The ship is still at sail with new adventures in life that are better appreciated vicariously than personally. Yesterday’s drilling of three core samples into the pelvis to draw bone marrow samples is not what you would wish for a Friday afternoon adventure. Then being personally introduced to a round of three different poisonous, highly toxic, highly DNA disruptive medications (Chemo) up close and personal leaves one yearning for a breath of cold mountain air.
However supported by loving family, with voices of angels, laughter and loving memories of moments past mingled with the knowledge of a gathering of friends in CA is sustaining. Krysti and Brytt’s safe arrival to my bedside completed the comfort and the security for a relatively quiet night's rest. I woke this morning almost forgetting that I was in the hospital straining to hear the sounds of the birds flocking back to the mountains… the sounds that have been my joyful spring chorus over these last five years. But alas, the realities of the moment, the sounds of the alarms, and the call to more pricks, shots, and pills returned me to the battle front.
In the few moments in between visits, I find my mind sorting the past, filtering the memories, prioritizing the gifts, treasuring the relationships, marveling at the tapestry of my life. Though I don’t stand… I lay all amazed at the love He has offered me. Regrets, few. Wishes, many. Clarity, more. I find myself with greater understanding of the difference between being believing and being unbelieving. I choose and so heartily recommend to those I love and my friends to be believing.
Looking forward, if I could have a closing discussion with each of you I would say these words:
My strongest desire would be for you to know that I know that He lives. The gospel of Jesus Christ has indeed been restored in our day. And He is preparing a people and an organization to receive Him and to work with Him as He returns the tribes of Israel and fulfills every jot and tittle. He has spoken through the mouths of prophets since the world began. This I know and yearn for you to accept my testimony sufficient to ask Him if my testimony is true and then, for you to live according to your testimony of His answer.
Now, on to the possibility that there will yet be a little reprieve before my farewell. My priorities are:
- More quality time with my wife, walking hand-in-hand, eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart, celebrating the eternal relationship that is ours.
- Spending quality time with my children and grandchildren—just being together—laughing, singing, playing, working, living, loving, and celebrating.
- Spending time with the many who are extended family and friends whenever I have the occasion to be in their presence and to express more sincere interest and love, encouragement, and faith.
- Heritage Makers: Because of these last years, we have set our hands to the plow of building a community of like-minded, family-centered people who share our vision of the divine nature, purpose, and importance of families. Transcending the bounds, fences of doctrine, I would seek opportunity to be in their presence to deliver the treasures of my own family life and revealed truths that can influence theirs. I would hope to yet teach the next Dream Team to a group of leaders whose hearts where prepared to be empowered with principles and truths that would carry on the Heritage Makers vision, mission and legacy.
For those stalwart pioneers who have joined us in the Heritage Makers adventure in the early and difficult days, my sincere appreciation and empathy for the challenge and the faith that has been necessary to birth and nurture this baby while you have struggled to care for your own families. It is my prayer that you will continue to find the strength, focus, compassion and the kindness to work together in a community beyond business, beyond books, and beyond doubt.
These are the thoughts of the morning. More after I rest a bit.
Love,
Doug
12 comments:
Hello Doug
I can't believe you have me reading a 'blog'... when before I couldn't even email! You and HM have me doing many firsts in my life that are painful, uncomfortable and hard. I know these are for my growth and benefit because that is what we came into this world to do, to learn and grow and become more like God who sent us.
Thank you for sharing your beliefs with all of us. I know that a higher power is guiding you, this company and me to share HM with everyone. The sharing, keeping and telling of family stories binds people together and brings joy and healing into their lives. I've seen it happen. We need more of this in todays too fast paced world.
Our prayers and our fasting are dedicated to your speedy recovery. You have much more to do on this earth, sharing your vision for HM. We love you over here in Pennsylvania.
Nanette & Chris & the PiersonPack
Hang in there Doug. You are a strong man, with a solid family and an amazing support group to surround you. You have helped to create a strong foundation for Heritage Makers, and have assisted so many people in creating a vision for themselves and for our world far beyond what they would have dreamed possible without having known you. You have built leaders in Heritage Makers, and in society! Your words echo in our minds and in our hearts, and are passed along too many times to count in our conversations with others. After only a few minutes of meeting you , I said, "Doug is a man we quote", and that is so true. You are quoted often.
I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you to go through, but just know that we are all here pulling for you, and passing all the strength we have, on to you and to your family. We expect to see much more of your wisdom, experience, guidance, and expertise in the times ahead. And of course, your great cooking!
