**The picture above is half of the people who were there this morning for Trey’s funeral service.**
Thank you all so much for your continued love and support. Apparently, the last few days are over. I seem to remember making funeral arrangements, buying a cemetery plot(s), planning and delivering two sermons, standing for over 9 hours in two days not getting to talk to so many people that we really wanted to talk to, having to talk to a few (very few…now all of you who were there are going to think, “It wasn’t me was it?” If you are reading this, no, it wasn’t you. Those people wouldn’t read this) people we really didn’t want to talk to, being surrounded by family and loved ones, all culminating in the most amazing funeral service I could have ever imagined. We followed that with a lovely time of lunch with the immediate (yet extended to a very small degree) family and now we’re home.
Therein lies the rub. What now? What’s next? How to move on? Cognitively we know that we will continue to be ok. Emotionally, as you can imagine, there’s nothing…nothing left in the tank. Intellectually, a giant cloud has moved in where my/our brain used to be. Yet, one thing looms. Life.
Yeah, living…it’s quite the task that lies ahead. We’ll take it one step at a time. I’ve already told Joe and Bella that life (and to a degree they) won’t be the same moving forward. I added that in the long run we will all actually be better off (not because of Trey being gone but due to having to have lived through such a tough time). The same is true for us. Time to go find out what the “new normal” is, but man alive, it is daunting though.
One of the things I’ve been continuing to meditate on for you all was for peace and strength and comfort as the “new normal” came. The jarring change of the day to day activities and mundane. I kept getting caught up on the “normal” part because it seems hard to think of it as normal. Sending an abundance of love to you all.
Everyday, hour in hour out. You are all being lifted up. You are never forgotten. Peace and love.
When the tough times come and they will because we are human, just know you are loved by so many. Thank you for going thrrough this for us.
You and your family have my deepest sympathies. I keep thinking of Trey on that great trip to see Jesus that you spoke about.
I’d like to thank you for allowing me (all of us) to share in this journey with you, for sharing your journel with us and for the growing in Christ that you have shared. I’ve learned so much reading what you have written.
The thing that I can offer to you in thanksgiving is my continued prayers for your family.
Blessings,
Anita (DeMarco) Choma
One step at a time. Which translates to…minute by minute. Then hour by hour. Day by day. Week by week and so on. If anyone – any family of Godly strength can pulls this thing called, “living” off….it’s you guys. As always- big big Maier hugs. Door always open to our craziness! We live near the beach. Our house…as nutty as it is…is yours. Much love. ❤️
Today was an incredibly moving funeral service! There were tears, laughter, praises, love, and above all—the presence of the Holy Spirit, actively and vividly moving throughout the room. I’m not sure that I will ever again sing 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) without thinking of today, and the power of the praises.
Praying that this day was all The Lord had deemed. As we know He numbers our days and orders our steps. Jay; Rachel ,Joe and Bella . I will continue to lift your name and pray you through the tough times ahead. God be with you!! Thank you for being a light in a dark world .
Diane, that was my prayer. Thank you for confirming that it, in fact, came to be.
I will be praying for you and your family
All that you truly have is the moment you stand in…and as that moment passes away and a new one begins you are brought one moment closer to your beloved son Trey…Your task here is not finished yet…but one day….in one moment….it will be…and when that time comes the angels will rejoice and welcome a new spirit…Just as they welcomed your beautiful little boy…
Elizabeth Elliot once said that when she didn’t know what to do she just “did the next thing.” May you not overthink it. Just do the next thing. Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. You know that. Just do the next thing…and new normal will come…
From the day of his birth, you have laughed with Trey, cried with him. Now, his memory will bring a tear on some days, cause you to smile on other days. The relationship you HAVE, the love, it is not gone. The way you experience that relationship, has just……..changed.
They say that God never gives us more than we can handle. You and your wife are proof of that! You and your son have been an inspiration to a lot of people. God will bless you and your family and his newest Angel will be watching over your family. Keep the memory of Trey close to your heart, your memories will last forever and the light of that memory will always shine on you and your family. God Bless You.
Jay, I know we seldomed talked but I once told you that I loved wearing my “Pray for Trey” t-shirt when I was out and about and loved telling those that asked about Trey and his battle. If it’s OK with you I’m going to continue to wear it, it’s my favorite shirt. It always makes me smile when I put it on and think of Trey.
Larry, it’s more than ok, it blesses me greatly. I always say, “Tell them our story so you can share yours.”
You and your family are truly an inspiration. My family and I have learned valuable lessons through Trey and your family. Thank you for sharing your story and faith with all of us. God bless!
One minuet, one second, one hour at a time…..Death is not a triviality, especially your child. When you think of how many children are in the world age 6, you think of your students, grandchildren, then your thoughts come back to Trey. How precious is it that our Lord chose this young life to be with him among so many billions of children. Our Lord only chooses the best in the world. Our Lord created us and when he wants us with him, he calls us by name to come home. The pain comes to the Parents of this innocent child. My thoughts travel beyond, how Mary witnessed her Son Jesus’ crucifixion and had to live 15 years without him. We cannot escape pain in this world, yes we sometimes question our Lord, however, Trey has journeyed to his real home, he is home at last, and it is the living that suffer, those left behind, for now. May little Trey rest in peace with his Heavenly Father, all the Angels and Saints. His body is healthy now, he runs, laughs and plays without pain. The most difficult part of Death, is their absence among us. We can however, talk, pray, cry to him, he will hear and see his parents and Isabella and Joe. Trey is not alone and is very blessed in Paradise. If we live in the Holy Spirit, we live in the grace of God, close to All those souls that have gone ahead. Every time you think of Trey, pray to/for him, and most of all his family. We are never alone. How beautiful is the Lord when we are born from conception,supplies us our special Guardian Angel, our God is an awesome God. He has no feet or hands on earth but ours so we are all so special to God, to Walk and do his work until we finally journey to our Heavenly home. Trey is free at last, conquered death, as Christians we still have to do what this little brave warrior did at the age of 6………………………………………..May God bless you Trey, may the perpetual light shine on you and may you play and rest, living in the peace of heaven with all your new friends. By now, you are probably telling Jesus about Disney, your Daddy, & Mom, Isabella and Joe. and all the fun you had during your 6 years here on earth! PS Don’t forget the Steelers and Pirates and Penquins and your favorite fun times and your many many friends.
Thank you Sadie.