Almost a Year

Each morning, among my devotional books, I read Carlin’s Morning By Morning by Charles H. Spurgeon.  As I hold this book, I know I am touching Carlin’s fingerprints, touching a book he treasured.  I am moved by the phrases he has underlined, and the dates and comments he has made in the margins.  Carlin was never into journaling, but, oh, yes, as you pick up any Bible or book he has read, there is obvious evidence of who he was and what meant a lot to him. 

 

Carlin was a tender hearted, gentle person.  I try to imagine what his joy must be as he is in the presence of Jesus now.

 

So, what am I left with?  Half a person sometimes.  I feel like my days now, near the anniversary of his death are with heavy feet, plodding along.  I shuffle through the memories of the last year, this time, with Carlin fading fast before my very eyes.  Then, came home hospice care, where he was put on morphine and other medications.  I’m still not sure if all that was necessary.  I know the morphine took him from me days before he actually breathed his last breath on April 19, 2014.

 

What a day to now mark as an anniversary!  I plan to go to the cemetery and sit a long while contemplating.  I will consider our almost 52 years together and how awesome God has been, as the song says, “Jesus led me all the way.”  I’ll think on Scripture verses.  I’ll praise Him for His tender love and care for Carlin, and now for me as I am charting out a different life. 

 

I am so very grateful for friends who seem to speak and listen at just the right moments.

 

I am so very grateful for “the cottage” which has been in need of some repairs, and I’m grateful how God has led me to people to help to pull it off.  One example:  we took out the old wood stove, and installed a gas insert fireplace.  Oh, how grateful I am for that!

 

I know my time of grieving is poignant.  I feel out of place in a grief group I attend once per month, and I feel in a different space just being in church Sunday by Sunday.  It’s hard to explain.  But it seems I want to change things—me, the older, mature, grieving woman.  I must remember it is just my space right now.

But I am grateful, so grateful, for God’s presence with me.

 

In another devotional book I read the other day, this jumped out at me:

“It is a great comfort to me to realize anew that it is God and only God I need.  ‘Thou, O Lord, art the thing I long for.’  Psalm 7:5.  Yes, it is He, my Lord, my Beloved Who satisfies my heart and makes me whole and strong however pressed the outward man may be.”

 

That’s pretty much it.  Praise!

Marcia

Are you still doing the blog?

Time is passing swiftly by.  This is Carlin’s 112^th day in Heaven—but who is counting!  Truly, no one up there is!  I’m thinking Carlin is singing, laughing, rejoicing—and maybe even praying for his loved ones and friends here on earth.  There are some who believe they have Scriptural backing to believe that may be true.  I think of all the folks he must be enjoying there, as there are so many who have gone before!

 

Here we have so many things to do.  I’m occupied with lots.  There are many friends to be with and visit with.  There are repairs on the cottage.  Etc.  And I’ve been out and about.  Have you ever noticed how very much area is devoted to men’s clothing and accessories in department stores?  One of my first times out shopping I happened to walk into a store right into a men’s department, and my heart skipped a beat and my eyes got misty.  I muse how I notice them now.

 

Years ago Carlin asked me what would be an idea of gifts he could give me and what I would like, so without missing a beat I replied, “Oh, earrings.  I love earrings.”  From then on for every birthday, Valentines Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, and other days he would give me earrings!  Though early on, he would sometimes return from a trip to some far country with rings—a diamond ring from Israel, an amethyst ring from Turkey, a Diana birthstone ring from somewhere else.  He gave me a 15 year anniversary ring, a 25 year anniversary ring and a 50 year anniversary ring.  Now, as our 52^nd anniversary approaches, I get a little teary.  Carlin had an amazing ability to choose the most appropriate and special cards.  I’ve kept many of them.

 

But back to the earring story.  For Valentine’s Day this year Carlin gave me a set of tri-gold, diamond cut earrings.  He was not well after that, that we noticed.  As I cared for him for his remaining weeks on earth I wore those earrings every day.  After Carlin passed away, I went to my drawer to get them again, and they were missing.  I looked everywhere, in every pocket, under every cushion, knowing as I slept on a mat on the floor next to Carlin’s hospital bed in the library, I may have taken them off and laid them on a side table.  I asked my Bible study girls to pray I would find them.  This was such a loss.  They were Carlin’s last gift to me. 

