God's Vision
IN LOVING MEMORY
JOHN ROBERT STAUDT
December 27, 1950 - June 17, 2001
RIDING WITH KING DAVID
I give thanks to the MASTER - JESUS CHRIST for allowing The Master's Finger Prints to come to pass.
I thank HIM for giving me the gift of an artisan spirit.
He was born on December 27, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He stood 6 foot 9 inches from head to toe. Georgia Tech University was the college he selected on a basketball scholarship. John had big plans.
God had other plans.
John's job in the lumber business brought him out west to Colorado where we met. From that day on we became best friends. God brought us together as man and wife on September 8, 1984. The marriage covenant we stepped into wasn't only words, but a covenant for life. We both were ready to take the world by storm. I started my art career - painting for the world. John started a lawn business.
Harleys were his toys.
John's son Marshall came to live with us in the summer of 1988. Marshall and I started out rocky. The relationship between us was about to grow very strong with the journey we were about to encounter.
On April 12, 2000 our lives changed. John was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiform (brain cancer). When I saw the x-rays my heart saddened. The tumor was the size of an orange. The doctor without hesitation said, "Admit him for surgery." With tears and some pleading, John was admitted to the hospital that afternoon. The next 16 months was a journey of faith, strength, endurance and hope. God had me put down my paint brushes, close the tubes of paint, take off my artist cap and become
a full-time caregiver.
John fought the hard battle for 16 months. He tried radiation, oral chemotherapy and homeopathic care. The doctors worked aggressively on the tumor without success. I remember standing in the waiting room for one of the never ending MRIs. As we waited, I prayed. I turned to look at John sitting in his wheelchair waiting patiently. I saw a single tear running down his left cheek.
It tore my heart to shreds.
A man so strong and alive was now fighting a battle for his life.
The surgery went well. The surgeons got 90% of the tumor. I knew God would take the 10% as the tithe.
I believed in my heart from the beginning, John was going to be healed.
The months passed. I slowly watched as my husband turned from a strong man into a child who needed a caregiver every day. In a matter of months he went from walking, to needing a walker, then having to use a wheelchair and finally bedridden. It was time for hospice to begin care. A moment froze in time when they placed John in the ambulance and moved him to the hospice facility. I moved into hospice with John and became a caregiver and advocate for him. Nothing was good enough. I made the staff move John to the bed by the window so he could look out and enjoy the sun and outdoors as he had each day when he had his lawn business. I requested daily time outdoors for him. Each day the CNAs would move his bed from the cold gray-walled room to the beautiful garden, the very garden he looked at each day from the window in his room. One day I timed the sprinklers wrong. I grabbed the umbrella used for the picnic table to cover John as the sprinkler watered the very spot his bed was in the garden.
Day by day I prayed for John to be healed. His friends would come and say "Hang on you'll make it." I remember one evening God spoke to my heart. The answer for John's healing was to go home to be with HIM. At that point I told everyone to say their goodbyes. John's good friends, Rick and Melorie, made the long journey from California to say goodbye. Rick and Melorie spent some precious moments with John for two days. It was all part of God's plan. They left on the 15th of June to go home. I hugged them and thanked them for coming. On the evening of June 15th 2001 I could see the journey was coming to an end. John's body no longer functioned as it used to. I pulled the curtain and spoke to John from the depths of my heart. I asked for forgiveness and I forgave him for all the things that weren't important anymore. The one thing that I begged God for was "Please don't let him die on Father's Day." I didn't want Marshall to remember his father's death that way. God answered my prayers. Marshall and I spent Father's Day with John sitting by his side. Marshall grew up that day and realized
how precious life is.
We talked of old times, fun times. We shared laughter and shed many tears.
On June 16th the room was filled with family and close friends. Marshall lay on the left side of the bed holding John's hand and I lay on the right side holding John's hand. My sister Jennifer came to support and encourage. We all fell asleep with great peace. June 17th, 2001 arrived. I got up early that morning and went out to walk in the garden as I did every morning. The smell of the flowers was sweet.
I spent precious time with God to seek strength for the next leg of my journey.
I walked into the room and John was breathing faintly. I held his hand and kissed his cheek. As the clock neared 7:00am John's breathing slowed. I placed my head on his chest and held his hand. At 7:00am John Robert Staudt took his last breath on earth and took the hand of God. A great peace covered the room. I will always keep in my heart that very special moment that God blessed me with. I held my husband's hand the very moment God took him home. What an honor. I fulfilled the marriage covenant that so many couples take so lightly. The words "In sickness and in health - Until death do us part".
A precious covenant.
God moved in my life the next 9 months. I dove into learning about my Hebrew roots and understanding the relationship with my new husband - JESUS. He birthed, in me, the desire to paint again, but this time each piece created was to give glory to HIM alone.
The Master's Finger Prints is the harvest from the journey I walked with God, John, Marshall my sisters Jennifer and Mary and extended family and friends. I give glory to God for helping me uncover the desire of my heart and the opportunity to share His vision by using me as His instrument.
"And the beauty of the LORD be upon us. And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands."
Psalms 90:17
May you seek God at those times in your life when you just don't think you are going to make it. God never gives you more than you can handle. It is pretty amazing what you can do with Him by your side.
I pray your life's journey is full of peace and blessings.
GOD BLESS YOU!!
Wendy