Memorial/Celebration of Dave's Life

 A week ago today

Dave breathed his last breath

And entered into eternity

with Jesus.

It has been a week of processing

for all of us.

Lots of tears, hugs, laughs

and sharing of memories.

We are so appreciative

of all the thoughtful

and loving messages we have received.

We'd like to invite you to

remember and celebrate Dave's life with us.

When: July 24, 2021 at 2:00pm

Where: Crossroads Neighborhood Church

             7555 Old Military Road NE

             Bremerton, WA  98311

Coffee and Donuts Reception will follow.

The memorial/celebration will also be live on YouTube.

The link will be posted here on the blog prior to July 24.

In lieu of gifts, donations may be given

The Coffee Oasis (thecoffeeoasis.com)

Additional Information:

We will not have an open mic at the memorial/celebration.

If you would like to email a memory/story of Dave,

We will print them and create a memory board

to display at the reception.

Memories must be submitted by Tuesday, July 20.

Please send your memories to:

david.frederick@thecoffeeoasis.com

We look forward to sharing this time with you.

The Finish Line

 Yesterday

4:15pm

Dave crossed the finish line

I'd like to share some words

our son Daniel penned this morning.

"I really felt like we lived

in that "thin place'

for the last week.

Heaven was almost tangible

as dad straddled two worlds

especially as he slept the final two days.

Those days were amazingly serene

for how busy my dad's life was.

Being there at the last moment

was like

watching a small step

not a giant leap.

Like a door opened

and gently closed.

No struggle.

God held him between here and there.

God has been so faithful

through this sad

and glorious journey."

Thank you all for walking this journey

with us.

We will write again

when we have a time planned

to remember and celebrate his life.

On the Last Lap

 This is Cindy...

Prior to cancer

Dave has been a runner

I remember when we first were married

He ran in tennis shoes :)

(He was also an excellent tennis player

He played for South Kitsap HS and Biola University)

He wanted to run a 4 minute mile.

Cancer has been an endurance race

There have been some sprints

and there have been a lot of grueling, long up hills

He is now on the last lap 

The crowds in the stands cheering him on 

have been amazing

But now we are all watching in hushed silence

as he nears the finish line.

The Hospice nurse and social worker

were here yesterday.

What caring, compassionate, knowledgeable women.

They helped us to better understand this final lap

They described him with one foot here

and one foot in heaven.

He is looking back to us 

as we remind him of our forever love for him.

And he is looking forward

to those awaiting his entrance into eternity.

We have seen this as he rests peacefully

and then we stir him, seeking a response.

It seems like it makes him struggle to return to this reality.

So now we are the fans watching in hushed silence

as him finishes the race.

We let him rest 

We sit with him

We gently put a hand on him

We quietly sing a song to him

We whisper affirmations of our love to him.

I read a beautiful liturgy yesterday

this phrase jumped off the page to me

"We are not nursing this dear one back to health,

We are stewarding his slow surrender of it."

Wow!

We are stewarding his slow surrender of it.

What a privilege.