Home Sick

"You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now"

~Lyrics to the song "Home Sick" by the group Mercy Me

On April 21, it was one week ago that Papa D went home. One week ago I got to hold his hand and kiss his forehead, one week ago I got to tell him I loved him one last time. I thought I was doing ok today until I thought about my son, Rick's, track meet in later this afternoon. It probably comes as no surprise my dad was the kind of grandfather who rarely missed a sporting event of his grandkids. Rain, shine, snow, sleet, he was there. This is Rick's first year playing a sport and I realized this morning that he will never get to experience the feeling of pride knowing his Papa D is cheering him on from the stands. My heart is broken yet again.

Yep, I'm home sick today. I will be home sick every day. But today, I am thankful for the sunshine. I believe it's God's way reminding me it will all be ok….and that Papa D will be cheering Rick on from heaven.

Thank you all again for the outpouring of love and support over this past week; whether you attended the calling hours, the Celebration of Life service, sent a card, flowers, a text, email, or message, stopped by the house, or even just said a prayer or thought about our family. To say I'm blessed really doesn't convey how much it has meant to me and my family. I am touched beyond words.

I will never forget how it felt to hold my dad's hand
when I was a child or during the last months of his life
or the day I got to tell him I loved him one last time.

A celebration of life

Death leaves heartaches no one can heal, love gives memories no one can steal.

My dear sweet father, Papa D

On April 18, 2015 we celebrated the life of Richard (Dick) Whitcomb, age 71, who went home to be with Jesus surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday, April 14 at 1:23 pm.

He grew up in Lyndhurst. He caddied for golfers at a local course and made extra money by finding lost golf balls and selling them back to his clients. He went to a coal tipple with his parents, (Ada and Walter Whitcomb) and loaded coal into the trunk of their car to feed their furnace. He was the youngest child of two sisters: Doris (deceased), Jean (Dick, deceased) Paden and three brothers: William (deceased), Walter Jr. (who married Hilde), and Ron (who married Lu).

He married Faith Hoffacker and they lived in Chesterland for 53 years. There they raised four children: Nadine, Janna, Joy, and Rick (who was murdered 1996). Like a garden, his love watered the family which grew by three, when Nadine married Eric Toth, Janna married Michael Luck, and Joy married Paul Cimino. His name then changed from Dick to Papa D when his family blossomed. It then bloomed with eight grandchildren: Nicole, David, Daniel and Jared Toth; Kelly McClelland and Ricky Cimino; Jason and Rachel Luck, Jack Gou; and three granddaughters-in- law: Bethany, Shari, and Brittany Toth. Then burst with six great-grandchildren: Breanna, Alex, Corey, Jaxson, Bradley, and Garrett Toth. He is also an uncle and great uncle to many.

Papa D, aka Dick, worked at PCC Airfoils for 52 years. After retiring, he continued working for the company part time several days a week. In 1992, he co-founded Grace Evangelical Bible Church where he served as financial secretary and elder until the time of his home-going. At Grace, he worked with the AWANA children’s ministry for 27 years. He volunteered at the City Mission, preparing and serving meals for Cleveland’s homeless.

He loved spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed camping and was crazy about golf and was good at it. He joined several golf leagues and took many golfing vacations to South Carolina with his golfing buddies.

Helping others was his passion and his gift. He put other people’s needs before his own, working quietly behind the scenes. He has experienced the ultimate healing because he is home free, in heaven with Jesus.

His celebration of life service can be found here on You Tube.

A father and son reunited....

At 1:23 pm on April 14, 2015, Richard Gilbert Whitcomb, got to give his son, Richard Gilbert Whitcomb, Jr., a hug he was waiting to give him for the last 19 years and got to hear the words from our Lord "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." I don't believe it was coincidence that he took his last breath and saw my brother at 1:23... Rick's funeral was January 23...1-23. My heart is broken but I know I will see them both again.

