It is with mixed emotions that I write this...a heavy heart and one that is filled with joy. My father, Leslie Paul, is in a better place. At 3:05 on August 17th, Les took his final breath with Mom, Natalie and I holding his hands. There was no pain, just a last breath during a prayer Natalie was giving.
On the 17th. So many people predicted it would be today. For those of you that don't know the story of 17 with Mom and Dad, here is brief rundown... Les was born on June 17th. Carolyn's birthday is April 17th. Their first official date was on August 17th - 51 years ago today. They got engaged on October 17, and married on April 17th. 17 has shown up in their lives in license plates, addresses, football jerseys, etc. Les knew Mom was a "numbers person" and this would make a fantastic ending to a wonderful story.
There are no plans made at this time. We ask that you remember Les with a smile, as he was so quick to give one to other people.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow what a wonderful story about the 17th. Les is pain free, cancer free and probably playing a round of golf but he will be missed dearly by all of us.
ReplyDeleteWe will be praying for your family during this difficult time.
God Bless
Karen and Jeff Kasuske and Family
Love the numbers story..and again, appreciate your bravery and strength to keep us all posted. You all are awesome. Blessings (and sleep) to you all, with tons of love
ReplyDeleteLes is resting in pease in God's hands and we pray you can get some much needed sleep. Your strength and love helped him on his journey. Love Melvin & Estel
ReplyDeleteMy love to you and your family. His fight is over, and what a fight he fought!! God bless you!
ReplyDeletePatti
Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt story. And your right about his smile...when we moved here his smile warmed us and made us feel right at home.
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts are with your family.
Cam and Teri
The 17 story is wonderful, and this blog has been, too. Our love and sympathy to all of you. Heaven has received another angel.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that if Les isn't playing that round of golf, he might just be having a cup of coffee with Dad by now. Our thoughts and prayers continue with you all.
ReplyDeleteYou are all in my thoughts and in my heart. I pray that your strength and memories of Les sustain you.
ReplyDeleteGeorgia
Carolyn and families,
ReplyDeleteOur deepest sympathy and love are being sent to you. Les is with our Lord and Savior. We will remember his great smile.
Carolyn I will vist your Mother again today.
Love to all,
Jan
My deepest sympathy to you all. Les was a great man and he was loved by a wonderful family. My heart goes out to you.
ReplyDeleteMartha
My deepest sympathy to the whole family. It's tough to see him go but relief to know that he is in a perfect place without cancer. Thank you so much for the blogs, you did such a fabulous job and it was much appreciated. What a cool "17" story. Our prayers will continue to be with you.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
Wow what a story about the number 17 ....again makes me smile. Just want you all to surround yourself with your favorite memories of Les as you adjust to life without him...times that he possibly made you laugh ...important life lessons that you learned from him and maybe even a time or two that he made you cry..I have learned that when someone you love becomes a memory that memory becomes a treasure and what memories we all have of Les..God bless each of you at this time and remember we all are here for you....thanks for the time you took to keep us all informed......The Elliotts
ReplyDeleteGod be you all now as you and your family relive all the great memories that you have. What an angel God has in this realm! May you all receive the blessings that only HE can provide. I pray for your strenght and calm that HE will give you. The Holloways
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry for your loss. God be with you all during this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always.
ReplyDeleteDon/Joyce K.
Such an amazing story about 17! I do remember that about you Carolyn...just another sweet spot to add to the whole thing. I am sending love and prayers your way. You will always be such a special person to me and I love you so very much. It has been such a bitter sweet thing to follow this journey the last few days, but I am so glad to know that Les is in a better place with no pain. Love and prayers.
ReplyDeleteOur deepest sympathy to you all. The joy comes only in knowing he is walking with God on those golden streets, pain free.(maybe it is a golden fareway for Les) The blog has been wonderful and I am sure a very hard thing to do at times, but we all appreciated it. What a great numbers story! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKent and Roxanne
Our hearts have been with you all for so long. May you find peace with the end of his suffering and his new beginning in the kingdom of God. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteDave & Sue L.