 

One day, a couple of weeks later, I was in a department store and just perused the jewelry cases, when there!  A pair of earrings like the ones Carlin had given me.  The price tag said $400.  I couldn’t believe he would spend that much.  Perhaps he had gotten them on a sale.  Or he perhaps realized this would be his last gift to me.  Again, the tears came to the surface.  Later a friend said, “Marcia, you must go and buy those earrings.”  Well, it took me a while to determine if I should. 

 

Yesterday there was a big sale at the store and I went once again, to check out the jewelry cases to see if those earrings were still there.  Yes, there was a pair very similar to Carlin’s.  And they were on sale at 60% off, and with coupons, I purchased them for $90.  Carlin would be pleased that I had gotten such a good deal!  Thank You, Lord.

 

As these days have passed since Carlin’s death, I have wished I could hear from you who read this blog.  Communication is comforting and inspiring.

 

I must tell you, how God is caring for me, is ever present with me, is such a joy to me.  Truly, when He said He would send a Comforter, there was a reason why that is His name!  Thank you to those who have included me in your prayers.  How I value friends.

 

Yesterday’s devotions included Psalm 30:11 and 12:  “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”  Amen!  Yes!  Precious Jesus!

 

Blessings on your day!

Marcia

Lunch with friends

I am amazed there are still hits on the blog, now three months since Carlin passed away.  Every once in a while I read something that could go to the blog, I suppose.  It would be nice to hear what people would write back and interact with me sometimes.

 

Today I was out for lunch with two couples who have been dear friends of Carlin and I for years.  We were a three couple friendship often going out to eat together.  Today when I walked up to a table set for 5, it was so sadly obvious Carlin was missing.  Tears.  Among many things we talked about, we also talked about how immensely more difficult it would be to lose your spouse young with little children in the home.

 

I grieve by tears at odd times, and memories sometimes bring tears.  But I am experiencing God’s tender comforts and presence in the most precious ways.  I am not asking why.  I am not blaming God, nor am I feeling any anger.  He is precious, precious to me.  He has sent helpers when I’ve needed them.  And lots of times with friends.  I’ve been busy beyond what I would have imagined just tending to things that need to be tended to.

 

Tonight I watched the DVD of Carlin’s Memorial Service on the big screen.  I pray God will continue to use that service should people still pull it up on the blog.

Love you,

Marcia

I miss Carlin

Dear friends,

There are no words to describe what has happened and is happening within me since Carlin’s illness and passing!  I miss Carlin.  That doesn’t tell adequately or accurately what it is.

 

I experience times of such amazing peace and assurance it thrills me, and I know it is my tender Father’s care.  I praise Him for His Spirit within me!  There are tears.  Memories.  Unbelief that he is really gone.  And I always come back to thinking how committed Carlin was to serving God, and accepting every opportunity as God‘s appointment.  In his last two months, just before the diagnosis, I wondered at a reluctance to accept opportunities and decided he was tired from the mountains of things we did in the last six months.  Perhaps he was realizing he was not well.  I chose to believe the Father looked down from Heaven and said, “OK Carlin, everything I had planned for you to be and do is accomplished, come on Home!”

 

Oh, I have received such precious letters and cards and notes!  I have had such wonderful times with dear friends who come to visit.  And times with dear neighbors.  Laughter and sadness.  Again, inadequacy to describe.  Joy.  Praise.

 

The following poem came in a card a few days ago from a dear elderly friend, written out in script:

 

  The things you loved I have not put away

               To molder in the darkness year by year

  The songs you sang, The books you read

Each day are all around me, intimate and dear.

 

  I do not keep your chair a thing apart,

Lonely and empty—desolate to view

  But if one comes a-weary, sick at heart

               I seat him there and comfort him for you.

 

  I do not go apart in grief and weep

               For I have known your tenderness and care;

  Such memories are joys, that we may keep

               And so I pray for those whose lives are bare.

