Easter came early for Dawn this year. She died about 8:30 p.m. tonight (April 2). We took her home from Hospice at noon because her wishes were to be with her family at home when she died. The next 8 hours were a mixed bag - some peaceful and filled with smiles as children and grandchildren spent time with her. Other hours were struggles and pain. She died with her family surrounding her and encouraging her in her last few steps, painful as they might have been. As she so often tucked her children into bed, and sat with them as they wrestled with sleep, her children surrounded her in her struggle with this final sleep, tucking her safely so that she would be awaken by the loving and strong arms of Jesus, the one she lived for and loved.
As much as I wanted her to be finished with the battle, I never imagined in my darkest nights that it was this hard to let go. Therefore, I continue to wait for Easter with all its power and transformation. Like the Marys and the disciples I do not know how to get through the darkness of Friday. But I know the hope of the coming Sunrise on Easter when all God's children will awake to the smile of their eldest brother Jesus.
In the mean time, I remain with you in the safe hands of The Strong One who is the Resurrection and the Life.
Your presence (even when distance separates) is appreciated as are your prayers!
Pastor Doug, Jennifer, Julie, Jillaine, Jodi, Jacque, Jacob along with all those who make our lives joyful and hopeful. AJ, Joel, Jeremy, Tyler, Eli, Isaac, Declan, and Quint.
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19 comments:
Prayers from Durham ...
-Heather & Dave
Continued prayers for the VanEssen and Veenstra families. Love to you all.
Dr. Bob Thomas
Lori Greenwell, Mandi and Kalei
My love and prayers go to all of you!
Ellen Van Oss
Loving you all....
leah
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, as they've been, at this difficult time. May the peace and love of Jesus be with you all. John and Tina Wiersma
Love and prayers to your entire family...
Our prayers continue to be with you...
Greg and Kristy Shoemaker
Dawn is with her Father in Heaven and she is pain free. Doug, your words about wanting her to be from the pain and struggle yet not know how hard letting her go would be have made this even more real though I am 3000 miles from where you are. I cannot thank you enough for taking your precious time to write these blogs. They have made an impact in my life. May God, the author of life, hold you close and tight and surround you with His infinite comfort and love and peace.
Love,
Melissa
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Our sincere sympathy to you in the death of a precious wife, mother/mother-in-law and grandmother, but joy for her in attaining her eternal reward! We pray for God’s promise of peace, strength and comfort to sustain you now and in the days ahead. Your earthly loss is her heavenly gain!!
Sincerely,
John & Karen
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
II Corinthians 1:3-4
Thank you for sharing with us all, what a testimony of God's love... in Dawn's life, in your family's love and care for her in her last days here, and in the hope you shared knowing she is now safe with her Heavenly father... our prayers are with your family.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I love you all!!! Erika Hall
Your family has always been special to me. Dawn will forever remain in my mind as a wonderful woman. How blessed your family is to have been gathered with her in her final hours. May you feel peace in the knowledge that she is no longer in pain.
In Christ,
Sarah (Sytsema) Kanaar
much love and embracing you all.
becky
Our prayers are with you......
With love,
Mike and Marian Oosterhouse
Dave and I have been thinking of and praying for your family constantly. Thank you for sharing so openly....
For the few years that we went to Crossroads, you both were a very important part of our lives. Dawn helped to nourish me as a new Christian, I will always remember her honesty and caring and her complete love and devotion to her family.
May the love of Jesus sustain you all...
-Ingrid Yunck
May God give you the peace and strength for your new journey. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." 116.15. Even these moments are in the palm of His hand. I'm praying.
We share in your sadness and in the joy that Dawn is now whole and home. Pastor Doug, we think of you every time we hear these words, so I'm going to turn them back to you & your family now:
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you his peace."
You all remain in our prayers -
Heidi & Marty Sytsema
James, Anna & Grace
We love you and are praying for you!
Sarah Hinton
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