Brilliant waves of light penetrate through this haze called life in the twinkle of an eye as the soul erupts into creations most beautiful symphony of sights and sounds this first step into ‘forever’ —Janny’s entrance into heaven. Wrapped in God’s light, love pouring from the Throne, Jesus placing His hand into the new arrivals hand embracing His child finally home, “free indeed” Janny would say. Pure peace and joy flow into the soul, all longing fulfilled, understanding complete, and the journey continues anew—called eternity.
Our dear friend and member of our family Janny Grein arrived safely ‘home’ this week, she now abides in our Saviors arms, sadness for us great joy for Janny. Our son
Phillip married Sally the daughter of Janny & Bill Grein and their love brought our two families together for eternity. We share two wonderful grandsons with Janny and Bill. Our hearts are heavy we miss her. ‘Covenant Woman’ singing now with the redeemed is ‘Stronger than Before.’ Her vast audience here on this earth can only listen to what she left behind while she continues to serve her Lord and Savior writing and singing those new songs of worship at His feet. I can only imagine how much bigger her contagious smile must be as she looks in the eyes of Jesus face to face at last. Her life’s talent, music, always
proclaiming the Love of the Savior to the hurting heart each song a gift reassuring this desperate world that we are “More than Conquerors” when we “Cast our Bread upon the Water” as we learn to “Count it all Joy” while we “Praise Him”! Janny remains in our lives through the songs composed with her soul. Music poured from her heart into our lives drawing us closer to our Savior and changing lives eternally this is her legacy. Generations to come will listen to these songs and many will come to know the Savior because she was willing to empty out her life into this lost world leaving light in the darkness. Thank you Janny until we meet again I will love and care for Sally, Phillip, Ethan and Eli our shared treasures.
My mind cannot fully comprehend what the entrance into Heaven is like, but whatever we see, hear, or happens our soul will be completely able to engage its splendor. Many are the family and friends I know that now dwell in Heaven with my Lord and Savior. Yes, Heaven, a real place. My soul longs for this home called Heaven and when my time is finished here on this earth, I too will join those who have made this most excellent journey into forever. As Ethan talked to me this week about Heaven, I realized again how my grandchildren are always teaching me another of life’s precious truths. He said, “Mommom I only have you here with me now, only one grandma left except for Great-Grandma Davis, too. That is okay cause God needed my grandma she has a lot to do in Heaven and when I get there I will remember and tell her all my stories!” At age 6, he
fully intends on his home being in Heaven someday too. So simple the acceptance children have of God’s plan may I learn this too. We will make sure Ethan & Eli remember grandma (Janny) and take her with them on their life’s journey. I rejoice for Janny, she is home.
Part of the continued duty of the Liberty Bell and Law Memorial is honoring those who give all for God, Country, and Family. We see the grief of a nation, the sorrow of families, and the cost of being a free American. Rarely does a week go by without the bell tolling for that cost. David has been able to toll the bell at several concluding honors for our American Heroes this summer– today a WWII POW, and tomorrow a young soldier Killed in Action in Afghanistan. Every generation has Heroes to remember. Never will we forget.
First, if I did not tell you how HOT it is in Texas right now, I am sure our daughter-in-law Claire would add her thoughts at the end of this update. How HOT is it? The last time it was this HOT –I was 9 months pregnant with Phillip—year 1980–69 days of over 100* I did not venture out anywhere! However, today in my older age I can get around without too much trouble if I carry ICE with me everywhere. Claire from Canada thinks some snow would be NICE about now. FYI it is 107F in the shade with a fiery hot breeze. Never fear we keep telling her our wonderful fall and winter temperatures will be here soon! True story: every time David goes to the store or out to eat he carries a hoodie with him to wear because they keep the inside temps in every buildingat 60F. It feels colder inside when it
is 109F outside. So inside tip– always carry a hoodie in the car when going shopping if it is over a 100F outside cause the inside is gonna freeze your nose! (I also carry a hoodie in the car—it is either hurry and freeze or take my time in comfort another little known fact of living in Texas and shopping in the summertime.) With this heat one has to be careful outside so either go out early morning or late night say midnight the temp will be a comfortable 85F also a record low that is high. Burnt to a crisp would be the description of most grass with that pretty light brown color, and watch your step because we officially have one & two inch wide cracks several feet long in the fields that could swallow the foot of a toddler. Maybe that is why my boys would come home with just one shoe after playing in the field. My poor flowers are hurting again this year but they look good in May and September. Ok enough about weather but had to let all know for Claire.
Since my last update, several of you have emailed or talked to me and you seem to want the same answer to a question. Just where is the ‘secret passage’ in my house? My answer the same to all it is a secret! You must look for it to find it. To schedule a time to search…….just kidding. I am currently writing some of the stories of those who found this ‘secret passage’ and what they found —Sam has not told anyone where it is either. Stories are coming.
