A Look Back

As expected the last few days have been a little hectic. I actually broke down and stopped using my *paper* Day Planner and went electronic, I couldn't keep up and I never seemed to have the Planner with me when I needed to make an appointment. I've been fighting going electronic for for a couple of years now because I didn't want to learn how to do it on my phone, but I found I had no choice, if I wanted to keep things straight

My *Dance Card* is pretty full. Sweet Lady is out of Rehab and adjusting to being back at her place. We spent several days last week making the rounds with all her physicians and out patient physical therapy will be starting next week. I was a little overwhelmed when I heard she was going to have to go out for therapy but then I had an unsolicited offer to get her to therapy any time I needed help. That was such a provision from the Lord and an offer I will probably accept. She is doing really well back in her home and it makes me smile to see her sitting in her favorite chair in the lobby when I walk in.

We decided with all this going on, it would be a nice to time to remodel our downstairs bathroom. Don't even ask me what we were thinking....really what were we thinking! We are at a point of no return though, the commode has been removed. This is a project that's going to have to get finished in a timely manner, walking up steps for the bathroom is a little inconvenient. On a positive note, we are getting that extra exercise we talked about getting after the holidays. Again, I ask, what were we thinking??!!

Our emotions have been all over the place following my husband's mom's death, it has surprised us. We went through the viewing and funeral with little emotion, we took care of the initial business and then went immediately home. Once home, and after things started to settle a bit, the reality and finality of it all hit us. We are still wading through those waters, and I think will be there a long time as we continue to resolve things that need to be settled.

We have been blown away by the care we have received from the body of Christ. Several times in the last week, it came in the form of that shoulder I needed to cry on or that nugget of truth I needed to be reminded of.  I've learned how valuable a silent hug can be and how words are not always necessary.

I love the Psalms and one that is a favorite of mine is Psalm 16, Verses 5-8 state
"Lord you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (italics, mine)

Like I said before we are still wading through some uncertain waters but remembering he is at our right hand while we wade through it, so we will not be shaken.

Thankful Thursday

Another week has flown by, I mean flown by.

Sweet Lady has reached day twenty at the Rehab (see what I mean by flown by) and there was a question earlier this week as to whether her secondary insurance would cover her co pays after she reached day twenty. Almost twenty days and the facility had not been able to get an answer from insurance company. (to their credit they had been trying)

When the Business Office broke the news to me and informed me of what the daily costs might be, I felt a little sick to my stomach, with my mind racing trying to figure out a plan. The lady in the business office had arranged a meeting with the therapist later that afternoon, so I could get an idea on Sweet Lady's progress, she then told me to go home and get some lunch, she assured me they would continue to try to get in touch with insurance company.

I prayed and strategized all the way home. Sweet Lady didn't seem ready to go back to her place.... would we need to hire someone to help her getting ready in the mornings and at night....would I need to go over twice a day to help her... or maybe the best plan was to let her stay at the Rehab even with the costs. I didn't know what to do and finally gave it totally to the Lord. My prayer was simple, Lord you know what she needs, help me to trust you no matter what the outcome. I had peace as soon as I gave it to the Lord, I didn't need to strategize anymore.

I drove back to the Rehab after lunch for my meeting with the therapist and before I could even park the car I got a call from the Business Office....they had heard from the insurance company and the copay would be covered. Thank you Lord!!!

So that's my "little" contribution to Thankful Thursday. I am thankful the Lord answered my prayer in the way that he did, but even if had not, I believe he still would have provided for her needs.

What about you, what have you to be thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday on Friday

I meant to do a thankful Thursday blog post yesterday but got hit with a nasty little bug, so even though I'm a day late there has been so much to be thankful for that I didn't want to let the moment pass.

Speaking of the little bug, I was only down for about 24 hours, that in itself is something to be thankful for. My SIL had a doctors appointment today and I didn't want my husband to have to take her by himself.

We are thankful for the wonderful progress Sweet Lady is making with her Rehab, we were able to transfer her into the car for her doctors appointment with minimal difficulty today. I am also thankful for the good report we got from the doctor today....the fracture is healing nicely and she is beginning to walk a little.