May God's Peace be with all of you !
ReplyDeleteTake care of each other...
Thoughts & Prayers continue your way !
The (Dave & Rose) Starns' Family
I am so happy Les is able to settle into his new Home pain free and whole again. I love the story of '17' and it has to be the reason he waited until today. I know you all have peace and will continue to pray for strength during these very difficult days.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for keeping us all informed on the blog during this painful journey. You are an amazing family!
Much love!
Jodi
Carolyn and family;
ReplyDeleteWe are sorry for your loss, but happy for the thought that you had a man like Les enriching your lives. He will be greatly missed.
Elaine and Sarah
Our prayers and thoughts have been with Les, Carolyn and their wonderful family during the long journey. Knowing the "17" stories we, too, thought about that number appearing again. Thanks for detailing that. The blog is more than awesome. We are grateful for your keeping us close and sharing with us. We're remembering you.
ReplyDeleteLloyd & Sharon Scarrow
Lloyd & Sharon Scarrow
Carolyn and family, We want you to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Blessing and Peace to all of you. Tom & Kathy Weichel
ReplyDeleteCarolyn & Girls,
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and please take some time now to get some much needed rest.
WHERE HEAVENLY ANGELS SING
Do not mourn too long;
I am soaring on angels wings.
It is such a beautiful place here;
I am where Heavenly Angels Sing.
Please, shed no more tears for me;
I have the most glorious of things,
Only through the Grace of God I dwell,
where Heavenly Angels Sing.
Live every day of your life to its fullest;
find strength in what life's obstacles bring.
It's a far far better place where I am at;
I find great peace here, where the Angels sing.
Take not a thing for granted;
enjoy all of life's magical things.
In time we shall meet again
where Heavenly Angels Sing.
My prayer for you, is no more sorrow.
To find solace, for I am with my King.
Praise our Lord each and every day;
I am now a Heavenly Angel that sings.
Author Unknown
Love & God Bless,
Sheri Buck
Our hearts go out to you. Its a sad sad day but also wonderful that your family shares so much love, that you were together at the end, and that your faith, family, and friends are with you. We love you. Janet, Brett, Jesse and Kelsey.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn & family,
ReplyDeleteSo many good memories - we couldn't begin to count them all! We are devastated to realize that he will not be with us to share the good times ahead, but we thank God for the wonderful years we did have together and for the peace he now has.
Love and hugs,
Chris & Linda
You're in our prayers (17 letters!). What a wonderful story that will be told over and over and over by many. Bless you all!
ReplyDeleteThe Bohns
May your entrie family find comfort in knowing that Les is loving his new life with our Heavenly Fathler.
ReplyDeletemuch love
Annette
I have goosebumps and tears. The world has lost a wonderful person. Nic, I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteChristy
My heart is filled with deepest gratitude and loss. Thank you Nikki for sharing these intimate moments with us. It has kept me in touch when I live miles away. Thank you so much. We all face what Carolyn and Les have gone through and I hope that we all may feel and receive the outpouring of love and blessings expressed on this blog site.
ReplyDeleteI am sad for the loss of a truly good, kind and considerate man, for whom I deeply respected and considered my friend. I am sad for our loss and at the same time I know this is a new and glorious beginning for Les. Thank you God.
My heart goes out to his beloved Carolyn and my beloved friend, for whom I wish I could do something…. Anything to ease her pain. I love you, and I hurt for you.
Dearest Carolyn, I know you will be given the strength to go through the motions of what needs to be done in the next couple of days or weeks….. When things settle down perhaps in a few months from now, and you need a friend I can be there in a heartbeat.
Love, Blessings and Peace be upon you and your loved ones.
Glenda
All of you gave Les such a wonderful gift--total love and care. You were in our thoughts constantly over the week-end. May strength and peace help you through the difficult days ahead. Love~~Mila and Dean
ReplyDeleteMay all your wonderful memories bring you peace and comfort.
