A valley of shadows..

My heart is heavy today for my family in Ontario. This afternoon they will bury my cousin Chelsea Feddema. She was only 23.

Chelsea Anne Feddema

March 31, 1989- May 6, 2012

Chelsea died suddenly and tragically on Sunday afternoon, May 6. She was riding one of the family horses when the horse ran uncontrollably into the road and was hit by a truck. Chelsea was thrown off the horse and lost her life. There was an article about Chelsea in a local paper here. And here is a clip that was on the local news.

Just like that, snuffed out. How does one bury a child? It must be the worst imaginable thing for a parent. On Sunday night after Brian and I heard the news, we crept into our sleeping Bronwen's room and just watched her breathe for a few minutes. Our children are so precious. And we do not know how long God will give them to us for. Hopefully, we will not live to see them die before us. But some are only here for minutes, some for weeks, and some for many years less than we would hope. For Chelsea, it was 23 short years.

I keep thinking about that. How God knew it all. He knew before she was born that this would all happen. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. He knew when I talked to Chelsea 2 1/2 weeks ago at her mom's/ my aunt Donna's birthday party, that exactly 2 weeks later she would be gone from us. How can we understand it all?

My dad is making a slide show for Chelsea's funeral with this song. The words are very fitting. Faith is all we can cling to, there is nothing else. God, bring your comfort and peace and most of all, hope. 

Someone posted this on Chelsea's facebook page. I thought it was neat. It is from an actual poem which I can't find, but the words are beautiful..

 And just at the moment when someone says "she's gone" , there are other eyes watching

 for her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout "here she comes!"

Chelsea (second from right) and her family:
my cousins Elise, Travis and Leah, with Uncle Harold and Aunt Donna.
(photo courtesy JannyLynn Photography)

Pray for them!!


the LORD is my shepherd

I shall not be in want

He makes me lie down in green pastures

He leads me beside quiet waters

He 

restores

my

soul

And guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake

even though I 

walk through

the valley

of the shadow 

of death

I will fear no evil

for you are with me

Your rod and your staff

they comfort me

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies

you anoint me head with oil

my cup overflows

surely goodness and

mercy

will follow me

all the days 

of my life

and i will dwell 

in the house

of the LORD

FOREVER