Although this is not the post-op recovery I had envisioned I can see God's hand in it all. This would include the timing of her transfer, the way she has adapted to the change and the facility itself. I can think of several places she could have been transferred to for rehab but she got to go to this one. (sometimes you only have a couple of places to choose from because of lack of beds) It's brand new with a fully equipped gym. Every time I walk through the door, I am thankful for God's mercy and blessing in the midst of a difficult situation.

I am thankful to be part of a new bible study. When I initially registered I was told I would be put on a waiting list because they were full, but I was called within a few days. I've only been two weeks but have been getting so much out of it.

I am thankful for the mild weather we have been having. It's given us the opportunity to get outside and take care of projects that need our attention and has been great for walks and photo taking.

Finally, I am thankful for a God that is sovereign over all, even in the difficult situations we face, even when things don't go as planned, even when it doesn't look like God can't be in "this" at all. (you fill in the blank for your "this")

We have been reading Daniel this week, and something I have been mulling around for a couple of days, is that it was part of God's plan for Daniel to be in captivity. Think about it, he was taken away from his home and everything that was familiar and held captive in a strange land. Imagine if you had to face something like that today....but God used it for his glory. I believe whatever situation we find ourself in today can be used for God's glory....remember nothing that happened to you today took him by surprise.

I am thankful that he is in control, no matter what my today looks like.

October Moments

October was quite the month for us. We were kept busy by things planned and unplanned. The two big events that were planned were a trip to see our Grands and surgery for Sweet Lady. Add a trip to the mountains to pick apples and another unplanned surgery for Sweet Lady and you have one hectic month.

Sweet Lady is out of the hospital and recovering but she is not able to go back to her home yet. It has been difficult for her and us but I have seen God's hand in so many aspects of this journey. She ended up staying in the hospital a bit longer than expected, physically she was ready to go sooner, but there was paperwork that needed done that kept her longer. The bonus in that little delay was, that it gave her more time to heal in the hospital setting and us peace of mind in making the decision on whether or not to travel to see our Grands.

I don't know what the days ahead hold concerning her care and recovery but, I will trust that God has got this, he was not surprised by this event. I heard an analogy in a sermon the other days that perfectly describes me. I wish I could remember who exactly said this but he was talking about how we all want a floodlight to see what's ahead of us, but most of the time God's gives us a lantern. Can you identify? He has given me grace for each day and the challenges that have been a part of that day. I trust he will continue to do that.

That was the hard part of our month but there was so much good. We were able to go to Charlottesville to pick apples, spend a couple afternoons in Williamsburg and make that long awaited trip to the Great Plains to see the Grands....The feet in above photo belong to my teenage Grand. There will be more photos of that visit in another post.

Well I've gone on long enough, here are some photos of our October Moments.

The Story Continues

I mentioned in my last post that there was a "bump in the road" in Sweet lady's recovery from her surgery. Days before we were scheduled to fly out to see our grandchildren, she had to be readmitted to the hospital and a second surgery done....we were devastated.

When things like this happen, I find myself looking for what God is doing, holding fast to Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"

That particular scripture, plus the belief I have that God is sovereign over all things gave me comfort. I knew that this did not come as a surprise to God and that he was going to use it for his purposes. Regardless tears were shed. My head knew truth but my heart was disappointed.

I questioned what the God was trying to teach me through it all, was it that I hold "my plans" with a clenched fist and I needed to release them. (I still like control) Would I be willing to do that? (in this case the plans were to see the Grands) It was tough, my husband and I talked about one staying home and the other going, but in the end we decided either both go or both stay home.

Sometimes God lets you see his purposes right way, sometimes you may never understand. I still don't understand the whys to all of this but there are good things I can report

We were home and able to take care of all the details, like getting her to doctor, getting her to the hospital she had her first surgery done at and talking to discharge planner at the hospital. We also were able to make plans about what would happen after she was discharged from hospital. 

We knew she would be well taken care of and the timing of the second surgery was such that we could be there for her and still go and see our Grands. (we made the decision to go hours before we were scheduled to leave) 

This is not the end of the story, Sweet Lady is still in the process of healing and there is going to be some recovery time, the future is uncertain, as it is for all of us. Taking one day at a time for now, holding on to Romans 8:28

Fall Moments

It's beginning to feel and look like fall and we've been taking care of the things that need to be taken care of during this time of year.

