Carol's mom, Ruth, asked me to let everyone know how much she appreciates the many, many notes, prayers and scripture readings so many of you have left on this blog. She wants you all to know that your words bring her great comfort in this painful time. And she glows with warmth and pride when she reads how much Carol meant to each of you. Please continue to hold Ruth in your hearts and prayers as she accompanies Carol in her journey.
Carol continues to rest peacefully and comfortably. My husband (who is a surgeon) said she defies medical science. Amazing woman!
With love,
Sally
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Dear Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI am Carol and Frank's across the street neighbor from Oak Park and Big Bear. We met on several occasions. I am glad to know that reading these comments brings you comfort. Carol is truly an amazing woman, with the heart and soul of an angel. Obviously, you were a great mom, a she has been also. This will be an enormous loss for everyone who knows her and her family, as they are all exceptional people with hearts of gold. I guess the only solace is that she is in Gods hands and we will all see her aain someday. My sincerest thoughts are with you all.
Carol J. Oak Park
Here are the words to one of my favorite 'new' hymns:
ReplyDeleteWhen Trials Come by Keith & Kristyn Getty
When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws hear
To fire a faith sort more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told
Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning nercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow
I turn to Widsom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures Your ways are good
Your love endures Your ways are good
When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in its shadow I shall run
'Till He completes the work begun
'Till He completes the work begun
One day all things will be made new
I'll see the hope You called me to
And in Your kingdom paved with gold
I'll praise your faithfulness of old
I'll priase your faithfulness of old
Praying for you all. In His sustaining love,
Nancy Wilkes
Dearest Ruth,
ReplyDeletePlease know that Karin and I think of you always. Our constant thoughts and loving prayers are with you and the rest of the family. Carol has always held a very special place in our hearts.
Love,
Howard
Dear Ruth,
ReplyDeleteOur hearts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. We treasure our friendship with Carol and Frank and were so happy to spend time with you in Oak Park and in Big Bear. Dan, Samantha and I have such wonderful memories of you, Carol, Frank and the kids. Carol has always lit up our lives with her sunny, optimistic outlook on life, and her can-do attitude. She is so much like you. You have such a wonderful relationship which I strive to replicate with my daughter. We send you love and hugs. We know that Carol is in Gods hands and that as God calls her home, He will spread His comforting arms around all of us that will miss her. May God be with you.
Love always,
Nancy, Dan and Samantha
Dear Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI have come to this blog so many times and wanted to say something, only to discover that another friend had said my thought beautifully. But you and I shared a very special conversation at the hospital, waiting outside the ICU. We both agreed that there simply is no answer to the "Why?" that our souls ask the Lord. I am reminded of a wonderful song that says, "When you cannot see God's hand, trust His heart."
I pray that will be your experience and that you will be comforted.
In Jesus' love and mine,
Phyllis Cooper
Dearest Ruth,
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful daughter leaves her imprint in so many hearts.
Carol lived her life as a prayer, a blessing,
and a song.
She showed us what it means to love life and to love God.
Our prayers continue to embrace you and yours.
Wishing you Comfort and Peace ~
Lynda and Curt
A Song of Living by Amelia Josephine Burr
Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.
I have sent up my gladness on wings, to be lost in the blue of the sky.
I have kissed true Love on the lips, I have heard his song to the end.
I have struck my hand like a seal in the loyal hand of a friend.
I know that no flower, nor flint was in vain on the path I trod.
As one looks on a face through a window, through life I have looked on God.
Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.
Dear Family of Carol,
ReplyDeleteHow we appreciate this amazing woman of God--such vitality, such zest for life (and more importantly, zest for her family and her Lord). She has really lived!
Ruth, you have raised up a woman loved and respected by so many people. You have such reason for pride in her character and accomplishments.
Frank, you have shown God's love and kindness to us and to our Andrew and we thank you. Should Carol go home now, we know her reward will be so great from Jesus! Her "well done" will be so strong and clear. Her embrace from Jesus will be so firm and healing.
