Thank you Sarah, Jon, Shannon and Rebekka

I think it would be appropriate to relay the final moments that we shared together with Leah on January 20th. We knew the end was approaching as Leah’s breathing pattern changed. We wondered if we should call the family together, but John, Leah’s daytime nurse, who has faithfully cared for her these past 16 months, lovingly thought it might be better to let them remember her as she was. We agreed, but the Lord had something else in mind. My brother called within minutes of our decision and stated that he and Shannon, my niece, were on their way to our home. After they joined us, Laura, his wife, called and soon arrived with Therese, my mother-in-law. After that, Jonathon, my nephew, showed up, as did my parents. Our adopted family member, Andreas, was with us. He had rushed up from USC, that Monday, and he, along with Rebekka, had stayed by Leah’s bedside throughout the night. Wanda, Leah’s aide, who had faithfully visited Leah every week for the past year and a half, came over. Our dear sister, Sandy, dropped by with dinner for all of us, and we were all together, with Leah. Shannon started to play Fur Elise on the piano, but didn’t remember very much of it. Sandy sat down and began to play and it was at this moment that Leah opened her eyes for the last time, stirred by the music.

Thank you, Hilary and Corey, for playing for us today, and for playing several times for Leah these past months. It was a true gift to her and to us.

Music was always a joy for Leah, especially music about Jesus. She loved to sing praise songs to the Lord, and she always did so with all her heart. She loved to dance in her own way, bouncing up and down and swinging her arms around, and she loved to listen to music. In those last seconds of her life, we gathered around her and honored the Lord with some of her favorite praise songs, as she was received into heaven. I am sure that our earthly chorus was replaced by angelic hosts as our hearts were joined in worship to our most Holy, Majestic and Gracious Lord God Almighty. This afternoon, we would like to share together in a small sampling of the songs that were Leah’s favorites. These are some of the songs that would stir her heart and our hearts. She would always sing to the Lord with the best of her limited abilities and with all her being: body, soul and spirit. Come Bless the Lord, our first selection was the very first song that Leah learned and sang with us on the way to church on Sundays. It was a joy then, and is still a joy today.