God is carrying us. He is using our family, church family and friends. God is also carrying us by His promises which were precious last week and tested and precious this week.
So many people say to us, "I don't know what to say...." We understand that, but calls, notes and visits are eloquent all the same. We don't know how to begin to thank everyone for their expressions of love and support. Thank you, anyway.
I have been keeping some notes in a journal, but I won't be blogging much here until next week, at least. Some of you may see strength when you see us and hear from us, but please know that we are very human. We run through the full range of emotions, but God is our refuge and strength. If you see any strength in us, understand that the glory is God's alone.
He, most of all, is carrying us.
P.S. For those of you that notice such things, I changed the date of this post. It is actually Wednesday at about 10:40, but I want to keep Emily's picture up top. If anyone knows how I can do this more elegantly, let me know in the comments.
40 comments:
Hi Terry,
I'm not sure if you remember me, I am Amy the youngest of the Salzmans.
Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. I know the Lord is with you and praise Him that we can turn to him in our time of need.
In response to your p.s. on your recent post. The best way to make your post about Emily a 'sticky post' is to set the date of that post as far into the future as you can.
If you have any questions on how to do that please feel free to send me an email.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for the tip, and I do remember all of you Salzmans. The Summer of '85 stands out in my memory!
Hi Terry!
After I learned of Emily's death yeasterday morning I went to Regent College for the day, my normal day-off routine. They have chapel on Tuesdays, led by a gifted woman who I have known for many years. I was thinking of you all the way out to UBC, reflecting on the fact that is was you who introduced me to the Regent Library all those years ago when I would sit on the back of your motorbike for a trip out to UBC.
One of their profs just lost his wife to cancer a little over a week ago, and the program for the chapel service still reflected their collectivew grieving over her passing. As I sat down and looked at the songs and scriptures, I was overcome with a sense of your need for the message of hope that I saw there. I prayed that whatever God revealed to me through that chapel time, whether a scripture or a thought, would somehow be carried by God's Spirit from my heart to yours and Juanita's as I try to grapple with how I can stand with you and your family in this diffucult time. The chapel leader spoke of some 6 or so babies that were part of the Regent student family as well as a nuymber of students who were grieving. She eloquently spoke of the mysteries of life and death and ended with the assurance that ultimately, "all shall be well... all shall be well."
In the meantime, as you said in your last blog, we remember that we are human and will go through the whole range of emotions.
With that in mind, I want to share with you the words of a song we sung together yesterday:
1. Though the fig tree does not bud
There are no grapes on the vine
Though the olive crop has failed
And the field produce no food
I will Lift Your Name
2. Though my eyes can't see the way
And this valley seems so deep
In this trial I thank You, Lord
For Your peace which cares for me
I will lift Your Name
3. All I have is from Your hand
And its Yours to take away
In all things You work for good
In all things I'll praise Your Name
I will lift Your Name.
Terry and Juanita, and all of you gathered together there in grief; Tina and I stand with you from this distance, and pray continually for the peace that passes all understanding to flood over you and remind You of God's great love for you.
Brad
Thanks, Brad
We've been working through the Minor Prophets lately and that first verse is from the end of Habakkuk. William Cowper's Sometimes a Light Surprises includes those verses as well.
Terry,
We are grieving with you and praying fervently for you! I too am a Salzman--Jessica--and this tragedy hits hard as I remember your passion and enthusiasm.
Know that your family is in the prayers of Christians everywhere and that although we cannot possibly carry your grief--we will continue to beg the Lord to carry you.
With love and prayers,
Jessica Parnell (Salzman)
Terry and Juanita,
We're all praying for you continually on ClassEd, entrusting you to the mighty hands of our Saviour, so thankful for your vibrant faith and deep roots into the precious Gospel.
Regarding keeping Emily's picture at the top of your blog, you can copy it and your post into a new gadget or two at the top of your sidebar. Then you'd be free to post without the extra step of changing the date of your posts.
