"… I am quite certain I will see Hans again." Our son, Hans, like all of us, had his faults. He was a sinner, as we all are. Romans 3:23 1 John 1:8 Romans 3:10 However, Hans was saved - he was a Christian - one who has placed his trust in Jesus Christ alone …
Though written by me in the voice of our son Josef, who has Down syndrome, the following piece was intended as a thank-you from myself to Hans for all his help in caring for his younger brother. Each member of our family contributes to meeting Josef’s needs and I wanted to thank Hans, in writing, …
In these past nine months since Hans drove to the highway, I have dreamed of him only once. I had this dream shortly after he left us and it was very brief. In my dream, Sunday worship had just concluded and Hans was standing with a group of men outside on the lawn in front …
It is over seven months now since Hans left us for Heaven, yet I still get these illogical, unrealistic, untrue thoughts/longings/compulsions to find him. For instance: It’s such a beautiful breezy day; it’s hot and the birds are singing… He must be out in the fields or walking along the railroad tracks. If I start …
It is a Sunday afternoon in summer. The first summer without Hans. Manfred and Noah are three hundred miles away on a job in Anchorage. Olivia, Josef and I are back home after church and have eaten our spaghetti, with ice cream for dessert. Olivia leaves for work and Josef hops on his bike. I …
Hans was a flashlight fanatic. This, of course, led to a rechargeable battery habit. He did not want to get caught on a highway emergency call without a good light. Car repairs and other work at home often had to be done in the dark as well. So, not unexpectedly, this past Christmas Hans gave …
Several years ago, high winds snapped a large spruce tree about half way up its trunk, sending the upper part of the tree crashing down onto the roof of our house as we slept. Damage was minimal, the roof was repaired, and the tree was cut up and hauled away for firewood. But the stump, …
The other day I went to the yellow pickup to see if Hans left anything in there. Sure enough, there was his Forestry Department issued clothing from when he worked last summer helping out for few days on the wildfire south of Nenana. It was all folded up neat as a pin and piled on …
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This summer, our first without Hans, has been like no other. In addition to Hans being gone, the rest of the family have been away from home for much of the summer work season. And it is very quiet. One of the first things that struck me after Hans went to be with Jesus, was …
“How are you doing?” Why does this question make me uncomfortable, almost panicky? It seems like a simple question to which I ought to be able to give a simple answer. But, in truth, it is a very complicated question. There is no short answer. No easy multiple choice answer other than “all of the …
In This Post: Heavy sorrow is a normal response to the death of a loved oneGrieving is hard, healthy, exhausting work that can become counterproductive if indulged in too deeply for too long.Yes, it gets better.Together in the Lord Heavy sorrow is a normal response to the death of a loved one In the early …
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24 Birch seed on snow Look at the seed of any plant: birch, fireweed, dandelion, wheat. The seed in no way resembles the mature plant …
“At first, I was shaken, but looking up, I recovered my strength…” -George Whitefield My son has died. Forward. That is the direction I need to be moving. Forward is where our son is. Forward is where I will see my Savior face to face. Moving forward is not the same as moving on. Moving …
You Can Trust Him 