ReplyDeleteLove & Prayers,
Mary Morrissey
Carolyn & Family
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your loss and will be thinking of you. Jan got me started reading the blog and I am so thankful I did.
Joleen (Zab)
Carolyn,, So Sorry,, not only for Les but, also for you and your whole family. Was just thinking back about highschool days. If i remember correctly,, i believe Les gave you his class ring the very next day after he had gotten it. You two were always such a great couple.
ReplyDeleteA CLASSMATE,,
TEDz.,,
Carolyn and Family,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of your Great Loss. What Les is experiencing now, is more than we can comprehend.
We will certainly continue to keep you in our prayers.
Love in Jesus,
Sharon & Roger Russell
Carolyn, Nikki and family,
ReplyDeleteYou all have our deepest sympathy. As I walked at 5:30 this morning - I thought of Les and his early morning walks. We are very honor that we knew him. Thank you, Nikki, for sharing with all of us this last few months. It was very appreciated. Please take care.
Jeff, LuAnn, Kyle and Travis Laughlin
Les was always a great individual for me to talk with over the years! Learned a lot and always respected his opinions on many subjects. Nik you did a outstanding job on the blog update and i think it was a really neat deal how you shared so many great stories. Your folks were always perfect together! Les was a terrific guy! Hang in there and GOD BLESS! Brian Reid and family
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, Nat & Nikki:
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts and prayers are with you and your extended family. Having lost both of our fathers in the past couple of years, we know the void this will bring. BUT, rest assured the memories will linger on forever, the stories, jokes, and the love will always be present.
So sorry to hear about Les passing away. You are all in our hearts and our prayers.
ReplyDeleteLove you lots, Connie, Randy, Nate & Cooper McWilliams
You have been incredibly blessed even though this happened way too fast and way too soon. I have appreciated these posts so much. Thank you for sharing with many of us who care about and love your family. Prayers will continue...
ReplyDeleteCarolyn and family. We know Les is with His Heavenly Father now and we also know that God is with you holding you in His arms and holding your hand as you mourn. There are so many of us who would love to be there with you now; but it isn't possible, but know that we are all there with you in spirit and love. What you and Les had was so very special and those memories will bring you joy and comfort in the coming months. Please know you can call and we will be there for you. Now may God's peace and love sustain you throughout the coming days. Wanda Dissmeyer
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful numbers story! Thanks so very much for keeping us informed about your journey. Les is standing strong and whole now-- golf bag in tow.
ReplyDeleteYou will continue to be in our prayers!
Love,
Wendy and Tim Hughes
This is the Day that the Lord has made!
ReplyDeleteLet Us rejoice and be glad in it.
What a perfect ending to a perfect marriage for a perfect couple.
Carolyn, friend, and Les, grade school friend
you have been blessed. Unbelieveable that you
have been together 51 years.
Take care of yourself and your girls and give your blessings to God for all you have been given.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Barb & Raymond
Carolyn & family,
ReplyDeleteOur hearts were saddened as we read the blog today. What can one say except that you and your family are constantly in our thoughts and prayers that God will give you the strength to get through this extremely difficult time. The "17 story" was such a neat story and you do have many good memories of your wonderful marriage. We have read the blog since April and thanks go to you and your daughters for sharing that. That must have been very hard to do the last few days. Sending our love and sympathy to all of you.
Classmate,
Joyce & Bob DeBoer
Thoughts and prayers are with all of you!! Girls, I know what you are going through. It's not easy. Keep the stories and memories alive in your hearts!!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, God will give you strength and comfort to get through this.
God Bless!
Shari Nygren and family
Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteMay God bless your family and comfort you in this sorrowful time. We will continue to keep all of you in our prayers.
With Love,
Joel, Diane, Halle and Nick Starns
P.S. The number "17" story is wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Carolyn and family,
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much for letting all of us share in your stories. Les gave us so much here on earth...heaven is lucky to have such a wonderful man. We will miss him, he always started our days off with so much joy and kindness!
Dennis, Cheri & the Cheri O's staff