the service (updated)
I have been ridiculously busy getting things together for Misty’s service. It will be quite the event…I hope you can make it. Details are in the post below. I’ll be back in usual fashion next week to discuss so many things that are on my mind. Ah, so much to discuss. I hope you will continue to join me in our life discussions. There’s much more about Misty I’m anxious to share.
PS…Yes I believe that God has and can raise people from the dead. If he does, we will still see you on saturday, the service will just have slightly different content :)
PSS…Misty will be with us on saturday, but the casket will be closed. The viewing and Interment are both family only.
NOTE: I’ve gotten a few emails from people who felt that the memorial service was for close friends/family and felt like they shouldn’t come. That’s silly talk. And thanks for the wishes from the out-of-towners. I knew you all couldn’t be there…but your support over the months has been very meaningful.
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Hi Darren… so many people have been touched by Misty. Many bloggers are writing about her. I put together a list on my blog so when you are ready, you can read them all and find them in one place. http://storinguptreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-want-to-be-ready.html
Love,
C
wish I could be there.. will be there in spirit and in prayer.
Darren,
Thank you for allowing us all to be apart of your family, although we can’t be with you we will be there in spirit and prayer.
Love,
Pam and Family
Darren,
You just made my day! For the first time in days, I feel a joyful anticipation. I wish I lived closer to NJ. I would definitely be at Misty’s service if so. My prayers are with you from Texas. Respecting your time off and can’t wait until you are back – your posts on this blog have been a part of daily life since I visted the very first time!
I wish that I could be there, but I’m not going to be able to make it due to a presentation I have on Saturday. I certainly hope that you will update us on the service. Can you provide us with your address so we can send you cards and such? Blessings to you and your family.
If only I could afford a trip to NJ. But I will be thinking of you this weekend. You’ll have to tell us all about it next week.
And as for staying with you, I have every intention of adopting your family into mine. So, you’ll have to continue to keep us updated from now on.
Thanks for allowing us to become a part of your family.
Darren, I truly wish that I could be there as well. But I will be lifting you all up in prayer during your service.
You are indeed a walking living blessing. Thank you for taking the time to keep us posted.
Praying you and yours up all the way from Washington state…..
~Cindy~
Oh Darren, how I wish I could be there to celebrate Misty’s life with everyone. I cannot, however I will be praying and thinking of all of you. I can’t wait to hear your future blogs.
Darren, Still praying and believing! Looking forward with great expectation to hear about Saturday!
Darren, Mike, Claudia, Arielle and Olivia,
Please accept our deepest sympathy. Darren – Thank you for sharing your beautiful love story and life with us. You are a man of such faith and love and have inspired the lives of so many. You have all been and will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Alicia, Bob, Cathi and Bryan
Hey brother Darren God bless you and little Olivia today and always .. was just a little while back and I am just talking minute ago saying to my belove wife that today again it still was no up date and as I have prayed all day while I was installing crown molding saying short prayer for you to our LORD and God .. Lord please comfort and bring him peace .. and now to walk over .. sit and click click and I read and sensed your peace .. God’s peace in your post .. in your words .. in your faith your beleive and in your response to the power of God .. and beleive me my spirit will also be there with you in Christ Jesus who makes us all one .. all brothers and siters in and through HIM .. I know that I will hear from you in the near future till then I will keep praying for you .. Olivia and your family .. Mi Familia Y Mi Hermano .. (my family and my brother)God bless and protect you and also waiting and expecting BIG thing for and from you .. my love and prayer .. again GOD bless .. Tbone out
Dear Darren, Olivia, Claudia, Mike, & Arielle,
Finding the right words to say to all of you is certainly difficult. You have been and will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. May God grant each of you strength, comfort and peace during this difficult time. You have all been extremely faithful and supportive to Misty and are great Christian examples. You have allowed The Lord to use you in a mighty way to not only minister to Misty but also to touch and impact individuals across the world.
Pastor Lou & Kathy Guiliano
I would be there if I lived in NJ, I will be lifting up your family in prayer. Thank you for sharing your life and thoughts with all of us. You bring wisdom, hope, faith and love to everyone who reads this. I am glad you will continue to post because I will be continuing to read.
Kristen Walling
My family and I will be praying for all of you on Saturday. May God Bless and be with you during this time.
Our prayers, here in Missouri, are with you and your family. We pray that The God of all comfort, comfort you and your family. Darren, you indeed have been a comfort and inspiration to so many others.
Darren,
I know that in your own strength you cannot get through this on your own. Stay aligned with God’s Word. Rely on His strength and know that whenever you need Him; He will be there for you. You are a good person Darren, and you still have much to give this world.
