My Dad

I have been wanting to post, but haven't made the time to do it.

I will update briefly.  My dad has been ill lately.  He had surgery about three weeks ago and developed complications about a week after he was sent home.  He found out that he had a blood clot in his leg from his calf all the way up to his waist :(

As a result of taking blood thinners to help get rid of the clot--Coumadin and Lovenox--his body was unable to heal from the surgery and he continued to bleed.  Without getting into too much detail he was in extreme pain and took three ambulance rides within a 12 hour period being transferred from his home and then from hospital to hospital as the doctors decided where the specialists were that could help him.

Finally he was sent into surgery to have a screen of sorts put in his artery so if a part of the blood clot in his leg should break off it wouldn't cause him to have a stroke or worse.  They were able to lessen the blood thinners after the surgery and he is slowly healing now.  He was in the hospital for a week.

Thankful to God that my dad is home with my mom.  My sister, who lives in the next town over is staying with them for a little while just to be on hand should they need her.  My parents are both 70 years old.

Makes me wonder what the next years will hold for us as both my husband's and my parents live near each other and they are all about 2 hours from our home.  It was so difficult for me to try and get back to help out.  As it was I only made it to the hospital once to see him.  I was very thankful thought that my two sisters stayed with my mom during the whole ordeal (when my dad got really sick/was in the hospital).  We do have plans to see him this coming up Sunday though, as we will travel to visit both sets of parents (my husband's and mine).

It certainly isn't easy to get older or watch those we love get older as almost everyone finds out some day, but with God's grace we will make it through each day moment by moment.





  

Organizing, Cleaning and Weight Watchers

I have been organizing here lately.  When the children went back to school, except Elisabeth (2 years old), of course, I had looked forward to cleaning and organizing after a house full of children all summer.

I was able to clean the part of the basement today that stores all of our extra clothes.  I was also able to switch my summer clothes in my drawers to my winter clothes and I did the same with Elisabeth's bureau.  The whole time that I was cleaning in the basement she kept herself so happy playing with Little People and making up stories.  She hadn't seen those toys in about 6 months I think, so she was thrilled to be able to play with them.

This weekend we are supposed to get a lot of rain so we are planning on cleaning the attic out.  We have a lot of things stored up there and to make matters more complicated we had our roof replaced about a year ago and when they stripped the roof a lot of the debris fell into the attic (small pieces of shingles, nails, dust, etc.) and it hasn't been cleaned since.  It will feel good to get that done.
 
We live in a 1600 square foot house...all eight of us at times, so it is very snug here.  I actually enjoy having a house our size because we get to see our children a lot.  Even when they are in their rooms they are usually not alone for too long because they either share a room, or entertain visiting siblings.

As my children have grown older, it is nice because having a roommate insures a bit of accountability for how they are spending their time and keeps them engaged with their sibling/siblings.

I have also been working hard on the Weight Watchers program and as of last Saturday I've lost over 10 pounds.  The weight doesn't seem to come off as quickly as it used to when I have lost weight before (I'm a lifetime member of Weight Watchers), but I am here for the long haul, Lord willing.

With Hope,
Cheryl

 

What Is It Going To Take To Get Through This?

I wanted to thank 4daystoeternity blogspot for sharing a link on their recent post.  

If anyone has recently experienced a loss or knows someone who has, I would highly recommend watching this video by Nancy Guthrie. I read her book Holding On To Hope after the loss of Caleb and found it extremely helpful. There is invaluable information in this video and her book to help you if you are grieving the loss of a loved one and/or to help others in the midst of their grief.

Grieving a Loss --Click on this to watch video

Anniversary

Just thinking about how thankful I am that my husband and I were united together in marriage 24 years ago (September 17th, 1988). There have been really wonderful, beautiful times, and really difficult, sometimes tragic times. Through it all we are not perfect, but we continue to persevere and choose to love each other through it all, while leaning on God and just trusting in Him--whether the road is smooth or bumpy. I love you my hubby! Thank you for being who you are and for everything you do.

Trying to Make Sense of Tragedy

There have been a couple of tragedies lately in our small town.  One man was killed in a vehicle collision and another tragedy was when a single mother and her daughter died in a fire that consumed the house (with several apartments in it) they were living in. 

Someone local posted about the tragedy involving the fire and one of her comments asked whether or not there is really a God or a "Higher Power" because how could He let these terrible things happen.  

I can only speak about my own situation in regards to the character of God seen through my experience of losing my son at the age of 17 months old, four years ago.

The verse that first comes to mind is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God was willing to give up his only son for the salvation of others (while we were still sinners). He knows what grief feels like and he cares for us deeply. I can’t imagine choosing to allow your son die because you know that in doing so it will save many.

The way that I look at the situation is that we are like fish in a fishbowl who really only see what is in front of us and we don’t see the whole picture. We don’t know why God works the way he does…we just see the loss (in our case, our little Caleb) and we don’t understand God’s big plan and why he chose to take Caleb home so soon.

I also have looked at the pain at times like a child would look at having to have a vaccine. The child does not understand why he has to experience pain at the time and sometimes not for many years to come does she/he fully understand why they had to endure the shots. I probably will not know fully the reasons why the Lord chose to take Caleb until I enter Heaven.

Sometimes I see glimpses of good that have come out of a horrible tragedy of losing my precious son. I think to myself that, although I would have never chose the path that God has chosen for me, I will trust my Heavenly Father, who has given me these children as gifts and loves them more than I ever could with a perfect love.

Psalm 127:3 Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

I am very saddened for the people who lost their lives in the fire and for everyone who is grieving for them. Grief is a heavy burden to bear…I can’t imagine trying to carry it without God’s help. I honestly don’t think that I would be here today if I didn’t have a deep trust and faith in my Heavenly Father.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. That verse has helped bring me comfort as I have walked this road of grief. I pray that God can work through that verse and other verses to help comfort anyone out there who is hurting.

"This is Not Goodbye"

Thank you Trennia for your loving comments.

That was so thoughtful of you to send this song to me.  How timely it is for my situation.

I had never heard it before.

"This is Not Goodbye" by Sidewalk Prophets

Goodbyes

  

I was never any good at "goodbyes"...I wonder why they are even called that.

We raise our children with the hope some day that they can be independent and make good decisions.

It is very bittersweet.  As I get ready to say goodbye to my second child going off to college, I can feel my emotions up in my throat and down my cheeks.

I am so happy for him and thrilled for what the future has in store for my oldest boy, but very sad too in remembering the little boy who I held in my arms not too long ago, or so it seems.

I will be praying a bit more fervently this week for my children heading off to school again and especially for my children who are no longer under my wing, or at least not living in our house anymore.

I was given the gift of a book called "The Kite" by Jason Daniel McCabe and it is so appropriate at this time in my life with my older children.  Described by Amazon this way "An illustrated story that captures the tension of holding close and letting go. This collaboration by two brothers celebrates the accomplishments of youth while memorializing the passage of time."

I do know the One though who still has them under His wings...

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."  Psalm 91:4

Amen and Amen!  Thank you God, in whom I will trust...

Goodnight my friends...
((hugs))