This is from Anne, YM's wife.  The Lord took him home today on Tues 5/6 at 9:30am.  He always anticipated taking his last breath on earth as he knew his days were numbered.  But knowing that he would be "singing with the angels and saints around the throne" made his darkest hours so much more bearable.  He knew that his darkest hour was followed by the sweetest hour when he would meet his Maker.  I miss him terribly, but I can't help but smile knowing that he's right where God wants him to be......praising our Heavenly Father in eternity. 

He knew for awhile that he was called to full time ministry.  But in his mind he thought that meant going to seminary and becoming a pastor.  He thought he was never able to live out his calling because of his illness.  But it wasn't until his last days when he realized that he had already been living out his calling through his cancer battle.  The cancer was a gift from God so that he can share his life with others.  He was so committed to this xanga b/c this was where he poured his heart out to the world about all his battles, defeats, victories, joys, and pains.  In the end, he just wanted to point to Christ.  It wasn't about whether he lived or died.  It was about saving souls and building his kingdom.  Perhaps we may never know the greater purposes of God here on earth. I do know for sure that he did not want to waste his cancer.  But he also didn't want any of you to waste it either.  So take every bit of what he shared during these past 2 years and make them yours so you can all live victorious lives in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This obviously will be the last entry on YM's site.  But b/4 he died, he made one request to me.  He asked me to keep blogging.  I don't think my entries will be as entertaining and interesting as his, but I will honor his request and continue living out our calling to simply share my life with you about whatever God compells me to write about.  Here is my xanga site:  www.xanga.com/anneofavenel

For those interested in attending the funeral:

The viewing will be held on Thursday at 2-4 and 7-9pm at the Gosselin Funeral Home located at 660 New Dover Road, Edison, NJ www.gosselinfuneralhome.com

The Funeral service will be held on Friday 10:30am at the First Baptist Church of Metuchen located at 225 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ www.fbcmonline.org;  followed by the burial at Hazelwood Cemetery located at West Lake Ave, Rahway, NJ.

Well the platelets went down to 18 from 23 and while it did go down it was enough progress to hold off on more day and we'll see if my body came swing the platelets up tomorrow.  Whatever the results, I'm being released tomorrow to either rehab or hospice.  Hopefully rehab with news that my body is producing platelets.  So I guess God wants us to keep beckoning heaven plead before His Holy throne.

I've been feeling really weak and it's been difficult eating.  Please pray for strength and joy.  I'm also getting a little depressed and it's getting harder to fight.  But nevertheless, I'm still fighting.  Blessed be His name.

I'm asking for you to join me in prayer tonight.  My platelet counts are still dropping - actually dropping faster even after blood transfusions.  My doctor said if my body can't produce platelets it pretty much could be the last week of my life.  After spending most of the day grieving and crying, I'm realizing that this is still very much a fight.  A fight for joy, a fight for life, a fight to seek God and not anything else.  Please pray that my body would be able to produce platelets and that my counts would rise tomorrow.  My doctor wants to pretty much send me home to live out my last days but yet right now, I feel like this still is a test of my faith.  And right now, although it waivered for most of the day, I am standing firm on the ROCK.  As long as I have breath I will praise the Lord.