My Dads Passing

Dad letting mom shave??  Companions through it all!

 My mom was a picture of bittersweet joy as she cared for her eternal companion.

Mom, dad and Josh Turley

  My dad was able to experience humility in letting those around him serve him as he no longer had strength or ability to.

Melonie, Marie, dad, Marium, Malinda and Mechel

 Everyone came together to support and love each other.  Dad had so much fun seeing his 5 girls all together again and having fun, laughing and crying.....just as we did when we were young!  Those were special times.

Mom, dad and Mariah Turley

 Family and friends all wanted to come and visit with their dad, grandpa and friend, but the days were closing in fast.  We all enjoyed the time with him and shared memories.

The Curtis girls with Kathy

 Friendships were renewed...cousins are the BEST!!!

Isaac at burial as a Pall Bearer

 It is in times and experiences where we are able to reflect on our own life and see just how precious time really is and to make each day count.   To be prepared and have no regrets, for life can change in a moment and unexpected turns in life can leave an impression on those whom we have associated with for either bad or good, regretable or unforgetable.

 

Samuel F. Curtis Jr.

Dad, you left a life and a legacy that was unforgetable for all the reasons that make you who you are. You came into the world with a grand sense of purpose and unique style, and we made sure you went out the same way!   We will love and miss the service you gave to all who are left behind, and the vast knowledge you did not leave behind for us all, but we will keep on searching for the true knowledge that binds us all.....Our Faith in Jesus Christ and the continued desire of seeking His companionship and knowing Him.      I love you dad.

Symbolism and Numbers

Melonie with dad in hospital

There is much to be said for details, and the Lord can be found in the details of our life, or put another way, we can see His Divine Signature if we are looking.  I was looking, because I needed to know for myself that this was not a mistake in timing or an unfortunate turn of events, but a Divine Signature, that it was now time for dad to depart.  I was looking for details.  Dad was diagnosed on Friday, April 6, 2012.  It was Easter weekend.  I came immediately from Maui, Hawaii to be with him.

Jared Turley reading the scriptures with Grandpa

In the scriptures, there are patterns we can notice and measure things by to compare with things happening now or in our own life.  All things point to Christ.  Numbers have a symbolic meaning in the scriptures.  For example,  #3 means Divinity.  3 in the Godhead, Christ started his mission at 30, He died when He was 33, He died on the 9th hour, (3X3=9) He was in the tomb 3 days...you can see the pattern.

The Seal of Melchizedek, Timing is everything

Each # can be given a symbolic meaning when studied through the eyes and patterns in scripture.  #8 is rebirth or reborn.  # 7 is spiritual perfection or a complete cycle.  Lepers were told to wash 7 times and then were pronounced clean, 7 days of the week, a complete cycle, 7 Jewish Holy Days observed by the Jews and Christ.  Again, a pattern.  Nature is very symbolic and points to Christ.  Lambs have special meaning in scripture.  I remember well a talk given in Conference telling the meaning of the Lamb.  Timing is everything.

Hands together in love on lamb skin rug dad had just purchased a couple of months earlier.

 Dad turned 70 on Easter Sunday.   He  received a blessing on each Sunday.  His passing was 21 days from when he was diagnosed. (3X7=21) He died on April 27 at 2:07 AM.  The Lamb skin by the side of dads bed he knelt to pray on, even in his last days.  The lamb skin on his bed we all took a picture of with us  connected to dad by "hands".  The timing was perfect.  It was dads time to go.  The story was in the details.

Bonding Balm of Brother/sisterhood

Kent,  Clark,  Boyd, (Neil missing:/)
Malinda,  Marium,  Mechel,  Marie,  Melonie

When a trial or difficulty arrises, it is much easier to pass through if you have loved ones around.  I have missed much of my family the past years with all of us living in many different parts of the country.  Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Hawaii and from Santaquin to Salt Lake City.  It has been many years since we have all been together.  I have missed my sisters who live far away. 

 And then I moved REALLY FAR away- Maui!!

I have shared many memories this week with all of us together, sharing stories of our youth growing up.  We have laughed and laughed,...and then cried, and cried some more.  It has been a difficult thing to watch a healthy father who has never been sick to suddenly go from a hospital visit to diagnosis of stage 4 cancer, and then unable to hardly talk or walk 2 weeks later.  

It has all ben very unexpected and sudden.

We are ever so grateful though for the time we have had to say goodbye and to bond and heal each others wounds through being together as brothers and sisters.  What a healing balm this has been.  Each of us has such different personalities and strengths that we have been able to draw from.  

I am ever so grateful for the message I received from my scriptures, 

Mosiah 2:26-29 just after I arrived at moms.  

We were all deciding when to come and I was given this message for us all. 

28 I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together that I might ^arid my garments of your blood, at this period of time when I am about to go down to my grave, that I might go down in peace, and my immortal ^bspirit may join the ^cchoirs above in singing the praises of a just God. 29 And moreover, I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might declare unto you that I can no longer be your teacher, nor your king;

We have all come to assemble together.

