Joan, sorry to hear of such a young girl having to go through so much. I am praying for her.

Florence, laughing at your lemonade from lemons remark about having a legitimate excuse for not being ready for Christmas. I hope you have a Merry Christmas, preparations be forgot!

Sharon, those are a couple of determined kids! Wow hope the drive back if they need to do it is alot better!

I just wanted to mention a praise. Two of my boys have made it home. DS in Air Force plane was late on Friday but he got here. DS and DIL that were driving from Seattle had only 200 miles of good roads of 1,300 miles. They did end up staying in Wyoming due to closed roads but got here Sunday. DS#2 and DIL arrive tonight, but Denver is delayed all day because of the plane accident/crash yesterday.

The house is full.

I am thinking and praying for all of you. Happy Holidays to all.

Sharon in Colorado

Thank you all for your kindness thru these trials! It is truly meaningful to have found friends like you. Joan, it does sound like your Dad's service was lovely... (I have 3 boys too...)
Well, my dad got a good bill of health (relative) from his hospital stay, but does have a 30-day heart monitor to see if anything shows up, but not to be outdone, Mama fainted THIS week after church! That, with the continued vomiting, etc., landed her back in the hospital and she will stay for another day or two. Mostly it's her hydration, but she finds it difficult to eat & drink much. We're thinking she may need home-health care to do some in-home IV's for fluids. She'll get her next treatment in the hospital. She's really very weak and tired.
but looking for a bright spot, I think I've got good reason to NOT be ready for Christmas!!
Hugs to you all, and in case I don't get back on the board this week, Merry Christmas!!
Florence

Hi all, so close to Christmas, I hope everyone is on the mend! Our family needs more prayers, my cousin called and her niece needs more heart surgery. They did a catherization and found she needs a more extensive procedure. She is 17 and has had heart problems all her life. I'm not sure of the medical terms, just that she needs prayers. So I knew where to go!
God bless and have a wonderful holiday.
Joan

Joan - It sounded like a wonderful service! I can imagine that it felt wonderful to have your family there and all participating - especially being the Mom!

Well, although it is so sad to lose someone, I know that there is a wonderful Place that they journey on to. I am continually reminding myself that it is not the victories on this earth that matter, but the Victory in the next!

Peace to you and your family! May the sadness and loss in your heart be replaced over time with Peace and Joy!

God Bless!
Mary Kay

Joan that is so sweet of you glad to hear things went well and when you get back to Va. let me know maybe we can meet for lunch some where let me know Happy

Thank you all for your prayers. Today was a wonderful, although long, day and the service was beautiful. The casket was open for awhile for a select few, and my boys happened to walk in before I could mention it to them, and they were taken by surprise, but basically ok. Jeremy, 19, and the most like my dad, (I'm a ladies man, like grandpa!, he used to say) cried the most and I know that is good fo him. Christopher played the piano, Peter and my husband Paul read the readings, and Jeremy, the voice major at IU was to lead the songs, but he called me up at the last minute, so we sang together. It was actually very beautiful to be up there with the boys, and as a mom, loving every minute of showing them off to friends and family! I told him, just sing for Grandpa, he can hear us.
So we made it through the day with all your wonderful prayers to carry us through. I am going to put mom to bed soon, and get in with her soon after! She and my sister fly back to Florida on Monday.
I do have to offer you all something: I bought the season 4 and 5 and I have the gift certificate, and I am offering it to one of my prayer buddies. The one quilting friend I know does not have time for it right now, so said to offer it to one of my online buddies. I know times are hard right now, so if someone would like the 6 months free, I will gladly send you the certificate. I'd hate for it to go to waste! And I know as prayerful people, you all will know who should get it and value it.
Take care. I will keep you all in prayer tonight as always.
Love
Joan

Jamonty how is your Uncle? Hopefully better. Joan check out makint scrap books and if the time come and a nursing home type facility is necessary look into one that is more home orriented . Also local nursing homes will offer respite type services if they have an empty bed and you and your Hubby want to get away for a weekend. It usually cost around alittle more then a hotel room but the peace of mind you get from knowing that some one will be there for Mom's every whim is priceless. Also it is a great way of trying one out before one becomes a need. Just thought I would pass along this info. Many people do not know these things. Also your local nursing home social worker is a good place to go if you have questions about services that are out there. Also if you have a loved one in a nursing home and you feel you are being manipulated or susp[ect abuse you can always ask for an ombudsman (spelling might be off). These are people who represent the patient and their family and fight for the patients rights. If the nursing home doesn't offer you one there is usually a sign posting contact info. However, you can always call the department of the aging and seek out one yourself. Hope this helps. I know it is more then you need right now but you never know when this info will come in handy.
Rachel

Florence, it's been a tough year for you too. I'm praying for the decisions you have to make with the business and the continuing struggle your mom especially is having. I pray the doctor's have a plan and strategy to get her through this latest cancer and that your mom's body stays strong enough for the treatments to make a difference. God bless you all.

Joan, believe me you will have your hands full taking care of your mom and have plenty of new memories. One of the things that I found so helpful was reading Ami Simms' blogs and newsletters. I got a big clue on how to relate to my mom and how to view this last life stage with her. Ami found the humor in her mom's quirks and dissociative thinking. I, being a lover of life's humor have let myself enjoy that too with my mom. I also learned from Ami and mom's nurses how talk to her. If she's upset and calling out, the nurses don't say what I'm tempted to do which is "you're alright". They look her in the eye and treat her with dignity and with great patience help find out what she's upset about. Ami wrote after her mom died Thanksgiving weekend that she is gladly giving up the roll of caretaker and going back to daughter. She does not have to play the part of the adult and can go back and honor her mom's contribution to her life and those she touched. Also Joan, I don't know how far the dimentia will take your mom but if she must get care, let it happen and don't let guilt take you for a ride. I was so thankful to finally see this week the excellent care my mom is getting and be comforted that she's really getting the best care. It did a great job easing my feelings of guilt. I'm praying for you and your siblings to be able to make decisions during this season that everyone feels good about.

You have all been in my hearts and on my mind. Especially you you Joan. There are so many positive things I hear in your post about your Mom. Don't give up but don't try to be so strong that you don't ask for help. Contact the department for aging in your aging and ask about day programs and other programs that your Mom may be elegible for. Remember you are only good if you take care of yourself too. Beware of caretaker burnout.
Iam sorry that I haven't been on in awhile I have been taking care of family business and now I have a horrible cold. I knew it was coming I just was hoping it would wait until after the holidays. Oh well that is the way it goes. I guess God was telling me it was time for me to get some rest because I just slept for 2 days straught.
Well back to dream landMerry Christmas everyone
Rachel

I'll say a prayer for your uncle. I pray everyone has a very Merry Christmas in spite of illnesses and difficulties!!!

prayers coming your way have a Merry Christmas

My uncle needs your prayers. He slipped and fell outside his post office. He broke his hip and has had surgery. He's not the most steady on his feet anyway and this will be a long road for his recovery. He told my parents that he will be out of the hospital in a few days. The turn around on such a surgery is remarkable.