tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29393886946787759732024-03-13T12:48:10.278-04:00Joel MacDonald FamilyMacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.comBlogger364125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-15628806989791334472011-08-19T21:30:00.000-04:002011-08-19T21:30:23.345-04:00Your Most Basic Act of Worship from 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers"Lord, I'm Yours. Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I realize I'm not here on earth to do my own thing, or to seek my own fulfillment or my own glory. I'm not here to indulge my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I'm somebody important, or to promote myself. I'm not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards. MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-39338640596140395512011-04-29T12:28:00.000-04:002011-04-29T12:28:53.158-04:00HeartprintsHow many heartprints will you leave today? Will you share with a friend or give hugs away and join in the music, the singing, the joy? You can brighten the world as you go on your way. How many heartprints will you leave today? Will you listen with patience to what others say? How many heartprints will you leave today? A heartprint is formed when you do something kind. Your love touches others, MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-10930246964626631622011-03-26T20:41:00.000-04:002011-03-26T20:41:29.539-04:00Joel's Earthly Birth DateToday would have been Joel's 65th birthday. I chose to spend a quiet day here at home but was pleasantly surprised by a dear couple who stopped by in remembrance of Joel's birthday. Thank you Joe and Patti. The Lord is so good to continue to encourage me day by day through the actions of His family members.
Another encouragement came today from reading in Sarah Young's devotional, MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-10747199618631686212011-02-20T21:56:00.000-05:002011-02-20T21:56:44.291-05:00Crisis ManI, Dottie, have just returned from Colorado due to my father's death. In route to and from Colorado, I was able to read some of Elisabeth Elliot's book, Shadow of the Almighty which was one of Joel's early favorites.
He had underlined or marked various quotes from Jim Elliott. Here are a few that stood out to me:
"Father make me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to a decision. Let me not be aMacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-71977751243253010882011-02-05T20:42:00.000-05:002011-02-05T20:42:39.807-05:00Trust the LordSo often during Joel's illness, he would share that his job was to just trust the Lord...something I, as his wife, saw evidenced daily. I, too, have been trusting the Lord and am happy to share some wonderful news of the Lord's provision in my life.
On January 31, 2011, I became a homeowner, once again. This is an obvious gift from the Lord. After Joel's death, I put a prayer request in the MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-19232849550830767982011-01-07T23:44:00.000-05:002011-01-07T23:44:05.895-05:00Amy Carmichael—The Cry of the BloodThis was influential in Dad's call to the ministry. It was printed on an insert in the program for the memorial service. For those of you who weren't able to be at the service mom wanted to post it on the blog.
From Amy Carmichael’s book “Things As They Are” Amy was for 53 years of her life as a missionary in India.The tom-toms thumped straight on all night, and the darkness shudderedMacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-60387554490429515462010-12-26T21:54:00.000-05:002010-12-26T21:54:17.731-05:00Gingerbread Pancakes On HoldHere is a post from mom:
Christmas morning I was up early trying to surprise Bethany with a family favorite for breakfast—gingerbread pancakes—when the Lord surprised me with a special gift. It came so unexpectedly.
Remembering I would be seeing a friend later in the day who had sent me a Christmas card, I had decided to take my Christmas letter for her, but now also wanted to include a MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-30999981062341176882010-12-01T13:45:00.000-05:002010-12-01T13:45:32.295-05:00Dad must be laughing!My sister Kara posted this note on her Facebook page and I knew everyone would enjoy reading it. I smiled and got teary eyes at the same time as I read it.
I went with the kids yesterday to pick out our Christmas tree. I am usually the one to pick it out and put it up, so this is nothing unusual. I pride myself in finding "great" trees, that have perfect shape, ideal fullness, and justMacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-23363538529877809812010-11-26T20:58:00.000-05:002010-11-26T20:58:09.435-05:00Giving ThanksWe had a good Thanksgiving as a family. It was the first Thanksgiving that I was able to spend with my family since getting married. I wanted to share some of my siblings thoughts that they posted on Facebook on Thanksgiving. After reading them, I am even more grateful to be a part of our family.
Bethany: I'm thankful for a Dad who showed me what a godly man should be, for a wonderful Mom MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-77767663727170669112010-11-17T21:47:00.000-05:002010-11-17T21:47:46.925-05:00Memorial ServiceHere is the audio from Dad's memorial service. It is in three parts.
Part I
Part II
Part III
MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-6896242588135809982010-11-10T14:04:00.000-05:002010-11-10T14:04:27.646-05:00TributesIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southwood Baptist Church benevolence fund.