David is doing fine if I can keep him out of the heat and not escaping out the back door every hour because he has something to do or somewhere to go. He continues the food, pills yes, still about 70+, potions, I.V.’s and even some new knowledge is helping keep his immune system in balance to keep him healthy. His research continues. New issues to conquer old ones disappear. His weight changes depending on what he does but stays within the 145-150 range. We attribute some of this to the heat and him being out in it. He has talked with a few of our friends we met in Quito they also are doing well. They share ideas that are working for them and what is not working —–a great source of information and wonderful to hear from them. Close to our heart they all are. David had a full blood workup last Friday so we should get the results this week from our family doctor. The doctor in Emory, Texas did a heavy metal test on him two weeks ago; all was good except for one metal so we are working on getting it out of his body. Every 2 weeks he receives an IV of minerals or vitamins. Many thanks to those of you who continue to pray for David; we receive great strength because we are the recipients of all those petitions. We are being vigilant to do what we know to do to keep David healthy and we
realize God gives us this miracle we live with daily. God is Faithful. This year has been challenging for us however, we keep our trust centered on our Lord and Savior.
David resumes life aware of the many aspects of living taken for granted by us each day like the intensive amounts of supplements he has to take and the need for always watching what he eats never before entering his mind until nearly cut down by cancer. A truth we have learned during this whole process of recovery and maintaining health is that life is precious, each day a new opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone hurting in this world. We are surprised by the number of people brought into our path who have cancer, know someone who has cancer, or they just had a family member or friend die of cancer this year. Scripture says the devil wants to steal, kill, and destroy but God takes all the bad things that happen to you in life and He makes something good out of the bad when we let Him. This very horrible thing called ‘cancer’ has changed our lives for the better because we now have another opportunity to tell of God’s love. Not the venue David
nor I would have picked at this stage of life or any stage or for anyone to journey through but, whatever comes God is with us still guiding and leading where we need to go and who we need to met. We are learning not to take for granted the lives of those around us. Suffering brings clarity of purpose and a sense of urgency in living each day. Struggle a part of this human existence while we live our lives but no matter the source of the pain, loss, sorrow, defeat, disappointment, tragedy, or disease and though I may not understand or even like these obstacles in my path I know this one thing for sure God is sufficient and He knows our name! I am weak–He is strong. I fall and He wraps His arms around me repeatedly always ready to forgive and love me. All have something in their life that only God can heal, and living through all the “what about tomorrows” a huge part of who we are in Christ. For in Him, all things are possible and in Him we have our breath. Not knowing tomorrow for any of us is just living by faith. Sometimes it is hard to do this ‘living by faith’!
This week has been especially difficult for us because we will miss another member of our family, but we rejoice for Janny finishing her race here on this earth making her entrance into Heaven. I will miss our shared stories of our children and grandchildren, her next stories might beat all the others well they could be more dramatic. I wrote a few months ago about how one person could change this world, and Janny changed everything she touched by giving her all for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Janny is living with her Lord and I am sure she is singing new songs as they flow from her heart directly to the throne. If I close my eyes and try to listen, I can almost hear those praises of the redeemed and the new arrival as the song says, “I can only imagine!”
As you might expect I have thought a lot about Heaven this past week, and my finite brain actually has to stop imagining for a minute because it only can see a small fraction of what must be awaiting the child of God upon arrival into Heaven. I realize again this earth is a place for us to prepare to be with God forever.
My thoughts:
Our Eternity begins at birth; God gives you life; you live here on this earth for a certain period of time in this body of dirt; you are born again (when you die to sin by asking Jesus to live in your heart); you leave this body of dirt called death, either your soul lives with God forever or your soul dies the second death forever in torment; you will never go away
once God creates your life and you will live somewhere forever. Forever is a long time.
I heard a new song this month while driving to one of the eight funerals for our American Heroes. I cannot get the words out of my heart and want to share it with you. It gives me great comfort especially since I do understand some of the trials we endure while living this life.
“Blessings” by Laura Story
“We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
(Chorus)
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we have faith to believe
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise”
It is encouraging that through our troubles, they can also be “blessings in disguise.” When trials come God is watching over us bringing us closer to Him. For we live in this world and suffering will come but when it does God is there caring for His child never leaving our side. He is always bigger than the burden. We are ‘overcomers’ through the blood of Jesus Christ. You were right Janny.
Words to contemplate that make me stronger than before Janny!
“’Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise”
No one knows their tomorrows; this past week a precious friend is home, may we live our lives large, as did Janny. Her last words left here for us were of love and encouragement to continue to run this race. Janny said, “Everyone has a period of time in their life when things get tough. Through the pain of it all, and the struggling, it should be a period
when integrity of heart and solid character are developed by God. Before it is
all over…if we have learned anything, we will be ‘Stronger than Before’ …. Now live your lives….He is coming soon!”
As I finished this update I received a phone call from Bethany, our daughter, she informed me of the home going of yet another friend of the family. A young mother of five, herself only 35 years old, battled cancer for the past 7 years who also made her entrance into Heaven this week. Sorrow filled my heart and I cried. Again, I can only trust my Lord and thank Him for allowing Mishann to be a part of our lives during those precious teen years. Many happy memories I cherish and keep in my heart of this beautiful spirit Mishann who now lives with the Creator of the universe.
When I see those brilliant waves of light and my soul burst through this haze of life and the sights and sounds of God’s creation thrust me into my “forever” I will be “home at last” with my Lord and Savior. What a glad reunion day that will be……
Our tears poured out this week for those left behind without their loved one beside them but we rejoice for those who have made that most excellent journey into Heaven. One day
our soul will be filled with perfect peace, our longings fulfilled, and our understanding complete as our Eternity continues in a place called Heaven. Our prayer for you is to embrace today living large and expect the hope of Heaven in the twinkle of the eye.
Our love to All,
Heaven closer today than yesterday,
David & Phyllis