The little one in our church that had been so sick went home to be with Jesus not too long ago. The parents trusted the Lord throughout the journey, focused on eternity and encouraged others to do the same. The affect on me has caught me a little off guard, (I only knew the family slightly) and made it hard to blog, it seemed unimportant in light of things eternal.

In the end I realized that how we live our lives (including blogging) can bring glory to God. Through the blogs of others, I have been encouraged, reminded of biblical truth and learned how to do so many things that have helped me in the role God has place me in.

We also successfully helped Sweet Lady through her hip replacement surgery. The surgery had been weighing on me heavily. My SIL has some special needs and all kinds of scenarios of how this might go were playing in my mind. The conversations I would have in my head often went like this " what if she isn't able to go back because of, fill in the blank, complication " followed by "if you trust the Lord and you believe he is sovereign, then whatever the outcome, it's part of his plan" or "he will give the grace you need when you need it whatever the outcome" I was talking to myself a lot during those weeks leading up to the surgery.

In the end everything went well, she came through it like a champ. She had surgery Monday and went home yesterday. A defining moment for me came, after I dropped her back at her place. It was a long ride from the hospital, almost an hour, and she walked the long hallway to her room with a small rest midway. I was tired so I knew she had to be. I settled her in and told her I'd be right back after I went to the pharmacy. I figured she'd chill till I got back. Imagine my surprise when I met her in the lobby when I returned. She was on her way to the dining room to let her friends know she was back. I wanted to cry right on the spot, I knew then, that she was going to be okay and that we had made the right decision about moving her last summer. She then told me to go home, that these folks would take good care of her. The Lord has been faithful to us even in our doubt.

Now that the surgery is over I can start thinking about our next little adventure, going to be hugging some Grands soon, Lord willing!

A Whirlwind Couple of Weeks

The last several weeks have absolutely flown by. Honestly I can't believe we are looking at the end of June.

We spent the first two weeks of the month with the Grands, and let me tell you our days were full. Each day was filled with some type of activity. We spent a lot of time at the beach, the pool and the zoo. We celebrated two birthdays and an anniversary (our 40th) and ended the visit with a day at the Water Park....I think everyone was tired by the end of the two weeks, including the children.

We drove them back to the airport last Monday (an eight hour evolution for us) and immediately began getting ready to move Sweet Lady from her previous residence to her current one. The move was completed on Friday. There is still some tweaking that needs to be done to make her room more comfortable for her but we are getting there.

The photo above is our Grands and DIL waking out to their gate, headed home...a hard goodbye. We will miss them, but will cherish the memories we made while they were here.

Meanwhile I'd taken so many photos while the family was visiting that I nearly crashed my IPhoto, so I have been busy trying to make that functional again...I have deleted almost three thousand photos in the last several days )I still have twenty thousand on file. Today was the first day I have actually been able to post a photo...As you can see I still have much work to be done.

I am thankful for these summer days.

Caring For a Loved One

Can it really be four years since we received that phone call about my husband's sister. I remember the day like it was yesterday. We had spent the day before at the Garden's celebrating Mother's Day.
It was a call from an unfamiliar number with an unfamiliar voice on the other end.

My husband's sister was having problems and we needed to come as soon as possible, no easy task since we lived an eight hour drive away. Lots of story line in between that call and her arrival at our home, but God's hand was seen at every turn.

We settled her in a place close to our house and that's where she remained until they closed down the facility last summer. Moving her from that facility proved to be hard on her. The differences in the two places are pretty significant, and in the end we have decided to move her again...sigh!

Here are some of the things we have learned that may be helpful to you, if you find yourself looking for a place for a loved one to live. Some things you need to consider.

1. Location
The facility has to be convenient for you to get to, the closer the better. The facility my SIL is at right now is only 15-20 minutes away but it's on a side of town I rarely travel, and I have to time my visits around traffic.  Consequently I am not able to get over there as often as I would like.  If you work and are the main caregiver, finding a facility close to your place of employment may also work. Bottom line, convenience is top priority.

