24. June 2010 by Starr.

Dad & Papa 

Born: February 22, 1942

Promoted into Heaven: June 24, 2004

I’M FREE

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free.

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call.

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found peace at the close of the day.

 If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh or kiss.

Ah, yes, these things I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow;

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much-

Good friends, good times

A loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my times seemed all too brief.

Don’t lengthen it now, with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me.

God wanted me now, He set me free.

Farewell my loving wife and family.

We will meet again.

Written by Gary E. Yarber~

Dad, you are loved and missed so very much. I will see you soon.   Starr~

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13. January 2010 by Starr.

Since my last blog, the Master took into Heaven a dear friend and sister of mine, Missy Welsh-Read.  It sometimes makes no sense when God takes someone at a young age of 43, so suddenly, with three young children and a whole life ahead of her…especially someone so sweet and loving as Missy.  And honestly, I can’t believe that I am even writing this today, and that she has left us.  It just doesn’t seem possible.  But, when we look at it closer, we know that Missy was promoted into Heaven, not demoted from this planet.  She got to be one of the first ones to go and she deserved it.  Right now she is up there with loved ones who had gone before, and as I stood by her bedside as she was on life support in her final hours, I asked her to say hello to my dad who passed away five years ago, and somehow I know that she heard me, and that she will. 

Words cannot express the sorrow that I feel for her precious family for their loss.  But my thoughts and prayers are with them, still.  I loved Missy, truly.  She was one of those pure hearts in this world, who never met a stranger, who always told it like it was…who never forgot anyone, or anything…who always had a way of reminding a person of who they really were. 

Missy, I will never forget you.  I love you dearly.  I will be praying for your children.  God has them safely in His watch and tender care.  I will see you again, soon.

Your sister and friend eternally,

Starr

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unsseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”   (2 Corinthians 4:18)

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1. January 2010 by Starr.

Cheryl Starr Fercho:  Born- 10/02/2001    Died-  Sometime between 2007-2009.  The death was unexpected, but ended a long and agonizing struggle.  The ”burial” of Cheryl Starr Fercho was a private ceremony at an undisclosed location, early fall, 2009. It not only closed a chapter, but a volume, which began under another name.  This ending, as many endings do, spark a light for a new beginning, and thus begins a great new day…and many blessings and many full moons and joy filled days.  Death is never the death of anything for the christian…but only a new beginning for something else.  This death of this girl…is perfect timing for the new year.

With that said, here is a secret my heart is holding this day, the first day of 2010:  “I am focusing all my energies on this one thing:  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

I have a purpose and purpose always produces passion.  I wasn’t put on earth to be remembered, but to prepare for eternity.  Goodbye Cheryl Starr Fercho.  I loved you and you were a good friend, but God was training you and preparing you for a new strength and a new purpose.  The new person you are now is more whole.  Thanks be to God that I am whole.  I am finally whole.  I have a new life and a new beginning and a mission.  I have work to do.  I best get to it. 
“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me.”  Acts 20:24 (NCV)

Cheryl Starr (I’ll let you know when God places a new name in this space for me.  For now, I am gloriously and wonderfully pleased with where God has me and I know my name is still written on the palm of His hand.)

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