Monday, February 15, 2010

Away and Sad news.

I've been away. My husbands Mom has been ill and we are glad she is now stable.
The doctors and nurses at the hospital in Moose Jaw, Sask were awesome.
We could really see how hard they are trying to give her great care.

At one point she was quite upset that she could not drink or eat anything. So, Jim said a prayer with her and we told her to focus on Jehovah. We told her Jehovah knew how she felt just like he did David when he was undergoing trials.
So, when they brought her ice chips, I asked her, "Who brought you those ice chips?"
She replied, "Jehovah." Thumbs up Madelyn!

Unfortunately, my camera is still in Moose Jaw waiting to be picked up. So, I don't have any current pictures for awhile.

And, very sad news. We lost my Aunt Marian. She was 97.
When I was about 5, my mother left my father with 3 small children to care for. He knew he could not take care of us alone, so he temporarily sent us to live with my Aunts. My sister and I lived with Aunt Marian, my brother with Aunt Lorna. After we returned home, we visited Aunt Marian every year growing up on vacation.
Aunt Marian taught us so many things! Love, obedience and respect were some. Also, that you better be home when the noon whistle blows or there will be consequences, and how to iron my uncle's shorts!

About 2 years ago, we had the opportunity to go back to Breda, Iowa and visit her and go to see her home. You know how often you think it would be nice to go back and see the home you lived in when you were a child, but of course, it would never look the same. Well, in this case, it was EXACTLY as it was when we grew up! How exciting! The corner cabinet that held the comics was still there-with the comics! And, the bed we slept in was still there upstairs-I think it even had the same bedspread! The tile steps to the upstairs-the same. Although, I remembered the steps much higher then they were. (Maybe she had them shortened?)

When we went to see her, what touched us the most was her memories of us being there. She told us how much she wanted to adopt us and keep us. But, she could not and it made her sad. That meant so much To have someone care that much for us was very tender and dear to my sister and I.

So many memories. So sad to see her gone.

We just look forward to seeing her again. With my Father, also.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Daddy's Hands

There is a song by Holly Dunn called "Daddy's Hands" that will always make me cry when I hear it. It reminds me of how my Dad would hold my hand and fiddle with my fingers.
When I was a teenager he would want to hold my hand in the mall, of all places! How embarrassed I was that my Dad was holding my hand! (My husband holds my hand when we are in the car and fiddles with my fingers the same way! Amazing!!! )

As a teenager, I never thought there would be a day when I would just love to feel hands again.

Some events this week have brought those memories back to mind. Before my Dad died, he was in the hospital on a respirator. We would fly to see him and hold his hand and look into his eyes as he struggled to breathe. After a few months of struggle, we knew he would not be long with us. He decided to end his struggle and remove the breathing tubes. So, we flew to his side and held his hand and told him we understood. We all knew it would be a hard thing for us, but we knew we didn't want him to struggle for each breath any longer either. We held his hand many times that night. We kept a vigil at the hospital for nearly 24 hours before he lost his fight for life. It was one of the very hardest things I have ever done in my life to see my Father die.

"I remember Daddy's hands

There are things I have forgotten that I loved about the man,

But I will always remember the love in Daddy's hands."

This week, we lost a dear friend. He also was struggling for each breath. Several of us were there to hold his hand. Many times I wished I could just take one breath of my own and give it to him as I wished I could for my Dad, but of course that isn't possible. I look forward to seeing our friend again.
I also look forward to holding my "Daddy's Hands" again one day. That day, I will never say I am too embarrassed to be holding his hand!