On a side note,  your frequent presence at a facility often makes a difference in the care your loved one receives. They are often shorthanded and an extra pair of hands is always appreciated. Even if it's only to put your hand on the shoulder of a lonely soul that just needs someone to listen to their stories.

2. Layout
This was something we never really though about until our SIL was at the new place. She loved to walk, but there are no places to walk in her current facility. The lobby is very narrow and acts as a multipurpose room. She finds it difficult to navigate the narrow space, encumbered by wheelchairs and walkers from other residents, so she stays in her room more. Result...she walks less and that is never good.

3. Odor and Cleanliness
You know what I'm talking about. An occasional odor happens, but when it's the first thing to hit you when you walk in the door every time you visit, it might not be your best choice.  This wasn't really an issue at our SIL facility but I know it is at many places.

Why not keep them at home you ask? Well, it's an option for some, but you have to consider safety issues, mobility etc., for us the choice was Assisted Living. Sweet Lady was able to keep some independence and privacy and still be safe.

Okay, so here's the test question, what's the biggest factor in choosing a place for your loved one to live? You just have to trust me on this one, it's LOCATION.

Sweet Lady has been on a waiting list for for a place very close to us for a couple of months now. We were getting a little anxious because our grands will soon be here. We didn't want an impending move to take away from any grand time. My prayer was that we would hear from the new facility after the 15th of May (that way we wouldn't have to move her until after grands left. ) God answered that prayer. All the preliminary paperwork will be done before they arrive and her move in date will be after they leave. Thank you Lord for your perfect timing!

By the way I would still be thankful even if it didn't work out the way "I wanted" but it's nice that it looks like it might.

Grace Moments

It was the day after Mother's day last year that we got the call from a concerned friend.


There were problems with my SIL, she had a doctors appointment that Friday...could we be there? Not knowing what we would find we packed up the car and made the eight hour drive to the mountains. After our arrival we met the friend and got more information...we quickly realized we could not leave without her, she could no longer live alone.

We weren't prepared for this at all, had no idea how we were going to do a move, what was going to happen after we got her to our home? Remember I'm the one who likes a plan...there was no plan.

But God did have a plan...things "fell" into place and Sweet Lady was moved to our home within days. So many evidences of God's grace that still amaze me even today


There was the friend that called us, she helped us in so many ways, the doctor office who went out of their way to get all the information we needed...ever tried working with a doctors office on no notice?
There was banking that needed to be done, mail to forward, records to obtain, did I mention she had no ID on her, birth certificate to get, packing and sorting, and there was still that doctors appointment that we had to go to, a second vehicle to rent.....so much to do with so little time...but God made a way

People I think God strategically put in place,a lawyer who lived across the street, a bank manager who had worked with my husbands uncle years ago, she remembered my husband and his sister...made the business part of all of this easier. Then there were those that volunteered to clean the apartment once we left and take care of the mountain of stuff we could not take.

I write this today because I want to remember...I want to remember what God did...I want to remember that I don't always need a plan because he always has one.

It has been almost a year now and it has not always been easy but it all has been good. Sweet Lady  likes her place, her memory is a little better since her seizure medication was added. She remembered today was my FIL birthday, even bought him a card when she went out with the group last week, I was stunned when I found it in her cupboard... a little grace moment

She is usually sitting outside on a bench when I go to see her, today when I drove up she was walking the facility's dog (the Assisted Living has a teacup yorkie that belongs to the activity director and the dog goes to work with her everyday) Seeing her like this blesses me...and reminds me of God's abundant grace.

Life Challenges

The last couple of days have been challenging to say the least. I was amazing to see how quickly I could go from faith to frustration, from trusting God to questioning Him.  Every time I thought there was a plan it changed,  I like to have a plan even if it's not my plan....God wants me to stop trying to control things and trust Him...you would think I would get this already! I know it's a process

Control...it's an illusion...we don't have control over anything.

The good news is that Sweet Lady is safely home, discharged from the hospital today. She was anxious to get home and we were thrilled to get her out of the hospital We don't know what caused her seizures and may never know.