 

  I may not daily go and scatter flowers where you are sleeping

               Neath the sun and dew

  But if one lies in pain through weary hours

               I send flowers there, dear heart, for you.

 

  Life claims our best, you would not have me waste

               A single day in selfish idle woe,

  I fancy that I hear you bid me haste        

               Lest I should sadly falter as I go.

 

  Perchance so much that now seems incomplete

               Was left for me in my poor way to do,

  And I shall love to tell you when we meet—

               That I have done your errands, dear, for you!

                                             Martha Snell Nicholson

 

 

 

---

Here is a letter I received last week from a dear friend that was so tender.  He eloquently expressed words from a heart that knows how to comfort.  People who pray are so precious.  I am indebted to all the folks who have prayed and are praying.  How else would I know such comfort?

Here is part of his letter:

---

I want you to know that I am available whenever you need me. You can let me know if there is a good time to do something for you. I am happy to come down to the cottage. If you just want me to send you some instructions on how to do something on the computer or BB, I can do that as well. I want so very much to be helpful but without being a bother. There is no rush on anything so we can do things as it works best for you.

 

I wish there was more I could do to help during this time. I will keep on praying. I will pray that you will feel our heavenly Father's loving arms embrace you. May He hold you up when you lack the strength to stand. May He carry you when you lack the strength to walk. May He weep for you when your eyes have run out of tears. May He bring you rest when the weariness provides none. May He bless you and keep you close always.

 

We love you a lot Marcia. We miss Carlin too.

 

J.P.

The Way Up is Down

Marcia,

 

Today the sun is shining, the weather is beautiful and the students are smiling and happy that spring is here and summer is coming!  

 

I wonder how you are doing today.  I pray for you often. 

 

The picture of you and Carlin is on our kitchen desk at home.  I loved Carlin’s memorial service.  It was inspiring and made me want to serve God more faithfully, more whole-heartedly, more passionately and more creatively for whatever length of time He has for me on this earth.  I love it that you and Carlin never stopped working to build the kingdom of God.  It is beautiful and inspirational.

 

I was very moved by Norm Funk’s tribute at the service.  He was a friend of mine from Camp Firwood days and I have always been inspired by how God’s grace has moved and developed Norm in ministry.  I think Carlin’s encouragement and prayer was a big part of that success.

 

I wrote a blog article about Carlin and Norm on our ACS Blog entitled “Inside Out”.  The blog article is called “The Way Up is Down.”  I hope it encourages you.

 

If you want to put the link on your blog, it might be great for others to read this as well.  It is a beautiful testimony of Carlin’s work in people’s lives.  He certainly encouraged me in my ministry as well.  I hope you don’t mind me putting the photo from your blog inside the article.

 

http://insideout.abbotsfordchristian.com/2014/05/way-up-is-down/

 

Did you ever get that chimney replaced for your fireplace inside?  Let me know if you need help with that.  Let me know if you need me to come down to work outside on your place.  I offered to come down with Howard or JP any time.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with JP down there a few weeks ago and it was a real honor to serve you both in a practical way.

 

Blessings and prayers for you today…

 

Gerry Goertzen

Secondary Principal

Abbotsford Christian School

Carlin is now Safely Home

Carlin passed away into the arms of Jesus this morning at 7 a.m. Pacific time.

Oh, when God called him Home, He chose to do it quickly.   He was asleep. 

 

I am so very grateful to our tender Heavenly Father for His care of Carlin over these past weeks.  It has been only 5 weeks and 5 days since diagnosis, and it has been fast, though in some ways it has seemed much longer.  What an amazing journey, from seeming full health to stepping into Glory. 

 

We smile when we think that God took him on Easter weekend.  Our Lynda laughed through tears as she said, “Isn’t this just like Dad, to go at a big event!  He liked big events.”  We all agree.

 

I had been up several times with him during the night last night, tending to his needs, and then lying back down on my mat beside his bed.  A nurse had told me last week that I needed to be close in case he tried to get out of bed, and would fall.  So I had a good mat there. 

