RIBBONS AND BOWS FOR HER HAIR

Sometimes I have little premonitions or thoughts of something that could happen.  Sometimes they are actual things that transpire later as though I knew what was about to come about.

Today was one of those days.  I wanted to call Dad earlier to just say "Hi" and see how things were going.  However, I hesitated because of some thoughts that were crossing my mind.  It was regarding the phone call that I was thinking of making.

I call, Dad answers, but this time instead he hands the phone directly to Mom.  She says, "Hi Jenni.  Well honey, today we are dealing with....." I dashed the thoughts away for the moment.  I didn't feel any pressing moment that anything was wrong, just that something was going on at the moment.  I felt the strong need to just be patient for the time being and call a little later in the afternoon. 

So, I relaxed and kept on driving down the road in our truck. We were headed from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles, California.  The weather was sweltering and humid.  Clouds covered the sky. Thunderstorms were standing by to cut loose a spectacular light and sound show as the evening would draw nearer.

We arrived to a truckstop for a break in our day.  My driving day had come to an end and Rob was going to take over.  But not until after we took the time to grab a couple of showers and sit down for an evening meal in the restaurant.

I took a brief moment to check the emails on my phone.  One in particular caught my attention.  It was from Dad.  The first sentence made me catch my breath as I sighed out loud, "Oh No!"  A lump in my throat formed and I could feel tears trying to escape.  I looked away for a moment to gather myself and continue reading the email.  Here is what it said:

Hello All,  Here is the wig we picked out for mom. She likes it, I like
it, Becky likes it and you like it.  So there! I shaved mom's hair this
morning and it was a bit traumatic for me to see all that beautiful hair
being gone.  I made a pony tail to donate to the cancer society and put
the remainder in a plastic bag.  Maybe I can use some crazy glue and put
it on my head.  Thanks again for all your support and your spouses.  It is
great to have wonderful in-laws who show so much support and generosity.
We love you all and hope to do the family get together again.  Love, POPS

 



My thoughts went to Dad and what he must had been feeling when he was taking care of Mom like this, then sitting down and writing the email to everyone.  I couldn't help but see the love in all of his words.  The care that he has for his lovely bride. The passion he has for his wife, our Mother. 

Two pictures followed showing Mom and her new hair. I stared for a long time at the first picture.  Mom is so beautiful.  I love the simple wisps and sweep across her forehead.  Her face looks so full and healthy.  Her eyes are bright and smiling. You can see every bit of sweetness radiating in her smile.

When I did finally call Dad, I told him of my thoughts earlier and how the email confirmed what I had been feeling.  It wasn't anything horribly wrong or pressing, but I knew in my heart to be patient and either my feelings would be justified or could be brushed away as just a simple over-reacted day dream.

I love you Mom and Dad....so much.  Every day you teach me more and more about inner strength and the love we have in the Lord God our Father to keep us strong and focused.  Through Him, all things are possible.  By His stripes we are healed.  We will live for eternity with God up in Heaven when He is ready for all of us to come home. 

ALL IN THE FAMILY

What a great time we all had being together.  Memories were made to last a lifetime, even for the youngest in the family.

Lisa traveled all the way from Florida to be with Mom and Dad for a couple of weeks.  The rest of us took the opportunity to get together one of those days to capture pictures, have fun and just spend some quality time as one big family. So the date was set, Saturday, August 16th, 2013.

Mom actually did very well all day long.  She got up fairly early.  Annie and her family had arrived a couple of days prior.  Rob and I arrived later in the morning from Salt Lake City, Utah. Rebecca and her family along with her Mother-In-Law, Toni, arrived later in the afternoon, followed by Rachelle and her family.  All in all, there were four generations of family together at Mom and Dad's house.

It was funny to see all of us there in what seemed to be a large home in our younger years.  Now the house seemed so small, but that's okay.  We were all quite cozy and comfortable.

The kids had fun playing outside with bubbles and silly string. The adults were content with sitting around and visiting.

As the opportunity came along, group pictures were captured to remember the awesome moments.  We'd all sit together on the couch in the living room.  Lisa was working the timer on the camera as it sat on the tripod.  Seems that moments like this is when things also go wrong.  The timer wasn't working properly at first.  But no matter, everyone laughed and still had smiles to spare for when the camera finally decided to cooperate.

Then it was outdoor photos.  The entire group of 30 family members moved outside in the front yard.  Mom was quite the sport when she was being wheeled down the ramp in the garage to the driveway out in front.  Then she was placed in the middle of the front patio.  Her wheel chair moved gracefully across the beautiful stepping stones that she and Dad had made several years ago and placed on the ground to make the most spectacular and original patio.  Each stone is garnished with beautiful bits of stained glass neatly arranged to make simple yet intricate patterns of beauty.