11 Griscom Ln.
Woodbury, NJ 08096
James was able to fly back from Texas Sunday night so he was here for the burial Monday morning. Dad was buried at the veterans cemetery with full military honors complete with a twenty-one gun salute. The finality was hard but it was a fitting ceremony for dad. Our MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-9237501302182899702010-11-06T12:06:00.000-04:002010-11-06T12:06:15.621-04:00Calls WelcomeThanks for giving us just some time as our family. You are welcome to call if you would like.MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-65344009911232789252010-11-05T21:46:00.002-04:002010-11-05T21:46:59.568-04:00Memorial Service Info<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-12418811718244413182010-11-05T13:47:00.000-04:002010-11-05T13:47:19.725-04:00Great Is Thy FaithfulnessDad is no longer bound by an earthly body but is in the arms of his Savior, Jesus. Dad passed away at 1:15 pm.
We are still figuring out the details of burial and memorial service. Please hold off calling for now. I will post more information as we know it. Thanks for everyone's continual prayers.MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-20953546556340950782010-11-04T14:59:00.000-04:002010-11-04T14:59:02.437-04:00New phase of declineYesterday, Wednesday, Dad did not wake up at his usual time. Mom went to rouse him at 9 am and he was not able to open his eyes but was able to indicate that he was not in any pain. His right shoulder had been twitching off and on most of the morning which was an indication that another seizure might be in the beginning process. Dad was given some medication to hopefully prevent another seizure. MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-57830935500451856132010-10-25T22:17:00.000-04:002010-10-25T22:17:29.933-04:00Hard Days<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-15551462766566984272010-10-22T13:33:00.000-04:002010-10-22T13:33:07.121-04:00God's timelineDad had two seizures last night within about 20 minutes of each other. Mom went to check on dad and noticed that his eyes were open but he was not responding. He started to come out of the first seizure but then had another one shortly after that. Mom did really well and called the hospice nurse which is the protocol that she is supposed to follow. Mom said it was easier this time because she MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-68922109245846984032010-10-09T11:41:00.000-04:002010-10-09T11:41:46.865-04:00This MorningDad had a seizure this morning. Mom had gone out to rest on the couch after Dad turned on his iPod around 5 am this morning. Sometime around 6:30 am mom here a gurgling snoring sound and found dad with some blood coming out of his mouth and she was not able to wake him. They called Vitas (which is what they are instructed to do) and Brian. When Brian got there Dad was awake and able to squeeze MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-67560699095168732712010-09-28T22:14:00.000-04:002010-09-28T22:14:43.959-04:00Rest and ReflectionI am continuing to rest and reflect upon what kind of course the Lord has me on. I’m reflecting on Col. 3:3 "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." It’s great to have scripture to keep my heart and mind refreshed.MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-25166928646163256912010-09-21T13:56:00.000-04:002010-09-21T13:56:21.676-04:00Rest In God AloneFrom Dad:
I am spending most of my time resting in bed. Getting up in the wheel chair is a break from being in bed.
I have spent a lot of time thinking about eternal things--wondering if my life has been significant and whether I am leaving an appropriate legacy that focuses on Christ.
It's good to know that I have His abiding presence and Psalm 62 has been good. "My soul finds rest in God MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-87105737770400004402010-09-04T16:18:00.000-04:002010-09-04T16:18:41.378-04:00ContemplationAnother post from Dad:
I am spending a lot of time contemplating what it will be like to enter into eternity and hear the Lord speak my name and what that will be like as well. It's very surreal to think that I'm about to see realistically what I've only contemplated by faith.MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-67359588052297361602010-09-01T16:56:00.000-04:002010-09-01T16:56:33.592-04:00Thinking of HeavenHere's another post from Dad:
I am spending every day in bed listening to lectures and thinking a lot. I've been reading Randy Alcorn's book called Heaven. I highly recommend it. The book leaves me with a very surreal feeling. It's amazing to walk by faith and think that I may soon be experiencing the reality of my faith in seeing what heaven's really all about.
This Sunday I will be MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-85656798704670046652010-08-21T18:42:00.000-04:002010-08-21T18:42:34.907-04:00My Bed, My HomeI talked to Dad today and he asked me to post this to the Blog.
I'm spending pretty much every day in bed and only getting up rarely because it's too difficult when you only have one leg and one arm that works. We are looking at some kind of respit care, right now possibly at the veterans medical center in Philly, where I can stay for and extended length of time and have 24 hour care. So far my MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-7306757616333577312010-08-15T17:02:00.000-04:002010-08-15T17:02:52.356-04:00A new weekI think from here out unless I mentioned otherwise you can assume that I (Kristin) will be doing all the posting. That way I don't have to say that each time.
Dad's left side is experiencing paralysis and his right side shows definite signs of weakness. He is not able to get up on his own anymore and is mostly bed bound. A hospital bed was brought this last week since he is not able to sit MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2939388694678775973.post-26667143479445651102010-08-07T23:24:00.000-04:002010-08-07T23:24:43.491-04:00Looking for housingKristin here. James (my husband) and I are looking at driving up to be in N.J. sometime in September to be with Dad and Mom for whatever time Dad may have left. We are in need of some very inexpensive housing for us and our two small children (2 years and 5 months). We would also need to have reliable, high-speed internet access for James to be able to work while in N.J. Please email me at MacDonald Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509336141809536698noreply@blogger.com1