 

At 4:30 I was awake (when I talked with our three daughters this morning, they all said they were awake as well) and I just started praying, out real loud, so I could be sure Carlin would hear my voice, and I prayed over everything.  I prayed loudly over the upcoming graveside service and the Memorial Service, I prayed over everyone individually who will be involved, I prayed that God would prepare people-- everyone who will come and be in attendance, that God in His mighty power and by His Spirit would do amazing things in peoples’ hearts, and that there would be more people in the Kingdom because of this final thing/part of Carlin’s ministry on earth.  

 

I prayed through Scripture promises, and for family and others, and praised God, as I went through His attributes, etc., etc., etc. for about an hour and a half.  Then I went to the kitchen to get breakfast, went back and stood at the foot of Carlin’s bed and prayed some more.  I picked up all the pieces of my mat and tucked them away, and swept up the floor.  (Carlin had been losing a lot of hair because of his chemo infusion.)  A nurse was expected later today.  Then I went back to the kitchen to get my cup of coffee, and to start the computers—Carlin’s and mine—to see if there had been  any overnight mail.  That was when I went back to check on Carlin and found he was gone.  I could tell immediately.  It was written on his face.  I watched for breathing movement on his quilt, and felt for his heartbeat, and then tears and sobs were all over the place.

 

Oh.  It is so overwhelming to think he is gone.  It feels like I am in a vast ocean, with huge swells / waves of grief and then quiet moments of assurances, then another wave.  You who have lost someone know exactly what that is.  It is a new experience to walk through.

 

How grateful I am to God for what he gave me in Carlin.  What a life.  We did so much together.  I am so grateful that God is my “Portion and my Cup” for now and for whatever days God leaves me here on earth.  I have every reason to treasure Heaven more than ever before.  Oh, I wish I could see the reunion in Heaven today!

 

I am so grateful for my precious family.  Cheri and Lynda are coming to stay with me for a couple of days.  Yesterday Cheri and Howard were here and Howard sat with Carlin to tell him all he wanted to of appreciation for their relationship and he sat and sang to Carlin.  Other dear friends have come several times to sing over him and pray over him. 

 

There will be a graveside service for Carlin on Friday, May 2.   The Memorial Service for Carlin will be at Willingdon Church, 4812 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby, BC at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3.  Pray that great glory will be brought to Jesus’ name.

 

Thank you for following Carlin’s journey over these past days. 

Special thanks to you, Ray, for what you have done for Carlin and I.  Truly a gift that has reached out, informed, and helped us to process the journey.

 

Love to you all,

Marcia and family

 

For posting tributes to this blog email them to:

CarlinAndMarcia@gmail.com

Clarification

We need a clarification on the blog.  Apparently, people have read the Safely Home story and picture to mean Carlin has passed away. 

 

So far, he is tucked in his hospital bed in the library, and I am reading Scriptures and stories of Heaven to him.  That’s it. 

 

No one knows the day nor the hour, but it may be before too many more days.

Love

Marcia

Safely Home

Passage into glory.

An experience clouded in mystery from this side but promised to the faithful.

Safely Home expresses the emotion of the moment when the believer is welcomed by Jesus. Perhaps he is a 20th century martyr, perhaps a faithful servant like you.

An angel prepares a garment of pure white as the new arrival lays a crown at the Savior's feet. And with all of heaven His domain, the Son of God focuses only on that one person. The love He feels causes Him to run and embrace the victor.

Through his brush strokes, Ron conveys the hope that is God's promise to all who believe.

Heralded martyr and humble believer alike will experience the warmth of Jesus' embrace.
    Click to go to Artist's Website

In Light of Eternity

God is so good, giving us gems and reminders of His tender love!   

Two nights ago we finished the little book, In Light of Eternity by Randy Alcorn.  In those last pages he tells a story about a painting he has hanging in his office.  With his permission, I am passing the blessing on to our blog friends.

“On my office wall hangs a beautiful painting by Ron DiCianni.  It’s entitled Safely Home. . .The painting portrays a man on his knees.  His clothing is worn and tattered.  He’s walked down a long strip of blood-red entry-carpet that has led him to the foot of a throne.