–Brandon – Class of 99 – Calvary Academy
youthinaz@yahoo.com
Darren, Olivia, Claudia, Mike and Arielle, We just wanted to let you know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. We are so very sorry. Love, Your old neighbors- The Gerlach Family
I really do wish I could come….but we live too far away…(Oklahoma) We will be thinking of Misty tomorrow…Misty, Olivia and you have been on our minds everyday….I have been waking up in the morning thinking of Misty. I’m so sad. I think what I am really upset about is Olivia not having her Mama. I will be back to read your BLOG Darren. I think it is wonderful and I am pleased to hear that you are keeping it up!! Thank You!!
Have a wonderful service for Misty tomorrow…let us know how it went. I bet she is going to be there watching over you and Olivia…..all of her family and friends!! God is wonderful!!!
Kariann
darren,
Natalie Merchants song “my beloved wife” was on today
Made me think of your beloved wife.
Wonderful song,wonderul life.
Peace
Darren,
My heart and prayers go out to you and your family.
In the short time I’ve been reading you and Misty have been such an inspiration. Wish I could be there to celebrate Misty’s life today but we’re simply too far away in SC. I will be praying for you and your entire family.
Thoughts and prayers are with you, Olivia and your family.
through blog world, I have “met” many people. most of which I will not be able to see this side of Heaven. but praise God, we will have eternity!!! :) to get to know everyone and praise Him together. my creative mind wants to figure out what that will look like..but I rest in knowing that He is so much more creative than me, so I won’t even try imagine what Heaven will be like. I rest in knowing that my Heavenly Father knows what is best for me, today and always.
still praying, and yes, I will be with you next week and beyond. God has knitted our families together in my heart. Should we loose touch via blog world, your family will forever be in my heart. really. forever.
Dear Darren,
My family will continue to pray for you, Olivia, Misty’s family, and your family. This is such a special time for all of you. A time that is very bitter sweet. Our hearts are with you all, for we know some what of what your all going through. We are all still at peace and walking in the arms of Jesus and year after losing Jonathan. God will carry you through this time.
All our love and prayers,
Jennifer, Christin, Caitlyn, Greg, and Nadine Barna xo
Dear Darren,
My heart goes out to you and your family. Misty was an inspiration to me and I felt honoured in getting to “know” her and you.
I live in Malta so won’t be able to attend the service but you’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Looking forward to reading your thoughts as you are truly a man of faith. May the Lord bless you and your precious daughter.
Mary
Though we will not be with you in the physical sense today, you continue to be in our hearts and prayers each day!
Darren, you, Olivia and the rest of your families are in my prayers today.
May the peace and the comfort of our LORD Jesus be with you all.
~Cindy~
Hi Darren, really wish I could be there today. I will be praying for you. Jeff
Hi Darren, really wish we could be there. We will be praying for you.
Hi Darren,
We have been praying for you these last few days and will continue to do so. We are so sorry for your loss. God has used you and Misty in so many ways and will continue to do so!
Thank you for sharing your heart. You and y’alls sweet baby girl will be in my prayers. God Bless, Rebecca Weatherford, TX
hi darren,
i am so sad i cant make it to the service today. i have work and couldnt find anyone to take my shift so i could go. i will be praying for you, olivia, and the rest of the family.
God Bless,
jamie
On my heart and in my prayers!!
Hello darren.
When I first heard about everything I was very doubtful of healing. But after reading this blog I began to pray for misty, i think more then I’ve ever prayed for healing of anyone, and prayers weren’t answered the way I wanted but like it was mentioned today now she is healed. You have been so strong and at peace with this it is impossible for me to be angry at God. Thank you and the prayer will continue.
matt
i just would like to say how grately misty and you have inpacted me. i think about all that i go through and how i just want to give up but then i think about you guys and when you were faced with somthing as great as death and never gave up. i would also like you to know that your in my prayers and if theirs enything i con do to help i’ll be their.
All day I felt like I should have been somewhere….like I had forgotten to do something. Then I realized that today was Misty’s memorial. I know I don’t know you all- but I feel like a family member has passed. Thank you Darren for letting me into your family of prayer. We are all better for it and with it!
Thinking of you and your family on this day Darren….This is Misty’s Day. I bet she looks so beautiful! Please know were here and praying for all of you…
Will see you next week on your Blog!
Kariann
Darren the service was wonderful. When I left the Chucrh I was thinking all my way home about Misty and the wonderful testimony she left in our lifes.
Darren,
Honestly when i shook your hand i could not fathom what to say to you, so, i’m sorry, and all my condolences. Though i do believe it necessary to point out how strong the Lord was there today, and how much God molded me and shaped me due to Misty’s testimony.
