and our Priest. She was originally going to come tomorrow, but when we got there after church today I said to Mum I think we'd better ring her.

We were a bit hesitant about ringing her as it's Father's Day here in Australia, but I did and left a message on her answering machine. I rang her about 12.30pm and told her Dad was looking very weak and was gasping for air. One of our wonderful nurses put that little oxygen hose into his nostrils to ease his breathing.

Dana called into see Dad too and was there till nearly 1.00pm as she had to go out with her husbands father and mother for lunch and she is thankful for being able to see him before he died. Just after Dana left I got a phone call from Wendy (Priest) and she said she would be there as soon as she could as she had a parishioner to visit.

Well, visiting hours are from 11.00 till 1.00 and then 3.00 till 8.00m. By the time Wendy arrived it was about 2.10pm. The nurses didn't mind us being there longer than the visiting hours were as we were only sitting and talking with him telling him we loved him and it was time for him to let go and go to sleep.

Wendy read him the last rites which was a beautiful service - and at the end she said "Ron, you can go home now" and his breathing eased right down to almost nothing - he took a couple of breaths and that was it. It was so peaceful, that is the only word that comes to my mind. Of course we all cried and we then had him moved into a private room where we could just talk to him and let his spirit leave. I rang Trevor and he came in to be there for me. I then rang all the children - that was hard!!!!!!

We went home to Mum's and Trevor, bless his heart, bought all this food over for us as we hadn't eaten since breakfast and by this time it was 3.30pm. Then around 4.00 Dana, Jason and the 3 children arrived and then Ben (who was devastated as he had wanted to come in today, but the nurses said it was too late as visiting hours were over!) They all left about 7.00pm and then about 7.30 Amy and Steve and Ophelie arrived (they had been away this weekend camping). Amy was beside herself as she was Puppa's favourite. I kept telling them to remember all the good times he had spent with them and that is easing their pain a little.

I told Amy tonight - I have been privileged to see life come into this world in being at Ophelie's birth and I had the awesome privilege of seeing my Father die.

Death has no hold on us, and we will go to a better place. I had whispered in Dad's ear that I'll see him in heaven and I truly believe that.

We will be organising the funeral arrangements tomorrow and hopefully it will be on Thursday - if not Friday. My sister and Uncle have to come over from South Australia - which is usually a day's travelling by plane - especially Julie as she lives on the far west coast of South Australia in Tumby Bay near Port Lincoln.

Our church is going to put on the wake for us so all we have to do is be there. We have songs to organise and all the children want to say something. Wendy asks each member of the immediate family to place something of significance onto the coffin. Dad was a mad AFL (Australain Football League) fan and followed the Adelaide Crows, he loved golf, Cooper's Ale (a South Australian beer) and gardening, so we have a few things that we can organise.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am alright and thankyou for all praying for God's will in his passing.

Love and blessings Chris - Praise the Lord!