Frank, our prayers are with you and your children and with Ruth as well. You are a precious, dear man and we appreciate you so much. You have stood with your woman in this trial and loved her dearly.
We love the Marshall family--so does the Heavenly Father. You remain in our prayers.
Mark & Mary Jane Vanderput
To you Ruth thanks for thinking of us and what your daughter means to us but as the saying goes " the apple does not fall too far from the tree" so we thank you for imparting the kind of love in Carol as she has to be a relection of you. May God continue to give you strength as the journey continues.
ReplyDeleteSally, it is no surprise as Carol defies odds and is an amazing woman. She has amazing from love from an Amazing GOD.
God love you and so do I
AME Pastor
To All The Dear Ones suffering with and for Carol,
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to all of you!!!
Yesterday, for no apparent reason, the first stanza of the hymn, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded", popped into my mind, as I drove two hours home from attending to my ailing mother. I kept thinking of Jesus nailed to the cross, His beautiful, pain-riddled face and body--given for us. I looked up the entire hymn, this morning. Here are some of the words I found:
"Oh sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown...
"Grim Death, with cruel rigor hath robbed Thee of Thy life...
"What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend, For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? Oh, make me thine forever! And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never, outlive my love for Thee...
"Be thou my consolation, my shield when I must die; Remind me of Thy Passion when my last hour draws nigh. Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell, my heart by by faith enfold Thee.
Who dieth thus dies well!"
Thus, the following is said without condemnation of any kind, but with deep, humble Christian love because it is weighing, heavily, on my soul:
Pain is not the enemy. Satan is the enemy.
Pain alerts us to trouble. It hurts!--but God has built it into us, as a protective warning system for danger--physical, emotional, spiritual.
Only God knows why He allows physical pain and suffering in some and not in others. Only God knows whether there is unfinished salvation work remaining in any of His dear ones, as they approach human death. Only God knows whether those who are watching the loved one's suffering are being called to a deeper faith for some future important purpose. We do know that the Lord uses such trials to refine us, as gold, to cause us to cling to Him as our only Hope. And, He never gives us more than He knows that we can bear--never--because of His Abiding Love for us.
Our God put His own Son on the cross to suffer GREAT AGONY for our sakes. But, He did not medicate Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ's enemy on the cross was not pain, it was Satan's damage in separating our souls from Himself, our dear Lord God. And, He had come to earth to restore our souls to Himself. What would the outcome have been for God's plan of salvation for us, if our Messiah had been medicated and had no memory of His suffering? Would it have mattered? Would it have mattered?...
We, as Christians, are called to consider and ponder such things, especially at such an exquisitively tender moment at this is for Carol and her family.
With love,
Linda Liotta:
one who has been praying for healing for Carol all summer and one who has grown up with and lived among death and dying her entire life.
All the thoughts and emotions we are experiencing have been expressed beautifully by others. All we can add is that there are friends keeping vigil here in Colorado Springs - adding our prayers and sending our love to each of you.
ReplyDeleteVivian & Pete
Thank you so much, Sally, for continuing to keep us informed, even when there has been little change. I'm sure I'm not the only one who checks this blog several times a day, including checking from my Blackberry first thing in the morning while I'm still in bed.
ReplyDeleteRuth, I'm so glad to know that you get some consolation from these posts. Certainly the knowledge that Carol is greatly loved by so many people must be a comfort to the entire family. We are all thankful that you shared Carol with us.
Carol, this blog reads like a modern day version of "It's a Wonderful Life." You have touched so many lives and made us all better for having known you.
Much love forever,
Nancy
Oh Ruth, How I wish i could be there with you in person!My heart is with you. You are in my daily thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteSo many people ask for you at the coffee shop...Ronnie Tree,Dave Miller, Betty McKenna, Megan, Debbie the Mail Lady (i had her hold your mail for you)and so many others...they all send their regards and miss you lots...but i miss you more than all of them put together!!! Love you.
Elisa
PS. I wish I could make you a decent cappuccino right now!