May 27, 2009

We are grateful for the many, many ways that our family and friends have surrounded us and supported our family over the last 5 months through prayer, calls, emails, visits, cards, food, and the list could go on and on and on. Dad always enjoyed a good visit or a funny card! Dad passed away last night around 11:20 pm. As Mom wrote yesterday, his condition had worsened tremendously. As we grieve his loss, we are also grateful that Dad did not have to endure the worst of his cancer for a long period of time.

We prayed that God would heal my Dad. I know that God is able to heal and it would have been only a small task, but I also know that God sometimes has a greater plan and purpose for suffering on this earth. We watched my Dad walk through this trial with the utmost faithfulness and grace and for that testimony, we rejoice. Only a man whose trust is in the Lord could have walked through this with the peace and grace that he did.

God has already taught my family much over the last 5 months. It has loosened our grip on this earth and has increased our longing for an eternity without the suffering and pain experienced here. It is not death to die for my Dad or any other Christian, whose faith in the gospel will lead to an eternity in the presence of God. He is in the presence of God this morning and knows Jesus in a way more intimately than we can on this earth.

Please pray for strength and faithfulness for our family during this time- that we would not lose sight of the cross, and God's goodness and sovereignty. Pray that we would see many glimpses of how God is using our suffering for his glory.

I Peter 5:10-11 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Update

Just a short update. Ronnie has had a really rough weekend through today. He grows weaker with each passing day. We continue to pray for better days. Please continue to lift him up as well as our family during this most difficult time. Please make the most of the time God has granted you. We thank God for our continued times together.

Update

What a beautiful week. Even the cool days were just beautiful. We continue to be thankful for God's perfect plan and His Grace and Mercy. Ronnie had a really rough weekend. Just felt awful in general. By Monday evening he began to feel much better and that continued through Wednesday. He hasn't felt quite as well today, but he and I made a trip to Big Apple Farm Supply for the yearly purchase of soy beans. We enjoyed getting out.

Matt and JB planted those beans this afternoon so hopefully the deer will have something to munch on besides our corn. Holly was in charge of fajitas for supper. They were great of course. Following the soy bean planting Jason, Kendra, Jeremiah and Simon came for a visit. There's never a dull moment with Jeremiah and Simon around. They'll have a lot of tricks to teach Baby Blacker.

Ronnie had the first look at the garden today. He hasn't seen it since the day we planted it probably 3 weeks ago. It looks pretty good for amateurs. Ronnie is the "master" farmer at our house.

We look forward to this Memorial weekend. Mike and Megan will be coming to NC on Wednesday and hopefully our family will be together some during that time. We are scheduled for a family picture on Thursday, so weather much like today would be great!!!

Please continue to lift our family up, especially Ronnie.

Baby Blacker

Is quite the mover and shaker. He is perfectly healthy, weighing approximately 10 oz. and growing properly! :) He gave us a little wave with his hand today via ultrasound and said he'd see us in October! He's breech right now, but Dr. said not to worry, as much as he's moving, he could be turned around many times between now and his due date. And yes... I typed he. It's a boy!! Pa and Graggie are getting yet another grandson!

Update

Just a short note this morning. Ronnie continues to have good and bad days. He's pretty weak and in some pain on those bad days. Also on those bad days he doesn't feel much like eating or drinking. On the good days he feels much better, eats some better and gets out a little more. Sometimes I think on the good days he wants to take advantage of feeling a little better so maybe we overdo it a little. We're so very thankful for the good and bad days. God's mercies are certainly new each day.

I failed to add Lisa to the list of those who didn't join us for Mother's Day at the Reid's. I guess I left her out because she wasn't working or sick, but enjoying a well deserved vacation.

Please continue to pray for Ronnie during this time. He continues to enjoy visits and getting out when he feels like it. When someone visits on a day he doesn't feel quite as well, it seems to lift his spirits.

Once again, thanks for the many prayers on our behalf.

Happy Mother's Day

I trust all you mothers had a wonderful day. If your day wasn't good you certainly can't blame it on the weather. What a beautiful weekend. We had a great Mother's Day around here. We began the weekend with dinner at Matt and Holly's (after picking up Megan at PTI), prepared mostly by Kendra. Nothing better than a grilled hamburger, unless it's Kendra's chocolate pie especially when shared with friends and family. All our family was there even Grandma Mildred joined us. Saturday everyone just sort of "did their own thing". Ronnie even turkey hunted. Sunday following a wonderful service at Sharon Baptist we joined my family for a picnic lunch at Grannie's (we missed Mike, Sean and Joey). What fun!! For dinner Charles and Betty hosted the Reid clan at their home (Mike, Nick and Grandma and Papa were not able to join us). Jeremiah and Simon added quite a bit of excitement as neither of our families have had small children in a while. We're so thankful for wonderful family and friends.

Matt picked up Megan for her return flight to DC this morning at 5:00 AM. We're already looking forward to her next visit.

Ronnie is about the same. Some good days and some bad. His appetite surely isn't up to par. Please pray he'll feel a little more like eating this week and the pain won't be so severe. We're so thankful for your prayers, cards, and visits.

Update

Ronnie continues to have pain that is mostly controlled by the medicine. He hasn't felt quite as well for most of the last week. We saw the Doctor on Monday and he was pretty surprised that Ronnie had not lost much weight. I think he looks like he's lost more than he has. He just doesn't have much appetite and eats many times, I believe, to please me.

We're looking forward to this weekend with all our family together again with the exception of Mike. We'll certainly miss him. We have plans to be with my family for lunch on Sunday and Ronnie's family for dinner on Sunday night. I hope Ronnie will be up to both those gatherings.

Ronnie continues to enjoy visits. He's had several friends stop by this last week and he has certainly enjoyed talking with them.

We thank God for each day as he's able to be "up and about". We thank our friends, family and acquaintances for the many prayers on our behalf.

Happy Mother's Day.