yesterday I realized that Feb 22 and May 22 are the deaths of Dad and Mum respectively......

will go to funerals home and put makeup on mom today..... am sort of nervous about it....but tis mom's wish

Steven arrived yesterday by suppertime and twas a good evening with all of them.
amelia gave me the sweetest gentlest hug i could have dreamed of .......

toBev Streit <bushbevi@yahoo.com>,
Chuck and Ruth <hartski47@yahoo.com>,
Jonathan Couture <jacouture@woh.rr.com>,
"Larry & Bernie Betts Sr." <l2betts2@hughes.net>,
Mark and Jan Olander <mjolander@aimint.net>,
Mary Papke <mbpapke6@comcast.net>,
Mollie Couture <mrscouture1@frontier.com>,
"Mrs. Powell" <powell-ml@juno.com>,
Verna <verna@hardwoodcafe.com>,
Carl's Mary <madirkse@comcast.net>,
Susan Ireta <sladan913@aol.com>,
Joe Moore <yourmysacrafice@hotmail.com>
dateFri, May 20, 2011 at 9:03 PM
mailed-bygmail.com
hide details 9:03 PM (1 minute ago)
I want to thank all of you for the ministry you have had in mom's life over the years.

I am writing to tell you that mom's death is imminate, it wont be long.  She is ready and all of us kids have told her we are ready to let her go.  No more suffering and no more pain, that we want her with the Lord as much as she wishes to see Him.

If you wish to send  flowers or gifts of any sort..... we are establishing a memorial of love gifts to be presented to Moody Bible Instituate for the financially needy international students.

Please forward this message to anyone who you know would want to know about mom's passing.  I will write a brief note when she does pass.

Persoanlly, I want to let all of you know that mom has fondly spoken of all of you and I have so much appreciated the correspondence with you in regards to keeping you up on mom's condition.
It has also been an incredible priviloedge to have been by mom's side for the last 2 years.  I have been truly blessed.

Into God's hands I have placed her life.....
ElLois

Sheri,
I did NOT do well at the bank nor in understanding the attorney with mnom's affairs.   I am overwhelmed with what is to be done and the instructions given me.  I fell apart at the bank.

I came home and told mom that I was proud to be her daughter and that I am proud to know she believed in me (in re to POA) and that if she was ready to go, I was too and know that I will make her and Dad proud of me.  Steve told her yesterday that he would take care of me and she need not owrry about me. 

 I am so emotionally and physically exhausted....I took 2 klonopin and when Bec gets here will take a nap..  ......   after I return to the bank and draw some money out.

I almostt called you in my overwhelmed panic but called upon my Lord to hold me and make me calm in His mercy and grace.

I am ok just so tired (exhausted) of emoting and being overwhelmed.

Unless mom chooses to hold on, for whatever reason, I think she will pass over the weekend. 

If I cannot handle any more, I will call you.

dearest Mary.....
It has been 2 full and busy days with one left.......  I realized I had NOT put into effect somethings in mom's TRUST.....
 I contacted the attorney and the financial lady..... both of which helped realize what I specifically needed to do and by tomorrow afternoon I will have all things done.

The hospice nurse is putting mum on a "daily watch" as she feels, after todays visit, she will pass as soon as I tell mum I am finished, she knows I have done what I needed as pr her wish and I will be ok.

Steve (brother in MI) told mum today he will make sure I am taken care of and that he loved me and would help me in any way he could....... he wanted mum to know that.

I cannot tell mum I am ready for her to pass until tomorrow evening and at that point I hope she realizes I truly have done as she has desired and give her peace .....and if it were her waiting for me to let go.... I am ready.  

Sister Becky has been very supportive in the last week and did tell me today when she stopped briefly that I have done a great job with mom and she is sorry I have not heard it before today.

My therapist told me I have really attached to mum in a way that I did not expect to and it will be difficult for me to be not so dependent on anyone after she is gone.......  when mom was "alone" after dad passed, she kept herself very busy (and bossy.....*smiles) ....... that is not my personality......so being ready not to care for anyone is gonna be difficult.

am going to cry with my head between His shoulders.

Centering Your Heart
Psalm 73:23-28


"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him..."
(PHILIPPIANS 3:10)

We hear a lot these days about achieving balance in our lives. We know we need to prioritize our long lists of commitments, but often we end up feeling like the circus performer who keeps adding more and more spinning plates on sticks in the air above his head.
Have you been caught up in life's balancing act? The "god of balance" only gives an illusion of satisfaction and control. Peace and contentment are lost in the hustle and bustle, leaving our spirits empty as we fly exhausted from one responsibility to the next.

A recent church bulletin posed this thought: "Suppose the goal is not a balanced life, but a centered life, one that is faithful to God in everything we do….where God is the center…"

Let your busy-ness go, starting over again by allowing God to fill your heart with Himself. Then, by His grace, you'll stop spinning in circles and will revolve instead around the Bible and its Living Word, Jesus. Watch Him lovingly transform your perspective each day.

