Ways to help ...

Just a quick note to all of you that have been asking for ways to help. Thank you all for contacting me about helping. I was with Linda until about 5:30 last night - between yesterday and this morning, we were able to handle the "pressing" matters that required her immediate attention.

So,for now, there is a great need for Linda and the girls to have some quiet time to just "be" together. As you all know, this has been a LONG journey (that is not yet over) -- there were many family and friends that lovingly walked with Skip and his family through his last days here .... the past several days have been a whirl wind of visitors, calls, and things that must be handled. Now, they can stop for a little bit and just try to get some rest and love each other through. Pastor H encouraged Linda to let the answering machine take calls and get rest whenever she can. I have encouraged her to put the "world" on hold for a few days and just concentrate on those 3 sweet girls.

There are several ways that you can help in the immediate future:
First, meals -- I am still coordinating meals - this would be just a nightly meal for Linda and the girls. (When I left yesterday - the fridge, freezer, and cupboards were well stocked with easy foods they could prepare for breakfast, lunch and snacks.)
Second, house cleaning - this could be done either by actually coming to clean the house or by contributing into a cleaning fund (small groups have pooled together in the past to cover the cost of cleaning service).
Third, Houisng for out of town guests - there will be many people traveling from out of town for the Memorial on Tuesday - so,if you have a guest room or casita available - that would be great.
Finally, many have asked about financial assistance - there is an open account at Downey Savings in La Quinta,CA -- deposits can be made into this account by referencing "Kevin & Linda Osgood". These funds will be used to cover immediate financial needs and medical bills.

I also encourage you to write to Linda and the girls - both jointly and individually - I have found during the struggles of my life -that written encouragemnet is very valuable. There is something powerful about receiving something "nice" in the mail (not a bill or a notice or an advertisement) but just a gentle reminder that someone is thinking of you, praying for you, and loves you. And, I have seen in my own daughter that mail is exciting and brings joy to children even in the midst of great sorrow. It is also lasting - it can be saved and read again and again -- many of the moments, conversations, and happenings of these first days will become a blur or will not be remembered by Linda and the girls -- but, a written word can be kept for a long time to come.

As always, keep them in your prayers - - pray for peace and gentleness and love to surround them.

If you would like to assist in any of the above ways and/or need/want more information, please e-mail me at loans.bydebbi@verizon.net

Blessings to you all,
Debbi (friend of family)
loans.bydebbi@verizon.net

There will come a day...

There is a song by Jeremy Camp that speaks of a "day with no more fear, no more pain, no more tears..." for Skip that day was yesterday. For the rest of us, it has yet to come. Yesterday was a day like no other I have ever spent; and, it had a huge impact on my soul. There were so many things that resonated in my heart and mind yesterday - I will share just a few so that you can grasp the continuing journey of this family that we all love. There were tears, from those who know and love Skip; these, of course, fall naturally as we think of our loss of a loved one. There was laughter as stories of "Skipisms" were shared - some old, some new -- Skip's sense of humor will remain with us as we each remember the funny things he did to brighten our days. There was gratefulness as his loved ones and friends remembered how he had entered, impacted and changed their lives. And, there was peace .... yes peace... as we talked about the "fact" that Skip is with the Lord - rejoicing, celebrating, worshiping.... what a thought... what a promise for each of us to grasp. The peace of knowing this brought comfort to Linda and the girls - and, for that I was very grateful.

My reflection of the day was two fold.... first, I rested in the fact that because of my faith I can be certain that my life as I leave this earth will be beyond anything I can ever imagine..a time when I will once again see all those that I have loved but have gone before me... I have prayed for each person that reads this blog that your heart can rest in the same certainty... second, it was a time of awakening for me regarding my time here on earth --- what can I do differently? how can I love more? how can I be a better wife, mom, daughter, friend.. It was a humbling day as I concluded that there were so many things I could do differently, so many things I could do better, so many small things that could be set aside to focus on the things that are truly "worthy"...

Please continue to pray for Linda and the girls and the rest of Skip's family as the reality of this great change begins to unfold in their lives - there will be many emotions that will come upon them and the faithful prayers of those who love them will be priceless to them in these coming days.

...I pray that peace is with each of you today... that you will take each day here as a gift and that you will find strength to handle the struggles of this life.

(For those of you that are desiring ways to lend a hand - I will be sending out another post and e-mail later today to address that.)


Blessings,
Debbi Garcia

Service Time

Hello,
Just a quick post to let you all know that the Memorial Service for Skip will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 3:00pm at Southwest Community Church located at 77701 Fred Waring Drive in Indian Wells. The service will be held upstairs. I will post a more detailed post later today or tonight.
In Christ,
Debbi

Skip is Home

I just spoke with Linda --- and, she simply said "He is Home." It is so hard to write this post ---I know without a doubt that Skip loved the Lord and is with him as I write this; yet, my heart is sad for the loss that those of us who loved him will feel. He stepped into eternity this morning - he was surrounded by friends and family at the time. Linda was at peace as I spoke with her - and, I am comforted by the faith of this family - what a gift to KNOW where Skip is and to have confidence in the fact that he is in a place "beyond anything we can imagine". Please pray for peace and comfort over his family. Now more than ever, they will need our help, support, love and prayers as they continue on their journey...
In Christ,
Debbi (friend of the family)