You have been a tremendous friend to me for several years, and your words have provided great encouragement.

I know that you've gone through a similar loss and you can certainly identify with the experience.

Even so, your words are very 'right on'. My sisters talked about how tired she was in her last weeks. In fact, one day prior to her passing, she said 'I am so tired, I don't know why the Lord doesn't take me'.

I responded, 'Mom, the Lord will take you when it is time, but He still has things for you to do.' In fact, she had one last thing to do. Email a family member about their standing with the Lord. When she got a response back that was satisfactory to her, she left in 48 hours.

The average stay of a hospice patient is 1 week.

Mom was under hospice care for 2 years!

She accomplished much in that time and the Lord will continue to bear fruit from her seed sowing for many years to come.

Her work is finished. She suffers no more. She is in the arms of Jesus and is reunited with her parents and 2 other siblings.

We had Mom's memorial service last Saturday. There were hardly any tears. The order of service was written totally by Mom. All we had to do was deliver it. There was sadness to be sure...but it was a different kind of sadness. Knowing that there will be for the foreseeable future, no more calling and talking to her, or joking, or praying, or laughing. Missing the fellowship. Even going to the store and running errands for her. However, when someone whom you love passes over to the other side, it makes you even more determined to look forward to the day of reuniting...and in the meantime, honoring her memory, kindness, and the many seeds she sowed in others regarding the love of Christ.

I told my mother several times in the 100 days or so that we spent together, that these were 'Precious Days' and I realized that as they were happening.

I cannot thank the Lord enough for allowing me (and others) to have the time to spend with her and to tell her how much she was loved and how much she meant to all of her children and so many others.

Thanks, Nanci. You are a treasured friend.

Bob