Slideshow Memorial.

The following link will take you to a slide show that includes many pictures of Melanie. A big highlight is where she is heard singing the song “Gone!”. The lyrics for the song are found below. It is very likely that a better version of this slide show will be produced soon.

Rob for the family.

Click here> Slide Show

Verse 1
Mary came unto the tomb of Jesus,
The stone was moved, He had gone away,
The angle said “Fear not I know whom seek ye,
for He has risen’ This she heard him say…

Chorus:
Gone the stone is rolled back, Gone the tomb is empty,
Gone to sit at the Fathers side, Gone over death triumphant,
Gone sin is defeated, Gone He lives forever more

Verse 2
Oh come with me and see this risen Savior,
Who can still turn the dark of death today,
He can calm the storms of doubt and part the oceans,
And He can still roll your heavy stone away

(Repeat Chorus)

Tag:
Gone (over death triumphant) Gone (sin is defeated) Gone He lives forever more.

My Week Without Melanie.

I really debated whether I should write–in so many ways it seems
selfish to “bother” people with the beginning of a new journey–and
yet many ask, read, write, or call really wanting to know how things
are going–so I suppose I may update from time to time. Life goes on
for everyone–if you think life would stop without you, try getting
off for awhile–you’ll find it goes on. Marty preached on Sunday–it’s
been a long time since I’ve heard from him over the pulpit. It is hard
for him to just pick up and move on, as it is for the rest of our
family. I won’t speak for him–maybe he’ll do an update here and
there–
The past days have been filled with many good memories, and yet I
find myself trying to remember Mel before she was sick, as well as
after she was sick. She literally grew up in the hospital–not just
physically, but spiritually. I am so blessed to have had much time to
grow close to her during that time–she did not know how she
challenged me in my faith and in so many other areas–I am still
learning from her legacy of faith and prayer, and a quiet trust in a
Heavenly Father who knows best–in her struggle against cancer, she
had a very strong desire to live, with a faith that held on like a
“junkyard dog”–so I know in my heart of hearts that it was not her
lack of faith that took her from us, but a much higher purpose. I will
never forget at the hospital at Christmas time one night, she was
praying with much tears very specifically for those she did not think
were ready to go to Heaven–then I came across her 2007 journal with
about 3 days of entries–again asking God very clearly to speak to
those she wants to see in Heaven–I know last Friday, Heaven rejoiced
when a little boy asked Jesus to come into his heart–then I
wondered–did Melanie rejoice too?
We talk about Mel a lot here at home and remember so many
memories–I told Cameron that I missed her so much–he said, “who
doesn’t?” Jana is having a hard time adjusting to life without Mel and
with her Mommy–we have homeschooled some days, and other days we go
in together so I can help out with our school’s annual
Convention–mainly in the music dept. Lauren has chosen for a solo a
song about Heaven called “Look for Me”, and Joelle is looking at one
for a solo called “Wish You Were Here” also a song about Heaven–it is
hard to hear the songs without thinking about Melanie and what she is
enjoying–This would have been Mel’s first year–the girls were really
looking forward to competing as a trio–sometimes it doesn’t seem fair
that all her talent and gifts are gone, that we will never– down
here– be able to hear or see them–then I seem to hear something tell
me that her rewards are now eternal–those that will be in Heaven
because of her faith, far outweighs what she could have done down here
for the temporary–this I know in my head–sometimes it takes my heart
awhile to catch up– Marty found another song on the “work station” of
Mel singing a song doing all three parts–I am hoping he’ll decide to
compile the collections and make a CD–
Tomorrow marks the day that we left in 2007 for our first family
vacation to Florida–I remember at the time feeling so very guilty for
pulling the kids out of school–in between convention and Bible
quizzing–to go off and just plain relax and enjoy a time away from
home with the family–I would not trade that time together for
anything–many dollars were spent on things that some would probably
consider a “waste”–but now I can look back and am so very grateful
that we took that opportunity to quietly pull away from a very busy
schedule to enjoy family time–I have had a hard time trying to get
back on this fast track called “life”–it has made me so much more
protective of evenings at home, and just being at home instead of
running here and there–we immensely enjoy interacting with people
which makes it even harder to make time for “alone time”–
Some time very soon I want to attempt to write a tribute to this
wonderful facility called A.I. duPont Hospital–we are so grateful for
the people that we have crossed paths with –also  Nemours Pediatrics
in Dover, the endoscopy suite at Bayhealth in Dover, and their day
surgery, Delaware Hospice, and Pippin Funeral Home–I also have quite
a list of thank-yous that I hope to personally write–my biggest fear
is that someone’s name was not written down, so they might get
missed–We have been so blessed by so many people, that again if you
are reading this, we thank-you each personally for the way that you
have contributed to the lives of our family–even to those who have
sent cards, and are still sending them, who we have never met–you
will never know how we have been encouraged by “strangers” who simply
took the time and a stamp to reach out to our family–we ask for God
to bless you–With love, Lori

