Much Has Happened-Beautiful Mom

So much has happened since I wrote on this blog in April and posted Chloe's birthday Smilebox. Spring has passed and also summer. Now we are into fall and the year is almost ready to draw to a close. On my birthday, March 31, our (my sister Joanne and me) "mommy" Marian Louise Meader, passed away from a massive stroke. The Sunday before, I got the call at church that Mommy had fallen and Joanne had taken her to the hospital. It is, of course, the call no one wants to get and my intestines immediately began to roll and a sickness came over me as I hurried to the car and then to the house and on to Florida. I got to the hospital in Daytona Beach about midnight and immediately went to my mother's room and found her there on a breathing machine and not really awake at all. I sat by her bed all night and for the next few days holding her hand and praying and talking to her. All the fears and feelings that you imagine at a time like this were mine, and Joanne's in those few days, but we found solace in the Lord and prayer. He was with us and helped us get through that time with peace and comfort. I stopped at the hospital chapel a few times to kneel in prayer and I know my prayers were answered. Mommy never responded, but I knew she could feel my presence and love for her. I only went to her house once or twice to shower and then back to her side. By Wednesday Joanne and I knew she would not get well so gave the ok to remove the breathing tube. With Joanne, Heather and Kristen with me, we held Mommy's hand until she took her last breath. We told her to go home, to Grandma Jennie and Daddy. In a short time she did just that.

Although it was my birthday, March 31, I felt it an honor to see her go home to the Lord on the very day 65 years earlier that I left the Lord to come to her. In the next few days, most of my kids came down to help and attend the funeral. We had a lovely family time, remembering Gram and all the wonderful things she did for us. I miss her so much. each day. Several times a day, I am reminded by something, about her and some memory of her life. I love you so much, Mommy, and look forward to the day we will run into each others arms and say, "I love you", face to face again.

Celebrate Kristen!

On October 22, 1965, our first child was born. Kristen Louise. Of course my biggest dream in all the world was to have baby, so her birth was a fulfillment of that dream. We are proud of how she has turned out and how sweet and loving she is to her mom and dad. For her birthday last week, Gram and I met her for lunch. We ate at a little hometown restaurant at the end of Gram's street, called "Gregs." The food was very good and Gram, Kristen and I enjoyed being together. Since Gram does not get out too much, it was so good to have her with us. I had a wonderful week with Gram. We got out about 4 times to various places including the mall. I regret a lot that I do not live closer to her, but our week was sweet and I will go back again after the first of the year.

Joy, Joy, Joy!

I was reading an article by Anne Perry in the Meridian Magazine, early this morning. My writing today is a quote from that article.

" Life itself is one endless blessing that I have not really earned yet. I have one opportunity after another to do something good, make something, taste of what is beautiful, delicious, funny, wise, in all ways precious. I have simply to look out of the window to see the light on the water, countless flowers in the garden. I can listen to music, I can hear the wind in the grass, I can taste raspberries, crusty bread, I can smell clean linen, fresh rain, cut grass. Best of all, I can wake up tomorrow and start again, try harder, use this gift of time to do something good. I can be kinder, I can forgive and seek to be forgiven. I can manage pain or disappointment with more faith, and less self-centeredness.
Altogether I have another chance to make myself into what I really want to be, and that is to include helping others make themselves into what they want to be.
God holds a hand out to help us – not a foot out to trip us up. I think sometimes we forget that. There are no tricks in the fine print. Man is that he might have joy."

If I could only keep this in mind each and every day of my life. How much more happy and joyful would I be and how much more joyful would my family be. I have a decoration above my bathroom sink. It is really a Christmas decoration I bought at Christmastime. When I redecorated my bathroom I put it above the mirror because it does reflect what I want to be and what I want my home to be. "Joy, Joy, Joy". I need to look at it more often and remember this

quote by Anne Perry.

Ezekiel's Blessing

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. " Ezekiel in the Old Testament
My grandson, Bryan, had this verse on his "My Space" page. I was struck by the application of it to how Briggs and I are feeling lately. We are in no way "righteous" but we do try to do good most of the time. Life has such great burdens to bear and it is sometimes those who are closest to you that cause you the trouble. That is what makes it so much harder. You love all your family and when one member becomes a serious worry in your life, you can in no way reject them or step away like you could if it was an acquaintance, friend or some stranger. You are tied to your family members for eternity and their welefare will always be a concern to you no matter what they might do. The verse says, "Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children." As we deal with the aftermath of our daughter's accident and all the situations leading up to it, along with nursing her back to health, we have to have the attitude that we are her keeper and the finder of her lost soul. Patience in this process is needed and necessary and that is what is so hard to have. If it were not for scriptures like these and the knowledge of the Gospel, I think that it would be so much harder.
In the meantime, we look forward to her recovery, and the blessing of some happy times ahead.
Maybe not immediately, but soon. I hope!

Happy Birthday Lindsay

I cannot let this day go by without wishing happy birthday to my 12 year old grandaughter, Linday Jean. She is a delightful and happy girl and I pray she stays that way and does not turn into a mean teenager. It has been a joy to know, love and care for her all these years. She is growing into a beautiful young woman. This week she moves up into the Young Woman program of our church. As she does, I will look a little sadly on the fact that she is no longer a little child. She is a bigger child now, a preteen. But as she grows I will thank the Lord for her and pray that he keep her safely in his care as she ventures out into this scary world. Happy Birthday, Lindsay! Grammy loves you!