Much love,
Lisa Nelson
Dear Doug,
I received the news of your admittance into the hospital and diagnosis when I was out of town with limited internet service - even with the amazing developments of technology, thank goodness for the power and opportunity of prayer - immediate no matter what!
You and your loving and special family are constantly in my thoughts and in every prayer uttered by me - and my family.
Your story is not over - it is far from it - and now, after chapters of triumphs and challenge, comes yet another. I cannot imagine what you are going through but I pray, hope and have faith and let you know that I am here for you. We all are.
Thank you for your example of faith, strength, love and service. You continue to touch and inspire so many lives to do better. Thank you for encouraging so many of us to...stretch. For it is in that stretch that we grow and discover even more about the wonder and purpose of life and who we are.
Again, our thoughts and prayers are with you - and your family - Go Team Go! We are all with you!
Until our next chat - or voicemail messaage :),
Chris and the Crandall family with LOTS OF LOVE and BIG HUGS!
Oh Poor Doug--you must want more exciting posts than from this old Dreamer. But I wanted to let you know that I have had many opportunities of late to bear my testimony. Ever since DT, I have been blessed to see opportunities where I once saw obstacles.
To Brytt and Marshyll--I know you look to your father for strength and solidity--he is the mountain, right? I wonder, do you know that mountains are part of a chain? He does not stand alone with the two of you.
Love to you all,
Love KathyG
Dad,
I wanted to write a comment to somehow inspire and uplift, but I've been here writing and erasing for 20 minutes straight. I'm at a loss for words. My head is swimming right now . Everything seems so surreal. You are my Superman--man of steel, man of courage and a true hero. You've always been there to support me and boost me up when I'm down. I've spent my adult life encouraged by you and inspired by you. You've taught me how to work, how to respect, how to serve, how to love and how to rise above. You've given so much freely to help shape my character for good today. I will always be in debt to your incredible example.
I cry more than I have ever in my life because I can't take your worry or pain away like you've taken mine away so many times. I wish I could give you all of the strength and health I possess and that I could carry your burdens for you now. You've given so much to so many. Who knows the countless lives you've changed because of your unflinching testimony and example of doing good, doing right and standing for something.
Dad, I discovered that there is a lot of positive research and treatments for what you have and that now, people are living much longer because of the findings and beneficial treatments discovered over the past few years--treatments that are exactly what you are undergoing right now.
We can overcome these uncertain adversities now and look forward to great memory making and filling mine and my children's life's storybooks with moments with Dad and Grandpa.
I love and admire all that you are and all that you've been to me.
Faith and love heal. There isn't an ocean big enough right now that could hold all of the love and faith coming your way.
Onward and Upward.
Love your son,
Marshyl
Doug (& Judy!), you were so missed at Regionals, but your spirit, mission, and passion for us and this movement was ever present. What a legacy you have created for us to be a part of. It is an honor to be a heritage maker alongside you and to be under your example and tutelage, to be part of something so much bigger than each of us individually. Thank you for always leading by example all you teach and preach, even from your hospital bed. I am committed more than ever to share your dreams, that have become my dreams, with a generation who needs to tell their stories and live/leave a legacy of love and hope to those they love.
"Do not fear, for I am with you' Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
With love & prayers (and some tears),
Beth Martinez & family
PS - Loved the song the girls sang for us over the phone today. Much better and heartfelt than the original:)
Dear Doug,
Sitting here reading your blog, I am moved beyond words and at a complete loss of how to express the myriad of emotions surging through me. First let me say how wonderful it was to hear your precious voice today at the Regional Conference. Kleenex stock rose ten points after you finished. Listing to your family sing for you, to us, was a precious treat which I will always treasure.
I know how much you longed to be here with us but know that you were here in more ways than you know. The heart and soul of your dream and vision were clearly communicated and received, I think, in a way I have never seen before. Patti and Chris were great. Trying to fill your shoes was no easy task but they made you proud. This conference greatly surpassed the previous year's, inspiring people at a much deeper level with greater clarity of mission and commitment. I know that it certainly did for me.
I wish you could have seen the responses from everyone when Chris debuted the upgrades on 2.0. All I can say is WOW!! Did I tell you I actually won the first raffle? Who would have thought? So what did I pick? Those amazing memory cards. I can't wait until I can make my own. The kids actually thought they were cool and would like their own deck. And those template pages...awesome. I can't wait to show them off to my class tomorrow morning.
