A Note From Me, Shellyrose

Thankyou so much for all the support and lovely cards. The outreach of love is so so kind. I'm so glad Bruce and I had his last month of life together 24/7. We had some wonderful talks and many of laughs, I don't regret staying with him. But, now I'm home alone, no Bruce and no more visits. It is hitting me hard now that I know I'm left with memories only and yet I'm so glad I have some wonderful memories to forever hold on to.
Did you know if you go on the enternet and type in: mlive.com then grand rapids MI then obitauaries then Bruce Steegstra then search, it will bring you to our personal guest book. I would love it if you took the time to write a story of Bruce and or something that you experienced by reading our story on the blog. This sure will help fill the void of my alone time. I am trying to get creative on how to keep busy. Writting our story in book form, crafts, and taking my motorized wheel chair out and about garage saleing. On a good day I can make 18 miles. But it is a challange when the bags pile up on your lap to when the uncoming traffic thinks of you as a mound of bags sitting curb side waiting for trash day. Oh the looks you get when you supprise them when the pile of trash moves. Hey thats life for now until I get one again.
Love ya
Shellyrose

The Other Story

For some time now, all the posts have updated you about Bruce. Of course, Shelly's story is not complete. We will update you soon on some of the things she has postponed since Bruce took a turn for the worse. But she still needs our prayers and she still has an incredibly inspiring story.

So to pump her up for the comeback, and to remind us all of what we are praying for, please enjoy this video:

Funeral Recap

For those of you who couldn't join us, Bruce's funeral was a fitting tribute to a wonderful man. Pastor Lee from the Hospice celebrated the occasion to a packed room at the funeral home. One of Bruce's nurses, Virginia, shared 4 songs a capella she used to sing for Bruce at his bedside, including his favorite, In the Garden. Wow! What an amazing voice. After the funeral, guests enjoyed a luncheon and continued sharing stories for about 2 hours.

Bruce was laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery. The Air Force honored Bruce's service in Vietnam by providing an Honor Guard detail for the burial service. Shelly was presented with the flag at a touching and beautiful ceremony.

Shelly did very well. She wants to thank everyone for their time, cards, flowers and most especially their prayers.

Funeral Details

Bruce's funeral and visitation will be at:

Stroo Funeral Home

1095 68th St. SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49508

616-455-9280

View Larger Map

Thursday September 3

Visitation 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Visitation 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Friday September 4

Visitation 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Visitation 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Saturday September 5

Funeral 10:30 am

Luncheon Immediately Following

Burial Service 2:00 pm at

Resurrection Cemetery

4100 Clyde Park Ave.

Wyoming, MI 49509

Click for Map

God Took Bruce by the Hand Today

Bruce Andrew Steegstra

1946-2009

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful

and endures through every circumstance.

1 Cor. 13:7

Today, September 2, 2009 at 6:00 am, God called Honey's name and he answered. Bruce fought to hang on and tried to survive with all his might. His love for me was obvious - he tried so hard to extend our journey.

Rest now my love. You have shown great strength and love for the Lord, your friends, your family and me. Now rest in his peace until our journey picks up once again.

Here is a poem I wrote and shared with Bruce recently:

My Honey, My Love

I love you enough to let you go,

But before I say goodbye let me

tell you how I love you so.

You held my hand as we walked,

And you wrapped your arms around me until we became one.

That is the safest place in my world.

You brushed my hair from my eyes

as you pronounced your forever love for me.

You gave me value as you restored me.

We joked and kidded around from sunrise to sunset

Often realizing we were the only ones still awake.
You leave joy in my heart.

We heard each other snort because we couldn't hold back the laughter any more.

And we took turns drying each other's eyes as the tears flooded from our hearts.
I will never forget your touch.

I ran from the car stroking the casino slots hoping for the big win before you could park the car.
But you are greater than any Grand Prize.
You made my life rich.

As I limped for years trying to find recovery with these knees,
You escorted me to any sale, bargain or craft item rejoicing with me when the hunt was a success
You were my strength when I was weak.

We traveled many roads, hand in hand, seeing God's country.
We applauded God viewing his scenery, storms, waters, and lands with praise and worship -
The three of us intertwined together making the perfect marriage.

I won't allow this final chapter
to cloud our journey, memories and love toward one another.
The refining fire of life has purified us, my love.