           The man’s arms dangle at his side.  He appears both exhausted and relieved, overcome with emotion.  His head rests on the chest of one kneeling down to him, holding him tight in a loving embrace.  The one hugging him has stepped down off the throne.  It’s the King, the Creator of the universe, who is also, incredibly, a man.  King Jesus.

            A few feet to the right are open shackles lying on the palace floor.  The man had been a prisoner on earth.  He’d suffered terribly at the hands of those who despised him because they despised His King.  In his right hand, hanging limply to the ground, is a beautiful gold crown.

            The man is a martyr.  He has lived out Revelation 2:10 — He’s been faithful unto death and his Lord has given him the crown of life.  To many, the single most important thing is the preservation of their life on earth.  To this man, obeying his Lord was more important than prolonging his earthly life.  He’s one of those who ‘did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death’ (Revelation 12:11).

            In the background of Safely Home stands an angel, reverently watching, holding out in his arms a white robe.  The angel is the man’s guardian.  In the stonework on both sides of the carpet walkway you can see the continents of earth below. 

            Several things strike me in this painting.  One is heaven’s view of earth below.  Another is the look on the man’s face, at long last freed from pain and persecution.  But what really strikes me is the look on the face of King Jesus.  He, too, is full of emotion.  His face radiates compassion and approval.  His nail-scarred hands drawing the martyr to himself, are silent testimony to the extent of his love.

            Ron could have named the painting Well Done or Overcomer or No Longer a Stranger or something else.   But he named it Safely Home.  This man who has endured great suffering is safely home at last.  The evil that pursued him in the Shadowlands can no longer touch him.  He’s forever beyond its reach, for between evil and the man stands the Lord of the Cosmos, the one who embraces him and says, ‘Never again will I let you suffer..’

            At the moment this is going on in heaven, I imagine down on earth a wife and children, perhaps a mother and father, a church of faithful believers.  They’re agonizing, understandably, over what has happened to their beloved one.  At the very moment they’re overwhelmed with grief, the one they mourn is overcome with joy.  For he is home at last .  Home for the very first time.

            To many people in the Shadowlands, this man has passed from life to death.  In fact, it is the opposite.  He has passed from death to life.  And one day his believing family will join him there.  Then the King will wipe away their tears too.

            Regarding heaven, Scripture doesn’t just say, ‘there will be no more tears.’  It says God ‘will wipe every tear from their eyes’ (Revelation 21:4).  This isn’t God snapping his fingers and drying all tears from a distance.  It’s a very intimate picture—it means God’s hands will touch the face of each individual child, to remove every tear.”

I am so moved by this story,  not because I view Carlin as a martyr, but because the same Jesus, King Jesus, will embrace him, and will wipe away all the tears.  Perhaps tears from the suffering of growing up in a broken family with a father that rejected him, perhaps tears where he wished he had done more, any tears.  What comfort to know Carlin will fall into the arms of a Heavenly Father, what comfort that Carlin will experience complete love, and full joy. 

It won’t be long now, our long time doctor friend, George says.

Thank you to all of you who have sent such fabulous, comforting letters.  Thank you to all of you who have stormed the gates of Heaven on Carlin’s behalf.

He sleeps a lot now—morphine and medications.

Love to you,

Marcia, for Carlin

Today's update

Carlin continues on, somewhat weaker every day. But he is thinking constantly about all the stuff he wants to have done here at the cottage.

He reaches down somewhere (or up There) for the extra oomph he needs for certain things. Yesterday, Saturday, was another work day, as two friends, JP and Gerry came to clean the chimney for our wood stove, and so the in-living room part, is ready to take to the company where we
bought the stove 22 years ago. The company will then put together a new chimney and install it someday in the near future. Phew.

The lawn was mowed and edged, and other projects around the yard were tended to. Thank you, JP and Gerry!

Mind you, a dear neighbor had a wheelchair we could borrow so Carlin could be out there supervising the job. Cheri and Lyndi, our two oldest daughters came from Abbotsford and Duncan yesterday, too, to be of help, doing things around the house, and doing some much needed weeding in the back garden. Oh, what a blessing it is just to have family here for a while every now and then.