There has been evidences of God's grace...there always is if you look

• Sweet Lady did well in the hospital, the stay did not increase her confusion and she stayed safe, one of my prayers was that she would not fall
• She is back to her previous functional level, walked right back into the facility, said hello to everyone and told them she was glad to be home, no ambulance ride needed to get back

I am hoping that Sweet Lady settles back in quickly...but I realize things could change again.
Husband and I have talked about the last couple of days and all that has happened with his sister. Although Sweet Lady was the one directly effected, this event was also about us...God used it to show us things that still reside in the depths of our hearts....faithful to refine

When Plans Fall Apart

How do you respond when things don't go according to plan? I would like to think that the Lord has grown me in this area but I can assure you there is plenty of growing left to do.

Take this week for example, the last couple of days,  have not gone according to plan...not even a little bit. Sweet Lady had been having some testing done in preparation for a much anticipated appointment with her neurologist. The office had called us twice this week to emphasize how important it was for us to keep this appointment. (and to schedule yet one more test before the appointment) We were set, everything was ready to go.....then it wasn't.

Total change in plans, Sweet Lady was hospitalized, so missed the appointment, the doctor she was to see doesn't have admitting privileges where she is at, all the tests to be redone, we are starting from scratch...including new doctor (one that does have admitting privileges at this hospital).... to say I was frustrated and discouraged was an understatement, then I read this today

"From our limited vantage point, our lives are marked by an endless series of contingencies. We frequently find ourselves instead of acting as we planned, reacting to an unexpected turn of events. We make plans but are often forced to change those plans. But there are no contingencies with God. Our unexpected forced change of plans is part of his plan. God is never surprised; never caught off guard; never frustrated by unexpected developments. God does as he pleases, and that which pleases Him is always for His glory and our good"....  Trusting God by Jerry Bridges

I have read this book before but I had decided to pick it up again last week...talk about timing...just what I needed when I needed it. Things are better, the frustration and discouragement are gone. God instead has given me peace.

Our Sweet Lady

There was the medication that was supposed to help her memory...but it made her withdrawn, irritable and lethargic. She didn't want to interact with anyone, wasn't participating in the activities.

Then there was the doctors office that was slow to respond and reluctant to stop the medication, the doctor and my husband had a difference of opinion...the doctors point... it COULD slow the disease process... our point.... at what cost??.. so she remembers a little longer but is miserable....she made her wishes known above the debate...the medication has been stopped. (wondering why we didn't just stop the med ourselves, because she is in an Assisted Living facility and they will not stop a med once it's started without an order)

Then there was the holidays, more time away from that which is familiar. Spending more time with  family that is pretty laid back when it comes to schedules....when you need routine, this can be unsettling. What we thought would be enjoyable was actually more stressful to her.

Things are getting back to normal for her....routine....She took a picture of her grandparents farm off her wall to show a staff member the other day. The staff member said it brought a tear to her eye....she knew Sweet Lady was back.

A Sorting We Will Go

We have been trying to declutter around our house, it's not that my home looks like it could be on an episode of hoarders or anything but there are things that we have stored that could be used by others, we are to be good stewards

That being said, cooler temperatures have arrived and its time to pull out all the sweaters and winter wear, perfect time to sort and purge. This year I am also doing it for my SIL, she doesn't live with us but because of limited storage space we keep her off season clothing at our house. I started this sorting process for her this summer and thought I had done a pretty good job but when it was time to bring out the winter stuff I realized there was still work to be done.

Sweet Lady lives in an Assisted Living, this is what we have learned about her clothing needs

• Keep it simple. She likes separates, we made sure all the tops went with all the bottoms, so no matter what she chose it worked well together
• Keep it minimal, too many choices is confusing
• Make sure everything is machine washable, no dry cleaning, no ironing, no special care
• Shoes need to provide support, no heels, no mules, no slip on shoes

Those were the guidelines I used, then of course the climate is totally different than where she lived, no parkas needed here. I also eliminated it if it wasn't the correct size, had any wear and tear or didn't fit her lifestyle needs. So Sweet Lady is now ready for winter, I have her summer clothing neatly stored until next year and I have one bag to donate. Now on to my wardrobe, you know a lot of those guidelines could be applied to my own closet.