God has blessed us through this journey - hasn't he, Honey.
He restored our minds and speech when everything else was broken.
Through his love and grace we shared our hearts, memories and goodbyes.

As my lips give you that last kiss and our hands leave that last touch,
I close my eyes and feel and hear your heart beat in my hand
and will always remember how you said it will beat with love for me from afar.

Now as I . . . . . . . . . . . . .love you
enough to let you . . . . . . . . go , know this :
You will always be my husband, my best friend,
and great lover. We have survived many storms of life
together throughout these 11 years. Hand in hand,
heart to heart, through the happy times and tears.
No matter where life leads us my dearest
Bruce, know it's true, I will spend a
lifetime of tomorrows loving
you. Sweet dreams my
love until we meet
again with all
my love
Dear,
Your
Shelly Rose

Thank you my dear, dear friends, family and prayer warriors for all your support. We will post funeral information here this afternoon.

Love,

Shelly

Keeping You informed

Bruce is still with us. He is comfortable and on very little to no meds. He doesn't even need the comfort meds that allot use to endure this type of journey. He sleeps comfortably the pass 3 days. A nice hand squeeze is most of our communication now. Pray with me as we prepare our hearts in saying our goodbyes. Anyone that knew my Bruce has shared a laugh and has enriched their life by knowing him. He truly has gone through it all and yet kept a gentle heart. We thank you all for your support and prayers and if I could ask one more thing from you all is to help me adjust to living without my Honey.

My knowledge excepts Gods decision without question, but my emotion wants to never let go of Honey's hand. Our hearts have truly become one and now mine is breaking in half. Let us remember that we are because God decided, and we live to fulfill His plan and purpose not ours. We have been blessed to know Bruce and to have shared in his life while he fulfilled his purpose with God and His plans for Bruce. We truly our blessed people for had having our time with Bruce.

So, Thank you God for our time with Bruce and it was a great blessing to watch his life unfold from a child to a full adult as he developed his knowledge of You. Although it is very painful to say good bye to the lifestyle we knew with him in it, we rest in the comfort that we shall meet again. Thank you dear Heavenly Father for never wavering on your word. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, therefore, we know we will share our eternity together. It helps to let our loved one go knowing our good bye is only temporary. We love you Bruce and together we lift you in shielded prayer as we prepare our hearts for this transition of your life to eternal living.

Thank you for your support,
ShellyRose

Just Counting a Few of Our Blessings

Thank you Sister for all the room decorations as you sang," Hugs and Kisses" and all the other gifts that made this journey more comfortable!

Thanks Mom for all the trips to Target, Walmart, Dr's and to go see Bruce.

Thankyou Marilyn for all the flowers throughout many visits.

Thankyou Faith Hospice, Trillium Woods for caring throughout all the details.

Thankyou Deb from Lincoln Square for bring some joy to Bruce.

Thankyou, Thankyou Mark for fighting all the battles for Bruce and I. All the phone calls, meetings and decisions that you made for us so we could heal without concerns. You are a Saint!

Thankyou Ed, Mary, Kate, Heather, and Carrie. All the HOURS you have given us, with no complaints: Advice, pizza dinners, talks on the patios, shopping trips from needs to craft and more craft. Thankyou all so much.

Thankyou Faith for our new friendship. You have been great help and very thoughtful with all your kindness.

Thankyou Carol and Wally, AZ and MI friends, you bring us great joy.

Thankyou Virginia for all the Lullaby's.

Thankyou Paster Mike, and Mel for your visits and song.

True friendship with the joy of cars together,Thankyou Jim for the joy you bring Bruce.

Jim's cars.

Thankyou so much for the pedicures Val.

Thankyou Jim and Norene for all the visits.

Thanks Mom and Wendy for all the outings.

Thankyou Jack and Carolyn for the friendship and prayer blanket. We love you too.

Thankyou Jan for your love support and furniture as I set up house throughout this stay. WOW and also for the 1st cousin support/ Thankyou too Barb, Dan, John and Judy for all you retrieved for us from AZ.

Thankyou Craig and Steve and others for your Spiritual Support.

Happy Hour Again?

Look what happens when I take a nap....Happy Hour.

Natural Beauty, again.

Come on Honey, I believe in YOU! Fight the fight!

Two hearts that beat as one.

We Believe!

