Going Home

Steve and I were both a little wound up and unable to go to sleep last night, so we stayed awake until past 1 a.m., after we re-positioned Richard and got his medicine.  The ladies next door had a devotional with him, and Alonna spent several hours just holding his hand and talking to him.  This is what I posted on Facebook, and I think it explains most everything:

Our family would like to thank all of you for your prayers for Richard and Ann over these last few weeks. Early this morning, while he was comfortably sleeping, Richard peacefully passed from this life to the next. His last days he was surrounded by three of his four kids, his wife, and some of his grandkids, and he was never alone. We were all in the main room with him, and would talk, laugh, and share, and we know he could hear us, and know that we were there. I believe he knew it was okay to let go, that there were loved ones here for his Annie, his Doll, and that it was time. He was a truly good, Godly man, a wonderful father to not just his birth kids, but also to the kids he adopted when they married his son and daughter. We are all blessed, and better people, for having had him in our lives. We will all miss him here, but we know his journey on this earth is complete, and that he is in Heaven right now, strong and whole, rejoicing in reuniting with those who have gone before him, including our boys. We know that in the blink of an eye, we will see him again. I can almost hear the Lord saying “Richard, well done thou good and faithful servant. Welcome home.

We are of course sad that he is gone from us, but it had to be, and if it had to be, we are grateful for a few things.  We are grateful that Alonna and Cathy were still here.  Alonna was going to be leaving early this morning, and Cathy shortly after her, but instead they were able to be here to say goodbye, and to be with Ann.  We are grateful that it was a beautiful, bright, sunny day, and a Sunday, which was his favorite day to rest and be with family.  We are grateful that he went to sleep surrounded by people who love him and woke up in Heaven.   We are grateful for the funeral director, Jeff.  He is the same man who took care of Devon and Sidney for us, and his handling of our littlest boys was the reason Richard and Ann wanted to use him for them, as well.  Ann was telling me today that she remembered seeing him carry Sidney's tiny casket in his arms as if it was the most precious thing in the world. I don't remember that.  In fact, I remember very little about Sidney's funeral, because I was at the end of me by then, and just hanging on.  But I do remember Jeff coming in the middle of the night to take care of both boys.  And he came himself today, dressed in a suit, and so very respectful.  He stopped by the bed and showed his respect to Richard for a moment, and was gentle and loving with everything he did.  We are fortunate to know we have someone who cares.  We are grateful that the equipment company came out right away today and took away the hospice bed and most of the supplies/equipment, so that we could put the room back into an order with photos and memories as we want to remember.  We are grateful for the people who stopped by today, and for those who did not.  It was good, having just a couple friends/family be there and show their love.  We have spent today carefully, remembering and happy and sad too, just together, and it is right.