Last weekend, the 5th and 6th, was when all our children (except Brenna, Cheri's youngest, who was in Washington, DC for a music festival --
where they won five top prizes) were here with us. It was a precious and special time. Carlin then shared the things he wished to pass on the children/grandchildren, and his story about how he chose Colossians as a life book to go to whenever he needed encouragement, wisdom, direction for life.

It is interesting how people have responded to that. JP shared yesterday that the day, the 12th of April, 2013, exactly a year ago to the day, was when we had loaned the use of the cottage to him as a prayer retreat regarding his future, and on that very day he had focused on Colossians 3:1-11 and it had been so meaningful to him. What a blessing to Carlin to hear these stories of how God has used Colossians in other people's lives as well.

There are all kinds of blessings, like having two binders with growing numbers of photocopied email letters, just as a tangible thing to go back to and reread whenever we desire. I read them to Carlin at times.

Every night, when it's time for bed, I give Carlin a foot, lower leg rub, and then read a few pages from a book about Heaven, called In Light of Eternity by Randy Alcorn. We're almost finished, and perhaps will go on to Joni Erickson's Heaven.

He is now content that I pray over him, whereas up until three days ago he also wanted to pray. Carlin's spirit is still strong. I think if he voiced it, the hardest thing about what he's going through is the loss of body strength, having to be tended to, having to have a morphine pump and another med to quiet his stomach. He is so grateful, though, that he can swallow a few sips of water as a result of that med.

Carlin is most grateful to friends who have come to offer help with the yard, and his "projects." (He wants things to be easier for me, I know, when he is gone. It does put extra stress on us, when sometimes it would be nice to just have quiet rest.)

We have planned the graveside service and the Memorial Service, to be held on a Friday and a Saturday. Some folks have had problems with our having set the days of the services, misreading it to mean a specific Friday and Saturday. Of course, we can't know which Friday and Saturday these services will be. But we are grateful to have these planned in advance.

Praise the Lord for dear friends, helpers. Praise the Lord for His sustaining grace. Praise the Lord He has gone to prepare a place for us. Praise the Lord for our Glorious Hope!

Love to everyone,

Marcia and Carlin

From Carlin

Hi Ray,

I seem to be fading fast, weight loss, muscle strength diminishing, not very stable on my feet now. 
Marcia just sent you an update regarding my leaving Chemo for 24/7 hospice care in our home. 
The cancer is so aggressive the Chemo in one sense is far behind and just adds various additional discomforts.  Home hospice is a one call for looking after all medications, intervenes injections, pain relieve etc. for the remainder of the journey. They have a large hospice crew in our area so they will come anytime day or night PTL

Love ya,
Carlin

Here is the latest news

As of today we have decided to be off chemo and have signed up for home hospice care. 

We are continuing to trust God for His intervention.   We know we are in His hands, and to know we have 24 hour home care available to us is a major relief. 

No more running in to Bellingham for different medical procedures. 

We love all of you and are most grateful for the great host of prayer warriors standing with us, holding us up before the throne of Grace!

Blessings on you all.  Love, Carlin and Marcia

Sunday

Marcia:

We'll go to the doctor again tomorrow and hopefully the doctor will be able to help Carlin eat more. Perhaps put him on an I.V. for fluids.

The last kids left at 5 pm today. After lunch yesterday the 9 grandkids (age 21 - 12) read their favorite verses and asked grandpa some questions.  Carlin shared that he had always wanted to have a favorite Scripture and Colossians 3 had become his life chapter.  He shared his legacy with the grand children.  It was a precious time.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and

patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." more....

Saturday

From Marcia:

Carlin is fading fast.  He is not able to eat foods, and only sips on liquids, some of which he can no longer tolerate.  It is so very sad for us as his family to be so very helpless and to watch how he is suffering such a horrendous illness.

I praise the Lord that he is suffering little physical pain, and I attribute that to the prayers of all the precious friends who are praying all across the country—and in other countries.  And we ask for prayers for gracious care for Carlin today.

