The most adorable, huggable, kissable, speed-crawling, giggling bunch of smiles there ever was, my cousin Madeleine…

  "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

-Revelation 21:3-4

Grandma passed away late yesterday afternoon, with all four of her children and four of her six grandchildren around her. It was peaceful, though heart-wrenching. We sang a hymn, read a scripture, and held each other through the tears as we said goodbye to someone so very dear to our hearts.

Life will never be the same again. How we were blessed to have had this precious woman in our lives, to have loved her and to been loved by her. It will take me a long time to even grasp that she is truly gone. But this was God's time…her mission on earth was accomplished, and we can rejoice in knowing where she is, and who she's with.

Thank you – each of you – for your love, prayers, and thoughts. It means so much to all of us and is such a comfort to me. Please continue your prayers – we need them. God is right here beside us and He will get us through every hour and every day.

Because He lives,

Hannah & family

Some of you know that my brother and I have been living with our grandma in PA this spring/summer helping her out. She had been doing good after her cancer surgery in March, and was on her way to becoming her normal self again. However, Thursday morning she fell and hit her head. Long story short, it resulted in a blood clot that irrepreably damaged her brain before anything could be done. She is presently in a deep coma, and not expected to live much longer.

This has been a huge shock for all of us. Please pray for strength, peace, and comfort as we face what lies ahead in these next days. Especially for my dad – this is very very rough for him. We hadn't expected to have to let her go this soon. It is one of the hardest things in the world and I'd rather be doing anything else. Yet we trust God's will and timing…His ways are above ours. I know Grandma is ready and waiting to see the Lord, and that heaven holds SO much more than this old place.

Thank you so much.

~Hannah and family

 Everyone knows you as a man of honor
I am glad to know you simply as a friend
You have always taken time to be my brother
And I'll be standing by you in the end

 But I will never put you on a pedestal
I thank the Lord for everything you do
I'll be there to pray for you and for the ones you love
I believe that He will finish all He started in you

~*~

 I will be an open door that you can count on
Anywhere you are, anywhere you've been
I will be an honest heart you can depend on
I will be a faithful friend

(Faithful Friend lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman and Twila Paris)