Remembering Melanie–from Mom

I knew that sometime soon I wanted to sit down to write some
memories about Melanie from a Mom’s heart–after the time of “open
mic” at the funeral, so many memories were shared with us that are
very special to us–if you have the time, we would love to hear from
those of you that wished you had shared–
It is hard to believe over a week has gone past since Mel is
gone–yesterday I went to her school to put some things in her office
there, and to share cake with her classmates–it is a numb sort of
feeling that part of me still feels like she is maybe in school or
just in another room–and will soon come bounding down the stairs or
will watch her carry Jana upstairs piggy-back with a pile of books for
night time reading, or maybe even look out into the back yard to see
her jumping on the trampoline–today our house is quiet–everyone is
back to their “normal”–
I catch a glance at a picture of our children and try to imagine one
is missing–a part of me cries out in disbelief, wondering when this
dream will end. I hear her singing about death being defeated and
being triumphant over death–and somehow I know and hang onto every
promise that I have of Heaven and knowing beyond all doubt that I will
one day really see her again–I know she wants us where she is,
although in my selfishness I want her back–yet I would never dream of
asking her to leave the place she has moved into–I cannot imagine
what she saw Sunday morning, as she was dying. She would open her eyes
wide then close them again–her pupils were very big–we can only
wonder what was so beautiful–
Death is so final, and yet in my human-ness I want to talk to you
just one more time–I need to know that the transition was OK–that
you have found the Man of your dreams–my mother heart needs to make
sure you have found everything you need–then in the back of my mind I
can hear you reminding me as you often did–”I’ll be fine, Mom” “We
just have to trust the Lord”–I know Melanie that really you will be
“more fine” than we can imagine–Would I have done things differently
if I had known you were given to us for only 13 years? Probably–but I
will not dwell on the what ifs–I want to remember the life lessons
you helped me to learn–
You were the “observer”–watching everything as it happened, but yet
never being afraid to try something new–the octopus at the chinese
buffet, hard piano pieces, diving at Messer’s pool, Mrs. Beachy’s
suggesting that you journal and helping in her classroom, more pen
pals( I lost track, maybe around 80), Balderdash & Apples to Apples,
that purple broom from Byler’s that would make you want to sweep the
floor everyday, helping Daddy perfect the crabbing trot line, your
guinea pig Mo, that homemade blue jumper made without a pattern,
peroxide in your hair, long nails that you stopped biting, operating
Melanie’s summer school for Katlin, Graham, Luke, & Jana, money
envelopes started for a new project you thought we needed, composing
songs & poetry–the list is endless.
That new house you dreamed of down here–well I cannot imagine our
plans come close to what you have now–and the greatest gift in the
world that you have given to us is to know that we will meet you there
and that you were ready to leave us when you did–my greatest desire
is that we will all be together for eternity–and that will be
final–nothing will ever separate us again–
As the flowers wilt, and the cards stop coming–my memories will go
on. Not a day will pass that we will not feel the empty chair at the
table, or the silent piano keys. I am forever grateful for the
precious gift of life that God gave to you to enrich our family and
give us a perspective on Heaven and death–and to always believe that
my questions will someday have answers–when we can finally see the
people that are going to spend their lives in Heaven because of your
faith and courage–I am not promised tomorrow, so I will live today
like it is my last–my small problems seem so silly in light of what
is in store for me, knowing that you have gone ahead of me to spur me
on and have given me another reason to live for Heaven–
I will keep reading to Jana every night about Heaven–she misses her
“bed-buddy” so much–it will be so different without you, but until we
see you again–Goodnight, Mel–I’ll see you in the morning–
With much love and tears, Mom

A Special Request!

This is Rob doing another guest post on this blog.

I wasn’t sure how to do this in an appropriate way. Marty and Lori had nothing to do with this request and won’t really know about it until they check this blog again! I was asked to announce this by some dear church friends. A link is also provided on the right side margin of this blog for future access titled “Special Request”.

Click here >  Special Request  < to check it out.

Many thanks,   Rob

The Future Of This Blog.

This is Rob doing a guest post:

Its hard to believe its been a week since Mel’s home going. During the viewing and funeral a number of people asked what would become of this blog. In talking to Martin, he mentioned that he would like to keep it going. We realize how many of you faithfully kept up with their recent trial on this blog. Your prayers, interest, and support, have been invaluable! These prayers need to continue as the “waves of grief” continue. Hopefully the healing of time will cause these waves to be less intense. No, the family will never quite be the same again. My prayer is that they will become stronger and more determined than ever to follow the leading of their Saviour. I have no reason to doubt they will do just that!
One of the things I am working on is getting a video together of the slide show that was played during the funeral and viewing. I hope to make it available on youtube and post a link to it on this blog.

Rob for the family.