With the LORD ~ Final Update

*UPDATE* ~ Austin's memorial is scheduled for Monday, June 10, 2013 ~
Please email Camille at flowersinhisgarden@gmail.com 
if you are in our area and would like to attend.

"...The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;

blessed be the name of the LORD."  ~ Job 1:21b ~

Suddenly, and without warning, our precious Austin

was taken to be with his Saviour yesterday morning ~ June 1, 2013 

sometime between 9:45 and 10:45am peacefully in his sleep.

I had spoken with him at 9:45 and returned to his room to wake

him for the day at 10:45 when I found him unresponsive.

He had tucked himself in and appeared to be asleep ~ peaceful.

It has been determined that his heart went into ventricular fibrillation

and was unable to recover with the shocks delivered by the internal defibrillator.

Apparently, he would have passed out from the 

fibrillation and passed away shortly thereafter.

It does not seem real.  I write this from a broken heart.

I had told Austin he was to bury me ~ it was not to be the other way around.

But, our Great God had other plans ~ better and wiser ones.

Austin suffered most often in gracious silence the last three years of his life 

with rarely a complaint ~ he just was not a complainer.  

He was always easy-going and found joy in the little things.

The LORD has delivered him from his pain and suffering.

He is with the Lord Jesus Christ in glory ~ praising the Saviour he loved!

He would not want to come back.

But, oh, how I want him back!

For just one more hug, one more smile, one more laugh.

To see him and hear him and touch him ~ my first baby.

But, this is not what is best.  God truly does what is best.

His ways are perfect.  He always does all things well.

We must continually speak Truth to ourselves.

We must fill our minds with Truth.  God's Word is Truth.

It is living and powerful and is our sustenance in times like these.

Each day is a gift.  Each moment is precious.

God graciously gave us extra time with our Austin.  

Humanly and medically speaking, he should have died last spring

when he was first diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

But, God saw fit to restore him to health and life for a few months.

It was a gift that I will always cherish.  From the hand of a Loving God.

May we never charge Him foolishly.  

May He be glorified in all we do and say and think.

May He continue to daily give grace to live for Him.

We cannot take this journey alone ~ and, we are not called to.
He walks this path with us.  The waters will not overflow.

In Austin's Birthday card this year, 

the verses we shared with him were these ~

"Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name;

thou art mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;

and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:

when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour."

~ Isaiah 43;1b-3a ~

These promises are real and true.  

They will stand sure until the end of time.

We have every confidence that we will one day see our

precious Austin again.  In Heaven.  Forever.  With the LORD.

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

Thank you for supporting us in the myriad of ways that you have.

We appreciate each and every one of you.

Keeping our eyes fixed by His grace alone ~

And with Much Love,

Camille

**The photo in this post was taken in the Fall of 2011 ~
It's a favourite photo of Austin when he looked most himself.

**Please know that your thoughts shared and comments made
will be cherished by each one of us ~
I will, however, be unable to reply at this time.
We will have to be absent from this space for the next while ~
Thank you for your gracious understanding.
Please pray that we would remain steadfast in HIM.

**If you are not sure where you will spend eternity,
please click here and prayerfully consider your never dying soul.

Update ~ Howie posted on his blog in his own words as a Dad.
If you would like to read what he wrote, please click here.