My dearest Daddy,
Today is the day I hoped would never come; there is no longer any need for me to let others know how you're doing.  Thankfully, everyone already KNOWS how you are now.  You are probably driving a hot rod up and down the golden streets, smiling and waving at all the people whose faces you haven't been able to see for years, and singing in perfect pitch along with the heavenly angel choir.  You are completely surrounded in beautiful sights and overwhelming sounds, and I know in my heart that you would never come back here, even if you were given the opportunity.

I have not able to write this last entry because, even though I am rejoicing with the thought that you are celebrating your first week of eternity in heaven, I have been overwhelmed with the grief that your loss has brought to my heart.  I truly thought that you would be able to fight this illness with the same resolve you have met every other obstacle in your life with - and that you would WIN.  The path that has led to this point was paved too carefully by God's hands for me to even consider the possibility that you might not be walking with us throughout this entire journey.  The appointments at Vanderbilt seemed to be available at exactly the right moment, the doctors were some of the best in the nation, the tumor shrank with astounding results, and still........your time here was nearly over, and I did not see it coming.

We celebrated your life on Wednesday and Thursday, with almost 800 people coming to pay their final tribute to their friend Freeman.  You were a blessing to so many people, and the loss to your family, your friends and your church is unfathomable.  I have to remind myself that you are now in the home you have labored so hard to reach.  Heaven is the destination we are all striving to reach; this earth is definitely not our home if we are a Christian.  To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and that is what is giving me the strength to make it through each day right now.  You have reached the "Final Destination".  You have fought the fight, you have won the battle, and now you are basking in the most wonderful reward of all - an eternity with Jesus.

Your funeral (I like to call it the "Celebration of Your Life") was just the way you would have liked it.  There were lots of stories (we showed your 70th birthday tribute DVD), wonderful music (Mama was singing on her CD), and, of course, a sermon that told the message of God.  You never performed a funeral without preaching the gospel, and we had a wonderful message from two wonderful preachers, Brother Howard Matthews and Brother Cordell Simpson.  I think you would have been very pleased.  Brother Matthews even played "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" on his harmonica at the gravesite.  It was a beautiful tribute to a great man of God.

Daddy, I can't imagine how we could have made it through the past few months without God.  We would have had no hope.  You lived your life leading others to Christ, giving them hope, letting them know that death is not the end; it's really the beginning.  Welcome to the beginning, Dad.  My solace comes from knowing that the beginning is still waiting for me, and one day I will see you again, waiting with open arms.  We will go and praise Jesus together again.  Your legacy is the faith you have instilled in each of your children and grandchildren.  I learned the very painful truth that each day is truly a gift.  Tomorrow is never promised to anyone.  Our one goal on this earth is solely to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  You and Mama have together shown us just how that goal can be accomplished. Your work is finished.  Now it's time to reap the harvest you've sown for so many years.

I am so proud and blessed that YOU were my daddy.  I will always love you.

Until we meet again,

Renee

Daddy's funeral will be held at Larkin Baptist Church in Patronville, Indiana at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 5th.  This will be Dad's last service at Larkin, after serving there for 39 years as their pastor.  There could be no better place to honor Dad one last time.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 4th at Davis Funeral Home in Owensboro, Kentucky from 2:00pm to 8:00pm.  There will also be visitation at the church from 10:00am to 12:00pm.  The burial will immediately follow the funeral at Providence Methodist Church in Philpot, Kentucky.  This is the church that is located right next door to Mom and Dad's house on Jack Hinton Road.  

We invite all of you who have followed Dad's progress and prayed so many prayers for his healing to join us for the celebration of his life.  We are thankful that he was completely healed yesterday.  He was diagnosed with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma on Wednesday, September 2nd, and he left us to be with God on Sunday, November 1st.  He went through such a difficult time for those two months, but the Lord shielded him from knowing the extent of his illness the entire time, and that is truly a blessing.  To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord, and that is what will sustain our family through this very difficult time.  We were all with him when he died, holding his hands.  He was disconnected from the ventilator at 4:35pm and he left this world at 6:09pm.  The doctors told us that he could have lasted a day or two without the ventilator.  We all prayed that Daddy would be taken swiftly, and he was.  When Daddy died, Mom said, "Thank you, Jesus.  He is at peace."  

We cannot thank all of you enough for the many prayers for my father and our family.  I think that we had Dad an extra two months because of the faithful prayer warriors that were standing behind Dad.  I will be forever grateful to each and every one of you.  My Dad was my parent, my mentor, my pastor and my example of how to live my life serving the Lord with all your heart.  He loved me unconditionally, and I shall miss him so very much.  I did get to climb in his hospital bed with him one more time and hold him tightly, and even though he was in a coma, I hope that he knew one last time how much I loved him.  I know that Daddy is enjoying his first day of eternity in heaven, and one day he is going to meet me at the door of heaven with open arms.  

Daddy, I thank you for molding me into the person I am today.  I am trying to pass on all that I have learned to my children.  You will live on forever in our hearts.  I love you more that you could ever have known.  

Love,

Renee

At 6:09 tonight, our prayers were answered.

Love,
Renee

It is 12:47, and all doctors agree that he will not come out of this; if he did, he would most likely be in a vegetative state.  So, all the machines will be turned off and his antibiotics discontinued.  They will keep him comfortable and pain free.  They don't think he will be in this state for very long.  My consolation is that Daddy will soon be able to see, and his crippled fingers will be straight.  He will run through heaven's gates to see the Lord he has served so diligently for so long.  I know that God has a mansion with Daddy's name on it.  Dad has served him with all of his heart for many years, and I know that God is waiting with open arms.  Daddy doesn't have to wait much longer to be home.

Thank you for your continued prayers.
We love you,
Renee

I am just writing a quick line to tell you that Dad is doing worse this morning.  His lungs are full of fluid, he has a fever, his EEG looks terrible and he is still unresponsive.  One of the top neurologists is coming in to evaluate his brain function, but Gregory has already told us that we should not really expect much if he woke up.  We are going on 50 some hours, and the intensive care team and the cardiac team are telling us there's not much hope.  We are still praying that the Lord works quickly in whatever decision he makes.

Kristie's little boy Miles has been confirmed as having the swine flu - he has a 101 fever that is going up, and also has strep throat.  Kristie is so torn:  should she stay with Dad or go home to Miles.  I don't know how she will make that decision.

Please pray for both Dad and Miles - and for our family.  This morning is so very difficult.  You are never ready to hear really bad news, even though you know in your heart that it is coming.

Thank you for all your love the past two months.
We are forever grateful.
Love,
Renee