By His Grace Alone,
Lynne Spear, of Arizona & ClassEd Isle
Dear Stauffer Family,
I took Latin with Emily at The Potter's School. I thought you would like to see a tribute that I have made for Emily.
(click here)
We will be praying for your family to help you through this time.
God Bless you!
Katherine
Dear Terry and Family,
My name is Gladys(Lehman)Rude, I am your Father first cousin, Though I'm sure you do not Know me.My Husband Lars and I want to express how very bad we feel for your tremendous loss. Our Church, Salem at Tofield is praying for you all there in Edson. May God's love and peace surround and enfold you.
My brother,
My heart aches for you and your family. I had just finished preparing a message on Psalm 73 and came across your latest post. I trust that you don't mind if I can share it with our people. May our great God and glorious Saviour be the strength of your heart and your portion forever. To God be the glory!
Love in the Truth,
Trevor
To ensure that Emily's picture continues to be posted at the top of the blog,
(1) Log into your account.
(2) Click on the "Dashboard" link at the top right of the page.
(3)You will be on the "Settings" tab page.
(4)To the right of the "Settings" Tab is the "Layout" tab. Click on it.
(5)On the left side click the "Add a Gadget" link. Scroll down to "Picture." Then, choose where you're adding a picture from (your computer or online).
(6) To place the picture in the center top of your blog, once the picture is added/uploaded, a box will appear. Drag the box to the large, center area.
If it doesn't work or if you have questions, send me a message.
May you continue to find your strength in the Lord/your dependence on Him. May this trial be an opportunity to honor and glorify our Lord and Savior, and be used to draw people to Christ.
"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians 4:6
Just to add to what Avary said about keeping that post at the top of your page: You can do the same with the text of your blog by repeating steps all the steps, but in step 5 scroll down to "Text". Copy and paste the text of your post here. Then you can move that beneath the picture of Emily, before your posts.
Pastor Terry, Juanita and family,
I just wanted to let you know that my wife and I have been thinking of you and praying for you. We will continue to do this in the days, weeks and years to come.
Daniel, Heather and Hayden Greiner
Christ is the only sure, certain and good thing in this world. I am grateful for your faith while I am sorry for your loss. I trust you to God and just want you to know I hold you and your family up to God.
Sincerely,
Barbara James
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Hello Terry and Family,
I was momentarily a schoolmate of Terry at Northwest back in 84-86...
So, you most likely won't remember me... However, as a sister-in the Lord I feel compelled to let you know I'll be praying for you and your family. Only the Master knows your pain, so I won't even try to pretend I do. But, I do know HE is carrying you even though it is difficult to see it.
I'm reminded of a song that has been especially significant to me---His Strength is Perfect by CeCe Winans. The chorus: His strength is perfect when our strength is gone...
He'll carry us when we can't carry on... Raised in His power, the weak become strong... His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect... This song has been significant to me since my mom was diagnosed with dementia and manic depression and my dad was battling throat cancer last year.-Katrina
Hello Terry and Juanita,
We are so very sorry for the loss of your Emily. You don't know us but as fellow believers in Jesus Christ (we attend First Baptist in Salmon Arm, BC), we just wanted to lay our hands upon you and Juanita and pray for you, your family and friends, that the Lord would comfort you all and give you the peace which passes all understanding. You will be reunited with Emily again someday and although her journey on this earth has been cut short, she lives on in the presence of her Lord and Saviour.
We will keep you in our prayers,
Bob and Lena Arkell
A verse from a song keeps coming to mind and I wanted to share it with you.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future.
I can face uncertain days because He lives!
Randy and I are keeping your family in our prayers. I don't know if we will be able to give you a hug tomorrow but we will be there to celebrate Emily's life with God. Cheryl
I am complete stranger to you, but I feel like a part of you in that I lost my daughter two years ago and my heart breaks with you as you walk this valley. I want to tell you to treasure those wonderful God moments where He distinctly lets you know that He has you in the palm of His hands. I can tell of of how God carried us and blessed us through the most painful experience of our lives, but then I would have to send you my personal journal.