Bruce is Leaving Us

It has been an incredible journey since December 6, 2008, but now we see that Bruce is ready for the end. About 3 weeks ago, Bruce moved to a Hospice facility where he could enjoy sharing a room with Shelly, be free from some of the restrictions of a conventional hospital and enjoy some of the things you have seen on the pictures below. This time has given Bruce and Shelly a chance to be a couple again. To have visits that were not scheduled, and share time 24 hours a day. It has given them both a tremendous amount of peace.
They came to hospice willing to accept whatever path the Lord put before them. During these 3 weeks Bruce has shown some areas of incredible improvement. He has been eating and drinking food (within limits). One day he even had a little Dixie cup of beer! He showed an increase in urine output even though he has been off dialysis. So much so his doctors did a blood test to see if there was improvement in his kidneys. There was not. And now the bad days have started outnumbering the good ones. We see that he is preparing to pass.
A couple days ago his temperature was all the way down to 94. It's higher now, but still low. His heart rate is 118. His potassium level is rising. The blessing of all of this is that kidney failure is one of the most pleasant ways to pass on. As certain levels begin to rise he will begin sleeping more and more. (This has begun.) And then when the Lord is ready, his electrical system will just stop and he will be in Heaven. There will be no pain and no struggle.
Bruce and Shelly have talked a lot about what to do over the last month. They also talked about situations like this long before the accident happened. They are both at peace with how this is ending. Please be sure they both hope for and are willing to accept a miracle. But they will allow death to come, if that is God's will.
As things develop, we will let you know here. Thank you for your continued prayers.
So now we pray:

• Go forth, Christian soul, from this world in the name of God the almighty Father, who created you, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who suffered for you, in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you. Go forth, faithful Christian!
  May you live in peace this day, may your home be with God in Zion, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with Joseph, and all the angels and saints.
  May you return to your Creator who formed you from the dust of the earth. May you see your Redeemer face to face. Amen.

God's Blessings on Our Difficult Journey

Thanks to Val and Mark and staff at Faith Hospice, we got Bruce outside to enjoy some fresh air. Just as we settled in we noticed that across the street sat a race car that brought great joy to Bruce. With his love of cars, racing and the sport, God blessed us with this moment of joy. Thank you my dear Heavenly Father for taking care of every thing down to all the details that expresses your love for us.
This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Bruce saw all the detail as his eyes opened wide with joy.

There is a family two doors down from us. Their dog Lynbee excaped and was no where to be found. We didn't know she was missing. We thought she was a theropy dog that came for a visit. Now that Bruce loved up on her, we made friends with Phylis the owner and see Lynbee dailey. Thank you Lord for new friends and the joy your design brings.

Nothing like a good shave. Let's see : down on the sides, up to the chin, but how do you do a chin? Is it left to right? North to South? Can I put my fingers in his mouth to push out the wrinkles? Personally I think it is time to concider a go-tee. Can I use nair hair removal? If I have to smell like after shave, I think Nair makes sence.

P.S.,I forgot to tell you

Honey goes through so much and is still kind, patient and funny. He asked me to read from the Bible each visit, often requesting the book and verse. He shares that his favorite verse is John 14: 6-7. "Jesus answered, " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Mom loves singing to Bruce on her visits. He and her get laughing often.

Bruce tasted some things yesterday. Tomatoe soup, white milk, coffee, water, and even some chocolate milk. Odd choices but who cares. He purred with each new taste. It has been about 6 months since he had any food or beverage by mouth.

Please keep the prayers coming and I would love to here from you too.

Love

Shelly and Bruce

Our First Date in 2009, Therefore we needed many Chaperones

Because I don't know what I'm doing on the computor the pictures came up in reverse. Here we are in the lobby. Brother Ed, Mom, and sister Wendy were with us. Bruce always enjoyed my playing yet somehow the others noticed the time and wanted to go. So was Bruce trapped or in enjoymentof my playing? We may never know.

Bruce shared the best part of his day was hearing me play again. Here is a quarter Honey!

Hey Ed, what was the best part of your day?

Pushing Bruce up hill?

Getting your heels run over by my poor driving?

Or running to the back to see how Mom is holding up?

Or was it having to stop every 2 seconds so we could pose for Wendy?

Any how Bro, thanks a million you never complain and you we couldn't do this journey without our family support.

We're just enjoying nature together.

Boy that bird looks alot like the other one?

Two hearts beat as one!

I Love our Dates!

Marilyn, Bruce's sister, enjoys Sunday with us.