The morning after the day before

I just had to write to thank so many of you that came to Dave's thanksgiving service yesterday, and to others that I know were not able to make it.

I think it was a day he would have enjoyed . We had a quiet reflective gathering at the crematorium in the morning for just the family.We had chosen Westerleigh which is a beautiful country setting - If it had had a few mountains around it would have been a perfect .
This was followed by a great family lunch ,and from there on to the larger thanksgiving.

Looking around at the congregation was like a patchwork of our lives.Some dated back to our university years and nearly every stage in between .The tone of the service was of thankfulness to God which I know he would have approved of rather than focussing on him.

My only regret was that I was not able to talk to more of you.I am soooo sorry to those of you I missed especially to those I know had come a distance.I hope gradually to be able to connect by either phone , e-mail , facebook , or even face to face .

So this will probably be the last blog on this site as I now have to set out on my journey without Dave who was my best travelling companion and taught me so much along the way.
I am just grateful that the ' journeying together' has just gone from a 3-some to a 2-some and that I am not alone.

I have to say a huge thank you to you all who have travelled with us and I know will continue with me. God never expected us to make it on our own we all need each other.

So thank you , and may each of you know in a deeper way the God Dave loved and served,and receive the blessing that brings.

With my love to you all .
Elaine

Jouney's end and journey's beginning

This title refers to the fact that Dave's long journey came to an end last night at about quarter to eleven.I was able to hold his hand to the last and he slipped away peacefully after a few difficult days.So he is now with His heavenly Father released from the diseased body he has had to inhabit for the last 18 months.

We ,as a family, are now embarking on a new journey.By tomorrow all our immediate family will be back.Mim Besi and Jonathan fly in tonight from Albania with Steve yet again chauffeuring them up from Gatwick,Peter,Ruth and Theoni, joined us this morning from Southampton and Ruth ,Maki and Amelia were already here.

The Thanksgiving service will be at Cairns Road Baptist Church at 3pm Tuesday 29 June. All very welcome with tea and cake after.
We are wanting to thank God for Dave's life and His presence with us through this journey.There will be a period of 'open mic' during the service if you have anything you wish to share publicly.There will also be a loose leaf file to add any photos or prewritten memories that you would like to share with our family.
Please dress brightly .

I will close there for now but may add further details as the days pass.

A hugh thank you to all those who have journeyed with us ,it would have been a desperate road to travel alone.
We hope to see you all next week.
Elaine

Life ( and Death) is a Rollercoaster

Another long silence from us -sorry.

It is now 7 weeks since we had a home visit from a hospice doctor , in whose opinion Dave probably had 2 more weeks of earthly life left.

I say that only to illustrate how over the last few weeks we feel we have imminently been reaching the finishing tape only to find we are still running the race.

Dave has not really been eating for some while now and so has become weaker and has been bed bound for 2 weeks.Pain and nausea are well controlled by means of a syringe driver which releases the necessary drugs slowly over a 24 hour period.

Last Monday we had a 'gift ' of a day when Dave was able to communicate clearly and normally but since then he has slipped and is now sleeping all the time.

We have been greatly blessed by all the supportive district nurses and also over the last 2 weeks by Marie Curie night carers allowing me to have a good night's sleep.

Last week end we had all the UK based family here for a double birthday barbeque (Pete and Maki) which was great. Ian ,Dave's twin brother has been visiting the last fortnight which has also been a blessing.

So the journey has continued but must surely be reaching the end.But we know it is not the terminus for Dave merely a junction at which to change trains.

Thanks you all again for your concern for us ,your support, cards, prayers, cakes and flowers. We have felt such a wealth of friends behind us in this journey.

We also thank God for truly being Emmanuel -God with us -on this journey. There have been times I have lost sight of Him but I know even then He has been here and come to restore peace again.

I will use this site to bring further news and also notification of funeral/thanksgiving services.

With my love and gratitude,

Elaine