For now I want to give you these words:
You who swell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge My Rock in Whom I trust."
And He will raise you up on Eagles wings,
Bear you on the Breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hands.
I know the bittersweet of it all and am praying for you. God is Good especially in the valley.
Hi,
My mother and I have been trying to place you since we heard of your tragedy, as we are related to stauffers, we looked it up in the Joseph and Barbara Stauffer book. It turns out you and I are second cousins through both my father and my mother, if the book is correct and we think it is.
We are so sorry for your loss and for the fact that we don't know you better. But our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and we pray that God will continue to give you strength for the days ahead. My sister was killed in a farming accident when we were young, so my mother has great empathy for what you are going through. It was different, but it is still a loss. God is good and can sustain you.
Take care of yourselves and continue to bask in His presence... Rose (Lehman) Borkent... hrbork@telus.net
I have read your blog often and been blessed many times by it. Because we lived west of Edmonton I felt you were a 'voice from home'. We had heard the tragic news and prayed for the family involved, not knowing it was you.
God IS faithful even when we cannot see His hand - we can still trust His heart.
You will be in my prayers.
Eunice
Terry & Juanita
We wish we could be there with you, you are in our thoughts & prayers. I am glad Dad was able to make the trip west to be with the family.
I am posting a poem that my daugher Amanda has written for you and posted to the facebook memorial site, hopefully you can find comfort in her words.
Today I saw a Dove
It seemed a small and fragile thing
And then it showed its power and grace
As it took to its wing
AS it glided to the Heavens
So beautiful and free
All notions of its frailness were gone
As I saw how swift and powerful it could be
And then a tear fell down my face
Because I thought of you
When I saw your smiling picture
You seemed so small and fragile too
But now that you've taken flight
Guided to Heaven on an Angels wing
I see the truth of who you were,
A strong, Graceful and Powerful thing
Although some brutal animal took you away
Your beautiful spirit and faith remain
And it is the power of who you were
That will carry us through our pain
So rest now Beautiful Emily
with God in Heaven Above
But know you will be thought of often
With Admiration and Love
Love Always
Beth & Kevin Orr
I didn't know your Emily, or your family before this tragedy happened but I wanted to let you know I am constantly thinking of your family. I am so sorry for your loss.
As, for the Ps. on the bottom of this post, You can add a picture of Emily that will always be on the sidebar, where your profile is.. To do that go to Dashboard, Layout, Add a Gadget, Scroll down and there is the option to add a picture.
Last night while we prayed in Bible study for your family, the lord gave me Psalm 94, which I believe is very appropriate.
1O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
2Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
6They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
18When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
23And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
Dear Terry, Juanita and Family,
My husband is the youth pastor at Maple Ridge Baptist Church in Maple Ridge, BC. I think I may have met you once or twice and have had a number of encounters with Juanita over the last decade or so, mainly through Sunnybrae. My three kids played with Petra and Anna two or three years ago for a week at Sunnybrae when my husband was speaking and Juanita was volunteering. Your family made an impression on me back then because your little girls were such good kids and my own kids had a blast with them.
It's funny how those impressions come flooding back during a time such as this. Words are simply inadequate to express how sorry we are for your loss. You've left a trail throughout the Fellowship wherever you've been that beckons others, like us to follow because you and your family have been such a shining example of faith. I'm sure that faith is being put to the test now, and I pray that your faith will carry you all through the days, months and years ahead. I know that while everyone else carries on with life as usual your grief will carry on. Eventually the wound may scar and fade but it's always there and so my family's prayer for you is that our Lord Jesus Christ will sustain you through every single stage of the healing process for the rest of your lives.
Jenny Schweyer
I just came back to let you know that I'm still praying for you and thinking of your family.
May God's loving kindness continue to carry you through this difficult time.
Kim
Dear Stauffer Family,
I am thinking of you a lot these days. While I'm thankful to have moved from Edson before these horrible things happened I am also saddened by your loss and fearful for my friends that remain there, until this monster is apprehended.