What a blessing and a gift from God!  It has all happen so quickly.  I am glad I did not miss a moment with all of my brothers and sisters to heal and share in this bonding experience.  We will miss our dad as a father and a teacher, for he has taught me much, but we have come together and are here for him to support and love our parents through this trial.  We are all the stronger.

May the bonds of love stretch far and wide and the healing continue even when we are apart again!  I love my family.

God is Never Wrong

Melonie and My Dad, Sam

God is Never Wrong

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances, said: "My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!"   One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king.

His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger. Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger." The slave replied: "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows the "why" of all these things. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!"   Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices. In the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that the victim had not one of his fingers, so he was released. According to them, it was not so complete to be offered to the gods. Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave that he received very affectionately.

"My dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: "if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?"  "My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, I would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger, therefore, remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong."

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose. Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush. Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong! Perhaps you know why this message is for you, or soon you will discover why.  I do not know, but God knows, because he never makes mistakes....... The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. He is the way of all those who trust in Him.  May God put in your heart the desire to trust His will and  inspire others to trust His will. God knows why He choose you to receive this message. God is never wrong.

Thank you Crystal for giving me this message at this time.  I trust in God and know his ways are better than I can see, and know he has a plan that is better than what I had 

thought. 

 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"

 declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth,  so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

 God's ways are not our ways.  God has a new  plan for me.  It will be without my dad in the physical form I see him in now.  I trust it will be better than I could have imagined and I will see the wisdom in His perfect plan!   My dad will still be here, just differently.

I love you dad!   You have been a wonderful example to me.  Enjoy your tour!

Gifts Amongst Trials

 

My dad has 4 stage cancer and the Doctors have all released him.  The oncologist will not operate on the obstruction that is in his small intestine.  It is too far progressed and in-operable.  We are grateful for the care and knowledge of the Doctors, but after a week of being in the hospital mostly fluids, we are now happy to be leaving.   He is going home with hospice and to be with his family around him.

I realize now that there are many gifts of understanding occurring in the midst of trials.  They have helped me to see that the hand of the Lord is involved, and that alone has helped me to accept and not try to change the outcome.

I so wanted a miracle if it was Gods will, but now I see it is not.  Thank you God for giving me understanding and helping me to know where to put my efforts.  I can focus on helping him to have quality of life with all of his family for whatever time the Lord will allow and enjoy each moment, for now each moment is a gift.

• "This is your tutorial."
• No darkness just "bright light".  
• Intercessory prayer, symbol: ping pong ball   
• "You are needed on the other side."  
• Dreams and visions: Mission, short time
• Pinedale, AZ and caskets 
• Buddy passes!
 

 

Life Can Change in a Minute-My DAD

Wow, where to begin.  It has been a whirlwind of a week.  We found out Easter weekend my dad has pancreatic cancer.  He had been on a liver cleanse and thought that was the culprit for his discomfort and went in finally after several weeks to get a stool sample.  The Dr. then found the cancer on a ultrasound and he was then admitted to the hospital.    I had just seen him 3 weeks before when he was sick but still drove to see me in AZ when I was there for Leticia's baby.  This was a complete shock!

 

 

 After an MRI was given, the cancer was then found to be in several other organs, liver, gallbladder, prostate, and the mass was now growing into his small intestine area and there is a blockage there too.  I realized time was not in his favor and if I wanted to have some good time with him I had to go now.  I left on Wed. and arrived Thurs. morning.  I was so glad to see him!  It was a surprise to him I was coming!

We are trying to be patient with him being in the hospital and all the tests.  I know they have to be done to assess the situation and get the diagnosis, but being on clear liquids for all the tests when you have already lost 20 lbs is not helpful and continues to make him weaker.  But now we understand why he has been so nauseated and unable to eat.  His bile duct was blocked and they put in a shunt in to help it drain.  This was the only procedure they were willing to do.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariah, Allie and Jared visiting with grandpa before I got there.  Happy news amongst the sad, Allie and Jared are engaged!!!

 

Passover and Seder

We went to a presentation of Seder at a local Christian church on Easter Sunday. 

 I wanted to give my children a perspective of what Easter means through the eyes of Jewish tradition and better understand Christ.

It was given by Henry and Darlene Matarrita who are originally both from Maui, Hawaii.  They  started a World Mission Outreach (www.wmoutreach.org) and shared a vision: "Our one purpose in life is to help  people find a personal relationship with God, which comes only through knowing Jesus the Messiah."   

They teach the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and have a ministry to reach out to the lost, both Jews and Gentiles. 

Since 2004 they have lived in Jerusalem, Israel and lead teams to minister throughout the world, bringing the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."  (Romans 1:16)

The photo has deep symbolic meaning:  The red wine (grapejuice), herbs, bitter and sweet, and the Bread-unleavened, (without sin), stripped rows (whipped) and holes (pierced).  From dipping the parsley in salt water to folding the napkin, it all has special symbolic meaning.

It was an inspiring night of learning.  What a wonderful way to honor Christ on His Birthday.