A Time for Goodbye

God is our hope and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved,

and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof rage and swell,

and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same

There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God,

the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most Highest.

God is in the midst of her,

therefore shall she not be removed;

God shall help her, and that right early.

Be still then, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

and I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

(Psalm 46)

We have had sad news in our house.  Husband's uncle Duane passed away Tuesday evening.  He had been very ill with a horrible, incurable, lung disease for a while but it was still somewhat of a surprise.  We spent Thanksgiving with husband's parents and his aunt and uncle at their house in Springdale.  He was hospitalized with pnuemonia the following week and never recovered.  I am so thankful we were able to spend that last holiday with him.  As you can imagine it was a loud, rowdy, cluttered Thanksgiving with our four children and their toys all crammed into Uncle Duane's small house, but Duane said that the noise, chaos, and floor littered with toys made him happy.  That was what made it a home and a holiday with family.  He loved it!!  And I am so thankful we got a couple of pictures of the children with Duane before he passed.  

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered:  Accept our

prayers on behalf of thy servant Duane, and grant him an 

entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of

thy saints; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth

and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now

and for ever.

Amen

(Book of Common Prayer: Burial of the Dead Rite One)

Goodbye Duane!  We love you!  You will be missed!