Our Becky, who is a nurse, has been with us for almost two weeks now, at a time when we so needed someone to help us walk through all the doctor’s appointment, the chemo experience, the medications.  The rest of our family is gathering here with us today and overnight and part of tomorrow to have some time with Grandpa/Dad.  It is so good to be together.

While here, the grandsons and sons in law are going to do some yard projects for us.  Precious time, and I am so grateful.

Love you,

Marcia, for all the family

First Treatment

April 1, 2014

Dear praying family and friends,

On March 30^th the day before I went in for my first infusion, I read Psalm 71 in my Daily Reading Bible. Practically every verse of the 24 verses had practical and in places specific counsel for me regarding my upcoming Chemo therapy. It was like my loving Heavenly Father was saying, “I have known you from your birth, your childhood and now in your old age and grey hairs,” verse 19. It was so precious, like having my Heavenly Father sitting in a chair next to me. 

I copied it out and had it with me during my infusion yesterday (March 31^st) and underlined the many verses of blessings again as the drip sent the strong chemicals into the port on my chest.

The facilities, doctors, nursing staff and support team at the Cancer Clinic adjacent to Saint Joe’s hospital in Bellingham, WA are an amazing, kind, gentle and very informed group of professionals. I’m told by doctors and oncologists not associated with my Bellingham team that I am receiving the “Gold Standard” in chemo treatment, the same anyone would receive at Mayo or any other large cancer facility in the US.

So man can do some amazing things but you and I know it is the Lord who heals whether by miracle or medicine. We leave all of this in His caring and loving hands.

Being my first treatment of a proposed 6 over 18 weeks (one major infusion every three weeks) I’m not sure what the 3 week cycle will look like regarding how I should be feeling etc. Knowing the cancer now has a fight on its hands with the chemicals I’m receiving encourages me that it is no longer running unabated. I slept well last night after the infusion earlier in the day. Ate my usual breakfast and so far no side effects except some light tingling in my hands which is a well documented side effect related to one of the drugs. I have lost weight because of restricted appetite which may stabilize some now. I’m experiencing no pain to date but operate at a much lower energy level then I am used to. So we are looking to what the Lord has for us in all of this.

Our three daughters and their families will be joining us this weekend. Our oldest daughter, Cheri, lives in Abbotsford, BC, Lynda, our middle daughter, is in Duncan on Vancouver Island and Beck, our youngest, lives in Fresno, California. We are looking forward to all of us being together for a few days.

We are not sure how often we will send an update to our blog but feel free to tell others of the blogspot (www.carlinsjourney.blogspot.com) where we do hope to keep in touch with you. Thank you, thank you again for your love, prayer, and cards. Our home is in a small village by the ocean in a place known locally as Birch Bay, Washington.

Our USA mailing address is:
8324 Fawn Crescent

Blaine, WA 98230

Carlin and Marcia

Romans 15:13

This Morning

We just spent the morning with the oncologist and have a lot of information to process.  The stomach stage 4 cancer I have is very aggressive and has spread to several organs all ready.  No early warning – lab check ups over the past several years have all come in “perfect” as my Doctor in Burnaby often said. 

 

I lost my appetite in Hawaii and checked in with our new doctor here in Bellingham – who ordered a CAT scan within 5 days and there it was full blown stomach cancer.  Humanly speaking I have a few months maybe 3-6 with no treatment and maybe a few more with treatment. 

 

We are trying to discern what is best to do weighing quality of life with length of life if Chemo does in fact work.  In any case I may be in heaven soon unless the Lord chooses to bless us with a miraculous healing.  Our three daughters, husbands, 8 grandchildren and Marcia are trying to process all of this that has come so suddenly. 

 

I told the doctor my loving heavenly Father has given me 74 years of amazing health, no surgeries, no taking of medication, high energy and an amazing time in all the ministry assignments the Lord has invited us into.  And my heavenly Father will take care of what lies ahead.

 

Love ya,

 

Carlin and Marcia

Psalm 56: 9b,10,11a,13

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Florida 09-02-23





Daytona International Speedway

Cruise Dec 22 2007