Take care of one another.
T
Dear Stauffer Family,
Sending prayers from North Carolina to Heaven on your behalf.
In Christ,
David
Dear Terry & Juanita
I am Bonnie & Darryl's Aunt, Damian (my son) was the ringbearer along with Emily as the flowergirl at their wedding.
Our hearts break for you and your family at this time. I think about your other children more and more as the days go by. I spent half of the night talking to Damian about the "why" the other night and I cannot imagine how you feel having to explain it to a 16,9,and 7 year old.
I pray that you both will have the strength to honour your daughters memory and move on, and have the strength to be able to continue being awesome parents to the other three.
Take Care
Marlene Pannenbecker
Terry and Juanita,
Your testimony during all this is a wonderful thing. Thank you for that.
Praying for you today, the day of Emily's funeral.
Terry,Juanita
and kids
I was so amazed and blessed today as my brother told me the details of Emily's funeral and your testimony of God's love, grace and strength. Our Rock does not shift.
Our prayers and thoughts are continually and constantly with you all as you move forward from this day.
In Him,
Joel and Katie Neustaeter
Juanita and Family,
Please know you are in our prayers -- in the past few days, we recall our time in Edson, when you taught our son music. Little Emily, then 4, was so bright and cheerful, wanting to welcome us and inviting our son to play. She continues to be a ray of sunshine, even now, as so many of us hold her in our hearts in prayer. May God's Blessings be on all of you.
Continuing to pray for you - you are in our prayers.
M. - Martensville, Sask.
To the Stauffer Family,
It is in tragic times like these that the body of Christ should rally together. Please know that Lambrick Park Church in Victoria B.C. is holding your family, and every one affected by Emily's death, in our prayers.
God will sustain your faith day by day, moment and moment, each minute of each day. Only the Holy Spirit can comfort your heart by means of His Word. Grasp the Word and nothing more, only the Words that came from the lips of Jesus. He is the resurrection and LIFE.
Our Sympathy,
Pastor, Humberto and Walkiria Perez,
Miami, Forida, USA
Hello, please know that I am praying for you in Ohio.
To leave Emily's post at the top, go to page layout, add a new text gadget, type in the info, save it and drag it above the post box.
Same with the picture. Add a picture gadget, download her picture, and drag it above the text box you added. This will allow that post to remain at the top regardless of any other posts you make. It turns it into a permanent gadget.
Hope that makes sense.
Blessings in your grief,
Jen
Hey Terry and Juanita.
I am thankful that you are hanging onto God in this horrible time. I am thankful that the media has shown you all to be faithful and loving.
God lost a child too. But thankfully He came back. He WON!!
And now He holds Emily. He holds the baby we lost. I am in no way suggesting that what happened to us will ever be comparable to what you are going through, but I can say that He saves your tears in His hands and he has counted them. He knows how bad your pain is. He understands your loss. We don't. We never will, God willing.
Let Him rock you to sleep at night. He's your Daddy, your Abba Father.
Hang on.
Jennifer Zarifeh Major NBTC Class of '84.
Dear Terry, Juanita and family:
I was shocked when I heard of Emily's death. I remember her as a cute angelic 2 year old angel at SunnyBrae back in the summer of '96. I can't begin to express how much my heart aches for you. I now have a 3 1/2 son. I will keep you in my prayers and know that your faith, family and friends will pull you through this.
SunnyBrae staff member 1996
Dear Stauffers,
I do not know you. Until my eyes fell on the news article of your daughter I had never heard of you. I am provinces away in Ontario. Yet I can not stop thinking about Emily. I found myself drawn to learning more about this amazing girl who built her strength on the Lord. I joined a group on facebook in her memory and check back to see the stories her friends have told about her beauty, strength, and kindness.
Being a new mom myself, I look at these stories and see how I want to raise my daughter. Your beautiful Daughter, though I only know of her from stories, has now become a role model for my family. Even though it is her death that has caused me to learn about her, it is her life that has changed mine.
I am praying for you and your family every day.
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