To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
From Karen:
....I wanted to write about the memorial service, but we were exhausted afterwards. I want everyone who is reading the blog to know that it was absolutely perfect and beautiful. Thank you for the prayers...they made all the difference.
The slide show came together and every other part of the service as well. It was everything we had prayed it would be. The Lord was honored and lifted up for all to see, and we wanted people to know who Joey was, and that was also accomplished. The Lord carried us and helped us through the most difficult week of our lives.
We are now mourning in a new way as we pack up his little bungalow, and sort through his things...some to give away and some to keep for ourselves. That is very difficult and heart-wrenching. It makes real to us that his earthly life is over and we weep over the mementos of his life--his guitar and ukulele, his t-shirts and board shorts, his wallet and glasses and toothbrush. It really hurts.
We are so comforted that he is spiritually alive and living in eternity. We keep our focus by remembering that He is with the Lord...he is safe. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. We are relying on them as we close down Joey's life. We think we'll be home this weekend.
Much love,
Karen
***
17 comments:
Dear Karen and Joe
this past Sunday we lined the lawn at Hope Chapel waiting for Kit and Shelley to swing by so we all could yell "welcome home" "we love you"!! There were hundreds there...
I thought of Joey and your family and what Sunday must have been like for you. I turned to Jori and told her that this is a picture of heaven. I told her that if I go home before she does when its her time to come home we all (her church family and friends) will be there with open arms yelling and clapping and jumping up and down yelling
"welcome home Jori we've been waiting for you". What a glorious entry waiting for each one of us. One day you and Joe will go home and there will be Joey jumping up and down with so much love and excitement at your homecoming yelling "welcome home Mom and Dad
I've been waiting for you"
Oh how the cloud of witnesses will rejoice. I pray for you guys every morning on my way to work.
Your family is here waiting to love on you...Safe travels
Kelly Apo
Joe & Karen,
Anything we try to say at this time seems so inadequate. Thank you for sharing your feelings with us. This too has to be difficult. We serve a God who cares.
love and prayers,
Ron & Barb Crabtree
Lynden, Wa.
Karen and Joe,
I was reading Kelly's comment and touched by it. the photos of Kit's homecoming is posted on my blog. The photos there does did not due justice to the awesomeness of the event, but it is a nice to see it, and know that a welcome is awaiting for all of us in heaven.
http://www.lizas-eyeview.com/2008/06/and-this-is-one-of-many-reasons-whyi.html
Dear Karen And Joe
Kelly put it so elequently about Heaven, which reminded me about the Woman's retreat about 3 years ago??
Remember when we entered into the Beautiful candle lit room, with Flowers and Friends all welcoming us in, as if we were entering into Heaven? And Jamie reading each one of our names as we entered into the room? That is an experance that will never leave me, And so Kelly is right Joey and My Danielle will be welcoming us home someday, Jumping up and down!
What a great picture (Thanks Kelly)
Karen and Joe My Heart aches for you as you go thru Joey's things...
I'm Crying right now...Praying for you, remembering those feelings, Loving you and waiting for your safe return...
Love, and Blessings always,
Nancy and Loren Family
we are still here praying
we love you
pete carrie and girls
The memorial service sounds wonderful. Kelly's comments about heaven are so beautiful. I pray that God will continue to give you strength. I am glad you will be home soon. We love you. Bill and Lu
Dear Karen and Joe,
As I read your words, I can see and hear your voice. Tears roll down my face,pain wells up in my chest, and a lump in my throat, and sobs come easily. I am so sorry and wish that I could just wrap my arms around you and HUGGGGGGGG..
Mike and I are praying, crying, praying and crying some more. Every prayer, everyday is accompanied by tears. We are praying for you all everyday!
I can only imagine the magnitude of your pain, but I know the depth of your love, and it is HUGE. May HIS love for you which exceeds our imagination overflow and wrap you up today as HE catches and saves every tear!
Love and more love, Susan
Karen & Joe,
Some people don't have any problems finding sweet words of comfort for you and Joe but I think a lot of us do. I know there are hundreds of us that find it difficult to find the right words to share with you at such a sad time. The comments are few because the pain is so great. Even so our hearts are broken with yours over your loss. Our only way to somehow ease the pain is to pray for God's love and comfort to surround all of you during this time and bring healing to your hearts as you have endeavored to bring to so many.
