sandals in place of fur-lined boots and back again
hearing: birds chirping and singing; the sweet notes of my wind chime; the electronic song of the ice cream truck’s return; sad news and sweet, comforting words of scripture
feeling: lovely breezes through open windows; renewed energy; grief and joy all wrapped up in a tangled ball of emotion
tasting: burgers off the grill; homemade bread; saltiness of my tears
smelling: the dampness in the wind just before a pop-up thunderstorm; heavenly fragrance of hyacinths
Linked up with Wordless Wednesday, Project Alicia, To Be Thode, It’s A Blog Party, Ramble Road Ramblings, Better in Bulk, and Alli n Son.
I had plans to do some other writing today, and to put up a completely different kind of post. Then I heard the news. News I knew I was probably coming sooner rather than later, yet hit me like a ton of bricks nonetheless.
A beloved pastor and friend, faithful and humble servant of the Lord, Pastor Dave met his Savior face-to-face this morning and is now walking pain-free along the streets of heaven. Our pain and loss is most definitely heaven’s gain.
Dave joined the staff of our church less than two years ago, yet God gave him, and his precious wife Cynthia, an immediate impact and ministry in the lives of so many people, myself included. Then, last summer, Dave began to experience severe back pain, and an array of doctors could not accurately diagnose the cause of his pain. About six months ago, after another scan, the diagnosis came down: cancer. The news was not good. Dave had a large tumor attached to his hip and it was already stage 4, i.e. extremely aggressive. Scans only a few months prior had picked up nothing.
In the face of this devastating news, Dave and Cynthia stood strong and full of grace, exhibiting so well the fruits of the Spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Dave’s honest cries of anguish were always tempered with faith and trust in an all-knowing, all-powerful God. Through this heart-wrenching trial, Dave’s words were such an encouragement and testimony to all who knew him.
The treatments started soon after diagnosis. An anti-cancer diet. Chemotherapy. Radiation. Nutrition-based treatment at a specialty clinic. The cancer liked them all and continued to grow. We watched as Dave grew thinner and weaker. He longed for the glories of heaven. He was ready to meet his Creator even though we were not ready to let him go.
We prayed for healing. We prayed for an end to his pain. God granted our petitions today, if not in the way we would have preferred. Today Dave is free. Free from pain. Free from the shackles of this sinful world. Free to dance and celebrate.
Dave was our Associate Pastor of Shepherding and Family Care, involved in discipling, counseling, and visitation as he cared for the needs of our body. We thought God sent him to Faith Bible to minister to our needs, but I fully believe God sent Dave and Cynthia to us for us to minister to them for such a time as this.
Right now, and if you think of it in the weeks to come, please pray for Cynthia and their family. It seems unbelievable to picture her without him, but this is life’s new reality.
It is hard to rejoice through the tears, but rejoice we must, knowing our friend is in a better place. Through the natural process of grief, we celebrate a life.
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Addendum: This post is still getting some hits so I wanted to add links to the picture slideshow shown at Dave’s memorial service on April 9th and the message he recorded for his church family shortly before his death, which was also shown at the memorial.
From college classmates…
…to college sweethearts…
…to college graduates…
…to engagement…
…to marriage…
…to now.
Today we celebrate five years as husband and wife. Just over seven years ago we had our first date. In September it will have been 10 years since we first met in that small classroom in ENS. That friendship formed in the first days of college has blossomed in ways neither of us ever expected.
I’m so thankful for this man God has placed in my life. I am a better person for having known him. I am proud to call him my husband, and for him to call me his wife. On the threshold of yet another stage of life, I am blessed and thankful to be carrying his child.
I love you, babe! Thanks for putting up with me through these years.
I’m excited about my ideas for the nursery, and am hoping it all comes together the way I envision it. The closest I’m coming to a theme is Charley Harper. He’s a local Cincinnati artist (who died a few years ago) and is quite well-known in certain circles for his “minimalist realist” style of depicting wildlife.
I’d like to attempt making a mobile out of craft paper, wooden rods, and string. It can’t be that hard to make some simple shapes, right? I picture it as something like a mixture of these lovely mobiles I found on Etsy:
I love these art gallery walls from two of my favorite home blogs (Young House Love and Bower Power). I know at least a couple of you will recognize them. I’m also thinking we’ll need to take the door off the closet to get a little more space out of our small 10×9 room.
The room is still full of other stuff at the moment, but that should all be getting cleared out in the next couple of weeks. I’ve already started some demo work on the closet, but now I’m getting ahead of myself. Those plans are for another post…
Warning: You’re about to see a photo that will most likely cause desire, drooling, and intense cravings.
That’s what happened to me when I saw this picture, anyway.
I don’t remember how I came across this recipe, but boy am I glad I did. I made it for a friend’s Super Bowl party and it was a big hit. I also baked it over at her house (and forgot my camera), hence no pictures of my own finished product. Without further ado, I give you:
One-Pan Skillet Cookie
(from Sophistimom)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup chocolate chunks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in an 8-inch cast iron skillet set over medium-low heat. Stir in sugars and vanilla and remove from heat. Let rest until pan is warm, but no longer very hot, about 5 minutes.
Crack an egg onto the butter and sugar mixture, and use a fork to whisk it well into the mixture.
Place flour, baking soda, and salt on top, and very carefully stir into the mixture until smooth and well-mixed. Stir in chocolate chunks.
Place in the oven for 15 minutes, or until starting to turn golden on the top and around the edges, but soft in the center. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
*****
I don’t have an 8-inch skillet, and since I was taking this to a party, I basically doubled the recipe and used my 12-inch skillet. I also love that it doesn’t make any other dirty dishes!
This post is linked to Sweet Tooth Friday.