The Sort is Done

Two weeks ago my garage got pretty scary. There was the normal stuff, the tools, all manner of gardening paraphernalia, bikes, a Foosball table for the grand kids, and an entire corner dedicated to outside toys.

Then there is the stuff that doesn't really have an identity or category, but somehow just ends up in the garage. Add to all of this, Sweet Lady's stuff from her move and last but not least all the stuff my young son is currently storing from his move. (some of this stuff will be leaving with him but not all) Have you guessed that the one thing we don't have in the garage is a car?

Progress is being made, a week ago there were two additional bikes, a mattress and box spring in all this mess, but thanks to Craig's list they are gone

Today, it was time to go through Sweet Lady's boxes, she has been here since May. This is a process we started weeks ago but there were several boxes left to go through. Strange feeling going through her things, deciding what should go and what to keep. When we moved her from her home it was hurried, we wanted to be sensitive to her needs, didn't want to cause her any unnecessary stress, so we brought a lot of things we should have left behind.

The sort started wih the easy decisions, if it was damaged or stained it was in the go pile, if it was more than one size too big it was in the donate pile. When did it get hard?... when I made decisions on what I thought was best, putting those things in the donate bag was difficult... maybe she still liked it... who was I to make these decisions? I knew the items weren't going to work for her anymore, but still I battled. There was a lot of that this afternoon. Had a lot of conversation time with the Lord during all of this, I needed guidance, wisdom.

 So it's done, the boxes are empty. I now have some more things to bring to her room, items that she used to enjoy. Glad it's done, this was a task I have been putting off,  the bonus is I now have an empty corner in this messy garage of mine.

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding  Proverbs 2:6

Home Sweet Home

The last picture has been hung! It has been two months since we moved Sweet Lady to be closer to us. She stayed in our home about a month, then we moved her to an Assisted Living Facility nearby.  The suggestion we were given when we made the move to the Assisted Living was to let Sweet Lady settle into the room a bit before we brought more stuff in. See what she needs, see what she wanted.

The move to the flat lands had been sudden, unplanned, and done in a matter of days. It would be a lot to ask of anyone to adjust to that kind of change, now add dementia. We give credit to God's grace alone that she has done as well as she has.

For the last several weekends we have been adding to the room, trying to make it feel more like home for her. Each weekend bringing in a little of this and a little of that. A fridge for snacks, pictures for the walls, photos of loved family members. Today we have finished, the last items to be brought in were her grandma's chest and a hanging shelf that belonged to her uncle. The room looks nice, she seems happy. She told me several times today, you did good.

This has been a learning process for us, and will continue to be.

First thing we had to learn, and have to continue to remind ourselves, it's not about us, it's not about what we like, it's about what works best for her.

We are still trying to figure out things she enjoys. She likes running errands with me, likes ice cream, visits from us and the little one's (her great nieces and nephew)

Her memory is bad but she remembers us. We try to keep a sense of humor about things. She reintroduces us to staff and friends each time we come by (and they are gracious enough to respond as if they were meeting us for the very first time) Finding things in her room can be challenging at times, you have to make things simple, avoid change.

Challenges or opportunities, guess it's the viewpoint you want to take. I pray the Lord will help me see this as an opportunity, not just to care for my sister in law but to touch other lives that may not have crossed my path had this not happened. Honestly, I do see this as a blessing with much potential.

"May the favor of  the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the works of our hands for us, yes, establish the work of our hands"  Psalm 90:17

Smiles All Around

Life at our household continues to settle, finding a routine again. We have found "sweet lady" a home, she moves in next week. We looked at her studio apartment today, they are in the process of painting, she has asked them to paint it pink...so pink it will be.

She has spent the last two days there, I drop her off in the morning and she comes home with us at night. It has been a good way to transition, friends have already been made. We were greeted with hugs this morning from one lady we met yesterday...I think we are going to have some new family.

