Memorial Day Post

To celebrate my brother becoming a United States Marine, we are taking a family vacation. Thus, I will be out of town for Memorial Day. But I wanted to make sure to mention all of the fallen soldiers that we are to remember on Memorial Day. They have secured our freedoms, and given us peace. We can sleep in our own beds at night without concern for our safety. Many of our soldiers have given the ultimate sacrifice and it is so important that we honor them.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Sweet Maura Sleeps

Maura finally made it to Heaven this morning.  She left this earth surrounded by family and friends, with Handel oratorios playing in the background.  What a way to go!  Maura always did do everything with style and class.  May she enjoy singing in Heaven among the believers!  Praise God that her death was swift.  And may God be with all of us who must live our lives without her.

Sweet Maura

Please keep Maura and the entire DeSouza family in your prayers. 

Maura is home now on Hospice and resting.  Sleeping, sleeping, sleeping.  Maura’s kidneys shut down last week after her tumors returned with a vengeance.  There are no more effective treatments that she can take. Any other measures taken now would just prolong her suffering.  She does not want any extraordinary measures taken.  She is at peace;  she is not afraid to die;  and she is absolutely sure that she will soon be in Heaven.

What a blessing it is to have peace in our LORD and Savior.  She is such a strong and amazing woman and is facing death with a profound confidence that I hope to have someday.  She is so lovely and when she is gone we will miss her so…but be glad that God let us share in a little part of her life.  And I know that we will all take comfort in knowing that she is out of pain.  (And we will all be a little bit jealous that she gets to sit in Heaven with God.  She will be Home.)

To her family I offer up this prayer…

O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that
thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men:
Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servant for whom
our prayers are offered. Remember him, O Lord, in mercy,
nourish his soul with patience, comfort him with a sense of
thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon him, and give
him peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Maura, College Graduate!

Keep praying for Maura!  She needs your prayers more than ever right now.  Grab some Kleenex and watch her graduation.  It is amazing!  I’m so proud of her!