This picture was taken the last Christmas Rick was home in 1995.
A few short weeks on January 19, 1996, Rick was murdered by
his ex-girlfriend, Vicki Frost.

Where my faith comes from

"I'm trying hard not to think you unkind

Rick and me at our cousin's wedding - August 1995

But Heavenly Father
If you know my heart
Surely you can read my mind
Good people underneath the sea of grief
Some get up and walk away
Some will find ultimate relief"

~ "Home Free" by Wayne Watson

The first time I heard this song 19 years ago was a defining moment in my life. It was the last song played at my brother's funeral and when I heard it that day, it was in that moment that my parents' faith impacted me in a way that would change my life forever. I grew up in a Christian home but their faith really didn't make an impression on me until my brother was murdered. Here they were, burying their only son and rather than walking away from their God, they clung to Him even tighter. They wanted to make sure that not only was Rick's funeral service a celebration of his life, but also a way to minister/witness to family and friends the message of salvation, that they too could be "Home Free" and see Rick's smiling face again. It's because of my parents' example during that time and in the years that have followed that I have the faith that I have. They showed me that faith will get you through anything. It has gotten me through the last 19 years and will get me through the next 19 and beyond.

What your friends with cancer want you to know (but are afraid to say)

Original image: Flickr, Justin Sewell

You may or may not have seen the post below before. If you haven't, I encourage you to read it sometime. If it's been awhile, perhaps take a moment to read it again. The author gives a very honest and very accurate perspective of what it's like to be on the fighting side of this horrible disease. Even though I am a survivor myself and can relate, it has served as a good reminder as I've watched the people I care about fight their battles. Perhaps it'll help you sometime as well while someone you know or care about: a co-worker/friend/loved one battles cancer or some other life-threatening disease.
 
Link: What your friends with cancer want you to know (but are afraid to say) by Kim Keller

Keeping the Faith for 2015

To be honest, over the last several weeks, I have been dreading the new year. Starting in 2011 with my parents' house fire, each consecutive year has brought some sort of trial or tribulation and with every new year, my prayer and wish was for a better year to come, only to be let down because another test of faith would be thrown my way. When, oh when, would my family and those I care about catch a break!!?? In the last couple of days, while trials have kept coming, I have had several reminders that despite all of them and those encountered over this past year, there have been blessings as well. Whether it be a post I've seen on someone's Facebook page, a conversation I have had, or a memory made with one of my loved ones, they have been reminders to not spend too much time dwelling on the bad, but focus my energies on the good. That it's ok to be sad/mad, but don't forget to be happy, too. So while I know 2015 will bring some hardships, I keep the faith that many blessings will make those hardships a little easier to bear, just like they did in 1996, 2011 and every year that followed. 

Thank you all for your love and support and wishing you many blessings in 2015. Happy New Year!

Prayers for Papa D

“Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal”
 ~ David Crowder, Come As You Are

Me and my Papa D. I'm everything
I am because you loved me.

Call it fate or someone playing DJ, but I heard that song for the first time as I was on my way to the doctor's office. On December 11, 2014 we learned that Papa D will not be participating in the clinic trial and his doctor recommended we get hospice in place. The doctor felt getting hospice involved early on would be good because my dad will have more options when it comes to managing his symptoms/the disease. While we are saddened about the trial and that hospice is the next step, we take comfort in the fact that this situation is not under our control, but under our Heavenly Father’s, and He knows what is best for my dad and this situation. None of us are promised a tomorrow and regardless of whether we have a life-threatening illness or are the healthiest person on the planet, this news serves as a reminder all the more just how much we need to enjoy the moments we are given. And in typical Whitcomb fashion, that’s just what we are going to continue to do!  

We definitely haven’t given up nor have we lost hope, it’s just now our hope has a slightly shifted focus. We believe God is only one who knows how much time any of us have on this Earth, so we’ll trust in His plan and try to just keep swimming. We may not know what the future holds and the road ahead will be full of ups and downs, but we are so thankful for our faith, family, and friends to help us on this journey. 

Love to you all.