You’re truly a man of God, and a true husband and father.
Thank you.
Darren,
The service was definitely “quite the event.” Both the worship and memorial were absolutely BEAUTIFUL…just like Misty. Continuing to pray for you, your beautiful daughter and your families.
XOXOXO,
Tracey
Darren,
It was truly an inspirational service, one that moved me and my wife deeply. I will always remember it and will keep you, Misty and Olivia in our hearts.
Darren –
I keep thinking of the unsaved there, and how God is using, and will continue to use you, Misty, this site, and the service today to turn hearts to Him.
Deepest sympathy to all of your family and I to am amazed at how we have all become attached to your family without having met. I to prayed today and was amazed how MISTY the weather was at the shore today. God speaks to us in so many ways. Peace from Pt. Pleasant. Misty is healed..and in such a beautiful, peaceful, happy place that none of us can ever imagine. Be happy for her.
Darren,
The service was beautiful. I feel so honored and priveleged to have shared this wonderful journey with you. I love you very much. Thank you for allowing me to share with you and misty such a warm and moving service. It was absolutely breath taking. As i said before I have always been a belieer of God, but this journey has solidified my faith and have truely taken away any doubt i may have had. Thank you and thank you Misty. I will always be here for you always, you know that.
you do not know me at all but i wanted to tell you how sorry i am about your loss and also to tell you what an amazing impact that mistys journey has on me. to be able to be an encouragement to someone you don’t even know is awesome. the love that you both shared was so easy to see in your writings. not only were you lucky to have had misty in your life but she was luck to have you also. you both are an awesome example of what it means to be a christian—”christ like”–i’ll be keeping your and your daughter in my prayers
Hi Darren and family: I thought about all of you today and I will bo offering up my Mass tomorrow for Mitsy and all of you. Asking the lord to give you his peace and love. I am glad to hear Darren that you will continue to keep in touch with all of us. I will be looking forward to next week. Take care and God Bless you and Olivia and all of your Family. Moira
Thought about you all the entire day! May you and the entire family sleep peacefully tonight. Still praying for you. His grace is sufficient.
Misty was an extraordinary woman. Her memorial service was beautiful and was a true tribute and dedication to her life. I love how we worshipped first because it is such an important part of our relationship with God. I was also very moved by every speaker and song at the service. I know Misty will live on through those that love her.
Dear Darren, I just wanted to tell you how absolutely beautiful Misty’s service was! Me and her used to play together when we were kids, when her and Claudia lived with her Grandma and Grandpa in the bungalow, I lived right next door. When you had the slide show at the service it brought back such fond memories. I can remember running around the yard catching lightning bugs on summer nights or playing jump rope or backyard BBQ’s or fireworks on the beach on the 4th of July or just sitting out on the front porch talking. Wonderful memories. I just wanted say how glad I am that I had a chance to know such a sweet girl! ~ With Love, L.D.~
The most beautiful and touching memorial service I have ever been to. There was so much faith and love through all the songs and words. It was amazing to see the tremendous impact the two of you had on so many people. I am happy to know you will continue your blog since you have touched the hearts and strengthened the faith of so many. My thoughts and prayers will continue for you and the family.
Darren, Olivia, and Family,
I have been completely rocked and deeply saddened by the loss of your beautiful wife, Misty. Every night at bedtime, I pray with the kids (Alexandra 6, Carlie 4 and Isabelle 2). For the last 6 months or more we have been praying fervently and without fail or doubt for Misty’s healing. I explained to the kids how awesome God is, how He can heal us, how He wants to, and how He does things in His time, His way – not ours. All the while, fully believing that healing would come, and God would be glorified. When I heard the news, I lost it. It’s not fair, she’s too young, WHY? That night, at bedtime, we sat down to pray. As I am praying aloud, Alexandra chimes in, “and Lord we pray that you would heal Misty.” The tears started rolling and Alexandra asked me, “Why are you crying Mommy?” I said, “Misty went to be with Jesus” and she said “well, that’s great! and she will get a new body! So, why are you sad?” As always, God spoke to me through my children, as He will no doubt speak to you through Olivia. She is beautiful, by the way. Although we can’t even come close to understanding God’s will, we, in the flesh, try to rationalize, make sense, sort out these plans that God has that are so far out of our comprehension – at least I do. But I was gently reminded that God’s will is perfect, He will take care of us, and He will be glorified! Our prayers have turned now, for those very things – God’s perfect will in your lives, that He will take care of you, comfort you, and strenghten you, and that He will be glorified. We love you, and we will miss Misty very much!
Love,
The Legeres
Lorri, Rob, Alexandra, Carlie, and Isabelle