Brandon asked me Thursday if he could make a book for an assignment he has to do for history; a Holocaust Dictionary. He already has it in his mind how he is planning to lay out each page in the 7.5x10. Each letter of the alphabet has to say something about the holocaust with pictures. Knowing he will be publishing it in his own book has given him a motivation to complete the research like nothing I have ever seen in him before. Once again, Heritage Makers is making a difference in the lives on another "heritage maker."
As for the scanning program; that was incredible leap forward. It is vitalizing my team in ways I would have never thought. Consultants who have been inactive for months are coming out of the wood work to participate. I have been brainstorming with them on ideas for the scanner and can't wait to see where it leads. You need to get well because I intend to promote to silver by Reunion and you need to be there to celebrate with me.
After the conference the family and I were supposed to go to an Avril Lavigne concert we purchased for the triplet's 16th birthday (can you believe it?) in January but when we got there it had been postponed. Apparently she has severe laryngitis so we decided to take the kids to see Iron Man which was good and provided a distraction for a few hours as you are constantly on my mind, heart and in my prayers.
Please give Judy my love. I have wanted to call her but lost her cell number when my cell phone was stolen last year at Reunion. But I figured she has been by your side and would have been difficult to reach anyway.
Well, it's getting late and I have class to teach at 9 in the morning.
I will be checking in tomorrow to read your updates which mean so much to me.
Know there are thousands of people praying for you. I love you and will continue to hold you and your family up in prayer.
Your friend,
Randeleigh
One day God will ask, "What did you do with the gifts I gave you?" and you can reply. "I showed many how to dream, I taught others how to help each other, I gave families ways to grow closer, I helped mothers stay home and raise their babies, I was a loyal and loving friend, son, husband, father, and grandfather. I was an honorable leader to many. I shared my faith in you Father" God will say "“Welcome, Doug. Well done, my good and faithful servant. Welcome home.”
BUT UNTIL THAT TIME COMES, breath in and out, and allow all those around you to pamper you, love you, care for you and serve you as you would serve them. Miracles Happen, God Heals, See you at Reunion!
We are praying for you and your family and for the medical staff,
Love Barbie Otto, Daniel, Tyler, Noah and JJ.
Grandpa Heritage Maker,
You are in our prayers.
We are thinking of you.
You have been a great example to us. I hope you get well soon.
Love,
Tim,Emma,and Spencer
Fleming
(Rob & Lena's children)
Doug,
When I first signed up for HM, I did so because, as you know, it really is my company ;) you just got there before I did.
Until the Spirit of Heritage Tour, I believed "What a great business".
When Jennifer told me that we were to have dinner with you, I was incredibly nervous. I thought of you as a "big wig corporate executive". I had many thoughts on my way to that dinner. Some of them were "What a great way to market our business. Tell people about preserving their heritage". Pretty good concept.
When I walked into the hotel lobby and met both you and Judy.......... within 5 minutes I knew that I was so wrong about you.
You were not some big wig just telling people what tag lines to use to promote sales....... you are the person that I never thought that I would meet. The person who truly believed in strengthening families and used this company to do honest, wonderful things.
I was amazed that you remembered details about my family that I hadn't mentioned. You were down to earth, friendly, and completely in love with your family.You also were interested in me as a person.....not just the business at hand. You have no idea the impact that had on me.
You were not just trying to sell a product. You were teaching people by example how to make a difference. A real difference.
That night was the first time I actually realized that all of the things that I was holding in my heart and believed were true. Thank you.
Over the past year I have had the pleasure of having not only wonderful conversations with you, but have received so much inspiration in so many different areas of my life.
I have become a better daughter, sister, mom, friend, and wife because of the things that you have taught me. Thank you.
I hope that you truly realize how many people of different walks of life and different faiths that you have touched.
You are a truly amazing man. Thank you for sharing your life and that of your family's life with us.
God Bless
Kellie Stobie
Hello Doug & Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you right now- I hope you can feel the love from across the country.
You have blessed our lives more than you know, and I want to tell you that because you taught me to DREAM again, I taught my children, and my 7 year old son has a DREAM of curing cancer when he grows up. He will do it too. What you have taught us is powerful and will change the world in ways we cannot yet imagine.
You have taught us to fish, you have not fished for us. Please know that we are working like crazy to spread HM so that others can be blessed by this company too. There are many strong leaders now and countless others to come. So don't worry about anything but getting better. We will "hold down the fort" until you return.
We love you all and can't wait to see you again!
Kristin & the Shoffeitt Family
Doug,
I feel very blessed to be part of your crusade to bring family together through story. There may not be many Canadian Consultants compared to our southern neighbors, but we all send you our well wishes.
With blessings,
Lisa Taron - Canada
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