There was laughter and hugs.  Kids and adults being silly.  Funny faces. Serious smiles. Cameras acting up. Photos captured.  In the end, we caught many group photos to cherish for many more generations to come.

It was so good to be together.  Definitely a great family gathering.



FAMILY REUNION TIME!!

This is just what the doctor ordered....or at least he should have.

My sister, Lisa, is traveling all the way from Florida.  Annie and Chris are coming up from Pollock Pines, California.  Becky is coming from across town and we are coming from Salt Lake City, Utah after parking our big rig at the yard.

Mom has actually had a virtually pain free week.  The same week of her chemo.  That is great!  She was telling me how she was able to draw up both of her knees while laying down on the bed and how good it felt to do that.  Awesome progress for sure....PRAISE GOD!  He does truly answer prayers if we only believe on Him.

This weekend, Mom and Dad and their daughters will be together for some very special family photos, music and fellowship.  I think that this reunion is not only perfect timing, but just what we all need.  It has been way too long since we have all been together like this.

Dad says that there will be a lot of people in the house all at once.  We are hoping that Mom will be able to handle the stress of so many people around her.  I know that it can seem chaotic when you are surrounded by so many bodies when normally it is quiet and calm around the house.

"Well, I've got to take Mom in to the doctor to get her shot," Dad says on the phone when I called to give him our update as to when we will arrive at the house.

"Cool, her rabies shot?"  I asked laughingly.

Dad laughed and agreed with me.  He filled me in on how Lisa is taking care of the sleeping arrangements for all of us.  We will be kenneling our little Gizmo and Kali.  That way,  with all the people, we can at least keep the dog chaos to a minimum.

All in all, this will be agood time for our entire family.  Looking forward to this time together.  This time of blessings and healing.  May God bless all of us as we gather together.

GONE WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE...

Those have been Dad's words throughout this journey with Mom and her cancer.

Daddy is truly a trooper when it comes to standing up and doing what needs to be done to take care of his sweetheart, his bride, his love, his life partner, his WIFE. 

Even if it means doing things that no one ever thinks of needing to do, much less wanting to do. Because when a person is healthy, getting down and dirty, dealing with the stinky, the sometimes messy isn't anything anyone thinks about.

For the past several months, ever since Mom's diagnosis of this new cancer, Dad has selflessly put himself aside and put Mom first and foremost.  He's up early in the morning making special fresh fruit and carrot drinks for Mom for the instant vitamins.  He's helped get her dressed when she couldn't do it for herself.  He's even had to take care of other things to make Mom more comfortable.

Many tears were shed by Dad as he'd call all of us dealing with the unknown future of Mom's health.  "I just want to bring her home," he'd say as Mom would spend time in the hospital because of unbearable pain.

Dad would sleep lightly in one of the recliners in the other room because even getting in to bed would cause Mom to be in pain.  But he'd be up early getting things ready for her doctors appointments, chemotherapy or other things that needed to be done.

As a result, over time, although Mom may never be able to walk again, she has been able to get up in the mornings and get herself dressed, showered and even wheeled herself in to the main room to let the doggies out and then relax in the recliner to let Dad get some extra needed sleep.

Daddy is truly a special man in our lives.  We all love you very much.  We love both of you very much.

A DREAM SO REAL

Mom told me an interesting story the other day.  It was a dream that she had that really made a lot of sense.

Here's her dream.....She was in a river....not in a boat, just in the river.  She was floating down this brisk flowing river that was filled with rocks and fallen trees that created quite a challenge for her to get down the river.  Many things got in her way that stalled her progress to go where ever it was she was going to.

Then she came upon a large fallen tree that was literally blocking her way.  She couldn't get around it.  No going under it, she couldn't climb over it...it just stopped her from getting any further down river.

Then finally, after much effort, she just relaxed and the huge fallen tree was just lifted out of her way and she was able to continue down river. 

That was about the end of her dream when she woke up from it.

I think that the river was her life as she traveled through it.  The rocks and trees in her way are all the challenges that she has had to face.  Cancer in 2000....becoming cancer free two years later and staying clean for over 10 years. 

Then the huge fallen tree is her newest cancer.  It has stopped her in her tracks and taken her down from walking to wheelchair bound.  That has been her biggest challenge and struggle.  How to deal with the changes in her life and overcoming them, while keeping God foremost in her life and His word strong in her heart.

The lifting of the huge tree is God's way of helping Mom out with his gentle love and healing.

CURE FOR "CABIN FEVER" - TRAVEL

Well, Mom and Dad have been out gallivanting the countryside. They have been to Lewiston, CA and are headed back home from a trip south. They were able to visit Mom's brother and wife Kenny and Elaine. Then went to my sister Annie's house for an overnight stay. I must say, I am really proud of Mom taking on these little trips. Plus, poor Dad has been suffering from cabin fever, so it's good that he has gotten out as well. Love my Mom and Dad for sure.