For Alyson

[orvet]

Farwell, my Love, you're gone too soon,
You're the rose that in my heart did bloom.

You tilled the soil of my heart,
And promised "till death do we part."

But death came too soon,
And plucked from my heart, your lovely bloom.

My world now seems more gray,
I've lost the color that brightened my day.

I asked God why she had to die?
His healing came in His reply.

My son, in My hand I hold your tears,
I know your doubts and all your fears.

My mystery you can't understand,
My ways and purpose are too grand.

Your life and tears I hold in my hand,
But you can't see what I have planned.

I formed you in your mother's womb,
For your welfare, not your doom.

She, in your life, was my grace,
Soon, we will meet face to face.

She made your heart turn more to me,
Her work is finished, now she is free.

No more sorrow, toil, and pain,
Her heavenly home she has gained.

My son, you too will walk this veil,
But keep your faith, you must not fail.

Sufficient is my grace, you know,
she helped you and others grow.

Now, she lives in heavenly peace,
All her pain and striving ceased.

Those she left must carry on,
For soon is coming My new dawn.

Though this world may war and groan,
I have prepared for you My heavenly home.

Dale Vincent  -  8/10/24

[bestgear]

Simply beautiful Dale

[treefarmer]

Wonderful tribute!
You have expressed all our exitances in your blessed expression of your love of God and your dear Miss Alyson.
We should take your words to heart.
Thank you, Dale, for allowing us another view of your life.
Treefarmer

[glennbad]

That's lovely...

[Duffer]

Wonderful loving tribute to your Allyson! My very deepest of sympathies and my heart felt prayers of comfort.

[Froe]

Beautiful tribute.
Froe

[herbva]

Dale, as others have said, that poem is an incredibly beautiful and loving tribute to Alyson. My heart and prayers go out to you my friend.
Herb

[dlr110]

Such beautiful words and tribute to Alyson. Bless you my brother.

[stockman]

God Bless you Dale.

Harold

[Case V42]

So sorry for your loss.

[Reverand]

Very beautiful words, honoring a Godly woman and a happy marriage.
Just know that many of us will keep praying for you, Dale.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

[tongueriver]

My heart goes out to you, Dale.

[wlf]

Again, we love you here Dale.

[1967redrider]

Condolences, Dale, so sorry to read this.

[orvet]

Thank you guys. Your prayers and words of encouragement mean so much!
I have had more support than I could ever have imagined. Support from family, friends, church and a great deal of from here in AAPK. I have had phone calls from around the world as well as here in the U.S. It is so nice to know that so many people are thinking about you and praying for you. I hope you all are never in the same position as I find myself now, but if you do find yourself in such a position, I pray you have such amazing and supportive friends!
Good bless you all.

[bighomer]

Wonderful tribute, Dale. I'll keep you in my prayers.

[Meridian_Mike]

Beautiful words that are obviously from your heart!
God has Alyson safely in His arms now. Take comfort in that fact.
I know you have an empty chair in your earthly home. That hurts us when we can't see our loved one.
I pray for you every evening that God may be able to comfort you, since you must remain here on earth for a while longer.
You will see Alyson again one day. She waits for you in God's kingdom.
God bless you brother.

[orvet]

Thank you all for the encouraging words you posted here. Thank you for your prayers, they are definitely helpful as I walk down a path I've never been on before.
The Lord is always faithful and He is faithful to me in this time as well.
Alyson touched many lives in her sojourn on this earth as a wife, mother, grandmother,  great grandmother, youth pastor, friend, and as case manager in many social programs, including the Teen Mothers program. I know she influenced many young people in her 14 years as the youth pastor in a small town on the Oregon coast.

We are having a Celebration of Life for Alyson on September 2nd, her birthday. Our church will live stream the service so our friends around the world can watch.

I am slowly adjusting to a house without Alyson, just me and our two dogs. We are all three missing her! God is faithful and has brought many family and friends around to help me in this trying time.
There are a million things to do and more pages of paperwork to fill out than I thought possible. I am slowly making progress, I think. Eventually, I hope to get back to doing some knife work as things settle down.

Thank you all for your prayers.
Good bless you all.

[bestgear]

Our church will live stream the service

if you so desire Dale, please share the link to the service, I’m sure I speak for many who would like to attend Alyson was a beautiful woman in so many ways that it’s easy to see why she is so loved

[orvet]

Thank you Tom.
I'm meeting tomorrow with the person who coordinates that at our church. Perhaps then I will get the link.

[Reverand]

I would also like to watch the service. And thank you for sharing her picture, Dale. She had such a beautiful smile! I know that a lot of people in Heaven are enjoying being with her right now!

[orvet]

I'm sorry I didn't get this link posted earlier for those of you who wanted to watch Alyson's Celebration of Life service live. I had trouble getting the link down correctly.
Our church has posted it to their Youtube channel, and you can watch it at the link below.

The service really was a celebration of Alyson's life and not what you would think of as a funeral service. There were lots of stories from her life before she and I met when she was a youth pastor. Many of the kids from her youth group were there and shared what she had meant in their lives. There were family members from as far away as New York and Alaska, people she had worked with Alyson at the Oregon Dept of Human Services, people from the Oregon Knife Collectors Association,  and some of our neighbors and old friends.
It was a beautiful celebration of a life well lived!
Feel free to watch at the link below and share the link if you so desire.

Thank you all for your many prayers for Alyson and I as she battled cancer for the last 3 years of her life.

God bless you all,
Dale

https://youtube.com/live/r5Au1oUSR8s?feature=share

FYI, the first 4 minutes are just piano music if you wish to skip it.

[cudgee]

Been offline for a while, just found out about your loss. Has been along battle for both of you, not much of a condolence but her suffering has now ended, so sorry for you loss.

[bestgear]

It was a beautiful celebration of a life well lived!

Thank you, my brother, I've already set aside some quiet time this afternoon with a box of Kleenex to watch

[dlr110]

Thank you Dale for letting us pray and share this journey with you and Alyson. I know it's been so very hard for you but I personally have been blessed by seeing your steadfast faith in our Heavenly Father and your unconditional devotion to Alyson. May God pour out His bountiful blessing on you and may you find peace and encouragement in His Holy Word.
Cheryl and I will surely watch the video today.