Monday, May 26, 2008

Update from todays visit 7:30pm

Friends from OMV brought lunch & spent the afternoon with the Shugart Family. Gary's sister & her family left this morning for Georgia. They had some really sad good byes. It is getting harder & harder for Debbie, Gary & immediate family to go in to sit with Dylan. They do not want to see him suffer as he is getting weaker & weaker yet, fighting so much restlessness left in his body. Patience for the Lord's perfect timing is so hard right now. Processing all this is unimaginable. Please continue to lift up this precious family as they try to cope with each passing hour. God's grace & sufficiency are so very apparent but they are human and are hurting so much at this time. Your prayers are being heard so keep on praying.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gary and Debbie -

We so much enjoyed getting to see you yesterday but would rather it be in much better circumstances.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you so much of the day as we know of your hurt and pain in seeing Dylan's failing health. We know it is frustrating when there is nothing you can do for him other than to just be there. I (Larry)know when Regina was so sick with the MRSA last year that God saw to it that the song "Sometimes He calms the storm, and sometimes He calms the child" was on the radio the 2 most crucial nights back-to-back that I was driving home from the hospital. It was just what I needed to hear on those nights. We are so sorry that all of you are going through this. Unfortantely, we do live in a fallen world where even believers have to face that effects of decaying bodies and the ravages of disease. We pray along with you that Dylan's suffering would be kept to a minimum. We love you guys and mat God's comfort be with you and His love shine down upon you.

Love the Lee's

Anonymous said...

Gary, Debbie, Jill and Bernard:

We thank the Lord for the privilege to come up and see you and the rest of the family. Sorry we could not stay longer. The few hours we spent with you all were so precious. Our hearts are feeling your pain and we continue to pray for God's grace to help you through this difficult time. We pray also that Dylan will not continue to suffer.

We love you all so very much.

Tony, Kayanne, Mindy and the Russell Hill Baptist Church family

Anonymous said...

Gary and Debbie,
You are surely in my thoughts and prayers. Knowing you are losing a loved one to the Lord is so hard yet so reassuring. Keep your focus on God and He alone will carry you thru it all. Just know that your Wake Cross Roads family loves all 3 of you as you have endeared yourselves to so many here.
Becky Maye

Anonymous said...

Gary and Debbie,

I just wanted to let you know how much your family means to me. I love you all dearly. Please know that you are in my constant thoughts and prayers.

Fonda Brown

Anonymous said...

Dear Gary & Debbie,

We have been praying for Dylan and you all for some time now. We are praying God's strength be yours as you trust and give your son fully to the Lord's waiting arms. The lyrics to this Stephen Curtis Chapman song really seem appropriate for your situation....

"With Hope" by Stephen Curtis Chapman
1 Thess. 4:13-14 / Heb. 6:9, 10:23

"This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope"

We pray His perfect timing, His perfect peace, His perfect comfort, and His very presence be yours as you remember that He loves and cares for you and Dylan more than anyone ever has or ever will.

In Christ's Love,
Scott & Leia

Anonymous said...

Gary and Debbie,
Dylan has been on our hearts these past few days. Our spirits are grieving with yours as we pray that God will cover you with his love and grant you peace.

Love,

Brian and Bonnie Horton

Anonymous said...

Even when we don't understand, we have to trust in the Lord with all our heart, knowing His character and how much He loves his children. So thankful you have been surrounded by family and friends, interceding to the Father on your behalf. We are praying your requests for Dylan and thinking of you constantly.
Love,
Linda

Anonymous said...

Dear Gary, Debbie, and Dylan,
Please know how much I was honored by the special time last night of sharing with you. What a blessing you are in seeing you minister to the medical staff by your words of faith and assurance in our Lord and His timing. Dylan is a very blessed young man by your love and devotion for him as he continues in this fight. We are blessed daily by your strength as you care for Dylan. As our Lord continues to rain His strength on you please know we are lifting you in prayer constantly.
We love you are cherish you in our lives.
Jay and Kim

The Joneses said...

Hi Mrs. Debbie and Mr. Gary,
We just wanted to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers! We do pray that God will continue to be your strength and song during this hard time! We have heard from so many that He is shining through you in such an amazing way, so we pray that in the midst of everything His light will continue to shine amazingly through you all as so many have said it has been! We love you and hope to give you a hug soon!

To God be the Glory,
Tara, Jared and Eden Jones

Katie P said...

Gary and Debbie,

Thank you so much for your testimony of faith as you continue to look to God for strength to get through this difficult time. What a blessing you and Dylan have been to us!! It was great seeing you on Saturday, if only it were under better circumstances. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. May God continue to give you peace and strength for the days ahead. We love you all!!

Drew, Katie and Evie Pearce

Shannon Bradley said...

We wish we could be there now. Thank you for your love and trust in Christ. We are thinking about yall every hour it seems. We are praying God's peace and comfort to cover you heavily.
Love,
Ross, Shannon, Luke and David

Anonymous said...

Just want ya'll to know that I am thinking about you and praying for you all and that I love ya'll. Penny

Anonymous said...

Gary & Debbie,

Keeping your needs before the Lord.

My heart goes out to you as you go through this valley.

I pray you continue to find Christ's nearness a comfort in your moments and your days.

May the Lord, continue to teach us to persevere in faith and to trust Him for the outcome. For we don't know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds our tomorrow.

Because He Lives
Peggy L.

Anonymous said...

You are in our thoughts and prayers during these very difficult days. We trust God's Word to send you fresh mercy each day. Though you can't see past today, we know that God's great love will never fail you!
The Southerlands
For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion according to the greatness of his unfailing love."
Lamentations 3:22-26; 31-32 (NLT)

Anonymous said...

Gary and Debbie,
Just wanted to let you know I think of you and pray daily. I know it's easier for me and everyone else to say these things because I know for myself I don't know what you guys are going through. My heart goes out for you. Dylan is just a couple of years older than Neal and I just couldn't imagine dealing with what you are facing. I do know God comforts and is an awesome God.

May God bless you,
Phyllis Hufstetler