Sunday, December 12, 2010


December 12, 2010

To all our family and friends as well as acquaintances who have found us on this blog,

Thank you again for the outpouring of love on our family during this difficult time. We are still numb and have many “reality sinking in” milestones ahead of us and have already confronted some head on like meeting with the funeral home, planning a service and coming back home with one less chair occupied at the table. We will have more of those as time for us here continues and appreciate all of your prayers for strength and endurance.

With that said, we have a few parting words. First of all, we have confirmed that the memorial service will indeed be held this Wednesday, December 15th at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Church located at 3355 Dunckel Road in Lansing, with visiting family an hour prior to the service and lunch following. Over the course of the past year and a half, we have heard that there are people reading this blog who we have never met. We know Bonnie would have loved to meet you and to learn more about you. Bonnie never liked the focus to be on her, but we are planning to celebrate her life and glorify God on how He used Bonnie right up to the end of her physical life here. Even if you never met Bonnie and only know her through this blog, we would like to extend an invitation to you to attend this service.

Finally, as I sat down this morning to catch up on my daily Bible reading that I missed yesterday, how fitting it was that part of my scheduled reading included Revelation 7, particularly with an emphasis on verses 9 through 17 below:

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever Amen."

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

"For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."


Bonnie is with a multitude in heaven, has been made clean by the blood of the Lamb and she is without a doubt serving Him already and will have unlimited strength and energy to serve Him for all of eternity. The last year and a half she has experienced hunger, thirst, and after the transplant was always concerned about the sun beating down on her, be she now has the freshness coming from the springs of the water of life. I’m sure she’ll have some tears; tears of joy with the Savior, maybe tears for us, but the comfort and tenderness of God will gently wipe them all away.

We love you Bonnie and will miss you!

Steve, Cassandra, Caleb and Callie.

4 comments:

  1. I really wish I could come, but I live in Indiana and we have finals that day. ): I will be there in spirit. thanks for all of your updates, Steve, Callie, Cassandra, and Caleb. May God bless you throughout your journey.

    One last thing to share: (these are lyrics from a song at my church)
    "Over death we can see,
    Jesus glorified.
    Let his name be lifted high"

    Love,
    Hannah Edwards

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  2. Steve there are just no words right now. Know your 5W family is thinking of you and your family right now.
    much love
    Brenda

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  3. Dear Steve and Family,

    Your honest blog entries have made it possible for specific prayer for Bonnie and each of you while being an testimony of your faith and strength in God through challenging times. Only eternity will indicate the powerful impact that each one of you has had on The Kingdom. I am praying that each of you will experience God's love, care and peace as you go through the ups and downs of grief and adjustment.

    With love,
    Chuck Wilson

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  4. Know that we are all here for you during the many milestones you will come across. Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything. Prayers continue as you transition into yet another phase in life's journey. God Bless all of you and be with you to support you.

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