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."
(DEUTERONOMY 33:12)

The circumstances of life change frequently. The economy may and does fluctuate. Wars may escalate and devastate. A loved one may sicken or die. There may be a drought or a flood. Insecurity is everywhere!
However dire the events around us, as Christians we know that these are not happenstance. God is always in control. Our hearts can rest secure in Him, knowing He is working in our circumstances with a plan for our good and not for our harm (Jeremiah 29:11). We can trust His never-failing promises to be our Rock, our Fortress, and our Salvation.
Secure hearts give thanks to their Maker for trouble as well as for blessing. The apostle Paul, having suffered many trying circumstances for the gospel, urges us to do just that, because this is God's will for us in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
Are you experiencing a difficulty today? Thank God right now for that problem, and put it in His all-powerful hands. Leave it there knowing our God reigns.

"There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread."
(PSALM 53:5)

These irrational fears became a very real spiritual battle for me.
They were replaced by confidence in God's ability   NOT MINE  to watch over me.
indeed help me !!  guide me !!
help me not be overwhelmed !!  see things as a step at a time !! 

Is there a fear lurking in your heart, something perhaps you are even afraid or ashamed to admit? We can trust our heavenly Father, the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), to relieve those fears. When we make God our refuge, He promises to command angels to guard us. He draws near to us through Jesus. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, settles our fearful hearts.

Once again I feel as though I am putting mom to bed for the last time......

It came to me today, that I have unfinished business and maybe God is waiting for ME to be faithful in it.  Then He will take mum.

listening to Michael English today, The Prodigal Returns CD.........

Everyone falls,  everyone hurts..........

The only good in me is Jesus

Visit Guest Book

RACINE - Raymond Friesema, 83, died peacefully at his home, with family members attending him, on Friday morning, May 6, 2011 following a courageous four-year battle with cancer. He was born June 28, 1927 at the farm home to Jacob and Mamie (nee: Dykstra) Friesema. His schooling began at a one-room school, Sylvania. With the family moving to Racine, he was educated in the Racine schools, graduating in the Washington Park High School 'Class of 1945'. His father picked up Ray's diploma however, because Ray was already in the United States Navy, with the Seabees stationed on Guam. Upon his release in October of 1946, he enrolled in classes at Parkside, and from there to MSOE pursuing an education in mechanical engineering. On September 24, 1949, he married the former Hazel Jacobson in a ceremony at the Calvary Memorial Church, then called the Gospel Tabernacle. He has been very involved in the ministry of the church all his life, serving as a Sunday School teacher, board member of the finance committee and Missionary committee. For the past 22 years he has been the greeter at a main entrance, serving people, particularly those handicapped. His faithfulness and friendliness has endeared him to many. That service has only been terminated because of his illness. His lifetime has been spent in the machine tool industry, working at Tree Tool & Die, Famco Machinery in Kenosha, Tru-Trace Corporation of California and culminating with many years as a manufacturers' rep for Seaberg Machinery of New York. His territory covered many of the Midwestern States and his 'best tool' of the trade was his Mooney airplane that he owned and piloted. In addition to business, his plane was often used as a means of carrying out missions of mercy. He always enjoyed his work, but was happy to return as quickly as possible to the family. Every position he held, was with the understanding that for him, God took first place, his family came second, and then the job. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Hazel; their five children, John (Jean) Friesema, Bill (Trudy) Friesema, all of Woodland Park, Colo., Mary Claire Friesema of Denver, Colo., Kay (Chuck) Smith of Lake George, Colo., and Jayne (Bob) Bradford of Hammond; twelve grandchildren, Jason (Trish) Friesema, Josh (AnnMarie) Friesema, all of Woodland Park, Colo.; John (Annie) Friesema, Jr., of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sam (Jessica) Friesema of Cleveland, Ohio; Shelly (Nathan) Reitz of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; Krystal (Dre) Arceneaux of Arvada, Colo.; Nick Leiting of Texas; Sgt. Brent (Katie) Lang, serving in Afghanistan; Katrina Lang (fiancée Matt Pulda) of Sturtevant; Grant Lang of Racine; Philip (Katie) Buckles, of Roseville, Minn.; and Kim Bradford of Hammond. There are also 15 great grand- children. Ray has a sister, Clara (Fred) Schaefer of Racine and a brother Jacob (Murly) Friesema of Aurora, Ill.; their children, Rev. Tim (Marie) Friesema and Lori Friesema. Ray has two sisters-in-law, Joyce (Fred) Larson of Racine and Grace Stried of Zion, Ill.. There are also numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Ray was pre-deceased by his parents, Jacob and Mamie Friesema; and by an older brother, John, killed in World War II and buried in Holland. Visitation will be held at Draeger Langendorf Funeral Home at 4600 County Line Road, Racine from 5 until 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, May 8, 2011. There will also be visitation on Monday, May 9, 2011 at Calvary Memorial Church, 4001 Washington Avenue, Racine, from 9:30 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. with Rev. Nathan James officiating. Private interment will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Missions fund of Calvary Memorial Church or to Youth for Christ of Racine. The family wishes to express gratitude to Dr. Michael Mullane and also to Dr. James Taylor for their compassionate, tender care throughout the years of Ray's illness. DRAEGER-LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY 4600 County Line Road 552-9000 www.draeger-langendorf.com