Our constant prayers and love,
Karen and Gary
The words that Kelly wrote on your blog are some how pictured in this site: http://hawaiianimagesonline.com/Showit/KitsHome/
I'm sure this is also how your son was welcomed in heaven. What a happy day!
I'm sorry, I don't know what to write in your blog, there are no words. About 25 years ago I saw my parents going through the same thing as I lost my younger brother on a motorcycle accident. I thought they would never smile again, but one thing my mom said that I'll never forget was "I can't leave my life like this, I have 3 other kids that still need me". And she turned to God.
I'm so sorry for your lost and pray for you guys every day, but I know you will smile again some day.
Love!
Dio
Dearest Karen and Joe,
I am watching the slide show--to the right of the comments--and I don't know what to say, except that "I wish I had known him and I am praying for you."
When you said you were putting away his toothbrush my 'mother's heart' cried out for you. There are tears in my eyes and tears in my soul. I am so glad that you know and love the Lord so much, so that there is hope in your eyes and in your soul--not only the tears.
I love you both,
Trish Garcia
Dear Karen & Joe,
Thank you for sharing the experience of Joey's memorial. As so many others have said, it is difficult to find words to comfort you. I simply cannot imagine. I must say though that both of you are an incredible inspiration in helping all of us, who cannot imagine, deepen our faith by witnessing how you are relying and trusting our Lord to get you through this.
I don't know the two of you personally but I feel such a connection to you being a part of the Hope Chapel Family. Although I never met Joey, I am humbled to feel that I know him now. My prayers are with you.
Doreen Patterson
Dear Karen & Joe and ohana,
my heart continues to grieve for you during this time of remembering your incredible Joey.
I also felt the same joy and emotion that Kelly expressed as I turned the corner at Welakahao and saw the throngs of people welcoming home Kit. I smiled a bittersweet smile as I thought, this is what is was like for Joey and even more spectacular.
You are in my prayers and thoughts daily and I look forward to greeting you soon with hugs and a parent's tears.
Take care,
Love ya, Janet ("Ms. Brown")
I don't know you, but I am lifting you up and praying for Peace.
Dearest Karen & Joe,
Praying for you all...May His peace be a soothing salve to your hearts and spirits.
Love to you,
Randy & Julie
We love you, miss you, and we're praying for you. this is a very sad and difficult time, but God will carry you.
Much love,
Cliff & Jeri
Dear Joe and Karen
Thoughts and prayers for you are weighing so heavy on me. I love you more than I could possibly say and my heart is absolutely breaking beside yours. I didn't know how to begin to write this to you but knew I had to.
Through the week I'll be honest to say I have cried out and asked, "Why God, why!" How torturous, how painful. And while I know that I know our God will comfort you in ways no one else ever could, it seems so unbearable and I am crushed for you.
I've been thinking about your beautiful Joey so much. What a wonderful, gifted young man he grew up to be. I've also been having flashes of him at all ages since I've known you guys here on Maui...that wild red hair, laughing and playing around, his love for God, his love for you. I loved to watch him play music, especially with you Joe. There was always an expression of pure joy on his face! As these things have come to my mind it is so unmistakable what an amazing gift from God Joey has been for you, for your family and for your church family!
In my life I am understanding more and more what is meant by..."it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all!" Thank you Lord God for allowing us to know and love Joey! Thank you for his life and the gift he has been to us. Thank you for the peace it brings our hearts to know he is safe and with You!!
All my love and prayers,
Deb
Dear Karen and Joe...Karen, your message brought tears flowing as I read about your mourning now in a new way...and of course, it brought back memories and more tears remembering when we had to do what you are doing. But you know, seeing and holding on to Joey's momentos...and Gina's...gives much comfort as we remember their tremendous love of life and all that they meant to us. Even though we never had the opportunity to meet Joey, we feel we know him through the slideshow of his photos. I wonder if Gina ever got to meet him. It seems to me they must have had a lot of "spirited loving of life" in common. I know you had to be thoroughly exhausted following the memorial service and I know it was a perfect memorial. We wish you safe travels as you travel back to Maui. Our love and prayers are with you and Joe...as they have been since hearing the news.
Love to you both,
Lanny and Nancy
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