"Sweet lady" is happy, there is a brightness to her voice, she smiles more. Recently she has been telling us "I came down here to help you guys" When she told us that again last night, my husband smiled and said you've already helped us more than you know.... and she has

It has been a life changing event, but in a good way. Still in the process of trying to figure it all out, finding our rhythm. When I think over the last couple of weeks I am still amazed at God's grace and provision. I sometimes think to myself,  how did we do this? Wasn't us, it was all God!

One more reason to smile, oncologist appointment today, all is well...NED (no evidence of disease)

"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance"    Psalm 16:5-6

Time to Stop and Breathe

We have had another busy week attending to all the details involved with "sweet lady's" move from the mountains to the flat lands. Things are now beginning to fall into place, her ID came in the mail this week, we were able to get a doctors appointment and we think we may have found a place for her to live.

Coffee with a sweet friend helped me with some direction in finding the perfect place for "sweet lady" to live. There were many things I thought were important but she helped me see things differently. In her experience it was all about location, she told me the most important thing I should consider was how convenient it would be for us to get to her. We want her to be involved with our family and activities, we could make any place special.

The move will happen sometime in June. She gets to pick out paint color for the room, we will go shopping for some furniture, curtains and bedding. I don't think she has ever done that before. We brought all of her decorations and pictures from her apartment so things will look somewhat familiar. I feel overwhelmed at times, I cannot imagine how she is feeling.

We have tried to make this a smooth transition, when your memory is bad, change is hard. Most of her memories right now are when she was a girl on the farm with her grandparents, they are happy memories.

I am thankful for the friend who was willing to have coffee with me...she is a little further down this road...great insight...reassuring... encouraging. Wasn't God good to put her in my path, her counsel was just what I needed. I also received a message from another friend today with scripture that was perfect, for the way I have been feeling, it was in Joshua.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go"  Joshua 1:9

More Changes

Last week my husband and I had to travel out of state to get his sister. This sweet lady had been living independently with the help of family and friends for thirty plus years. Her independence was quite an accomplishment and something she was very proud of.  She has told me many times over the last several days "I did it on my own"...yes "sweet lady" you did...but things have changed, she is no longer able to live independently.

We always knew she would have to move closer to us someday. Someone would have to help care for her, we were the only family besides elderly parents. 

I like my ducks in a row I'm a planner...you know the control thing I have going on. My preference was that everything would have been taken care of with "sweet lady" so that when the time came, her care would seamlessly transfer to us...God had a different plan...I don't understand it...but I will trust him.

So that's our life right now. On a positive note, my endurance has improved, seems like I got my stamina back just when I needed it. I have been able to do things, I would not have been able to accomplish just a few weeks ago. And I am at peace with what has transpired over the last several days...it has been hard, but it's OK. God bringing us to the end of ourselves...we can do nothing but trust in him day by day...sometimes moment by moment.

Praying God will keep my heart soft, compassionate. We still have much to do, we are not quite settled yet...decisions still need to be made. Sweet Lady is happy, we pray that this will be an easy transition for her...trusting God.

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us"  Psalm 62:8

It's a Done Deal

The last several days have been full of turmoil. Life, full of challenges, battles that must be fought.

We became aware of a problem several days ago, a need. There was never any question as to what we needed to do but we were desperately seeking God for wisdom in how to handle the situation. We are believers, we are not to respond like the world does.We prayed for wisdom, grace, compassion.

I pray we have represented Christ well. Like any battle, it's not always pretty, I never thought I was the warrior type, but God gives you strength when it's needed. He has also provided us with prayer partners, thanks to all who are praying, those I know and those I don't. I have been so blessed by the outpouring of support. Technology wonderful, I would text a need for prayer and would get a response immediately, knowing people are praying, cannot put a value on it.

God has been so merciful, he literally paved the way ahead of us. We were constantly amazing at different people who were helpful that "just happened" to be at the right place at the right time when we needed it. Different events that unfolded that were not typical, when something would happen that would never happen under ordinary circumstances we would acknowledge, OK this is God.

Our scripture throughout it all " when I am weak he is strong"

So our little nest no longer empty, at least temporarily. We need much wisdom for the days ahead, many decisions to make, laundry list of tasks that need to be completed. Please continue to pray for us.

"So do not fear for I am with you do not be dismayed, for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10