Mother's Day without

This is my first Mother's Day without Mom.

It was odd not shopping for a gift. Not planning a visit to see her. I miss my mom. I miss her the way she was before illness filled her every hour with pain.

This Mother's Day I am thankful. Because, though I am without her on this earth, I know where she dwells. I know her pain is gone.

I'm thankful that for 37 years I celebrated Mother's Day with her physically. And I'm thankful now to celebrate her life and what a great Mom she was to me. And I'm thankful to know that a reunion awaits. What a glorious Mother's Day that will be.

I love you Mom!

time marches on

Last year my family celebrated our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without Dad, and this year we will celebrate these holidays without Mom. I'm sad. But I am also joyful. I have been abundantly blessed. One of the greatest blessings are the parents who raised me. A girl could not have asked for a more stable and loving home.

As I cook my contributions to our Thanksgiving meal there will be some sadness and some satisfaction. Satisfaction in knowing that I am passing the traditions I shared with my parents on to my son. Satisfaction that I am exemplifying to him that grief is natural and that joy and grief CAN walk hand and hand together!

GRACE

My sweet Momma went home to the Lord early this morning. She had decided to stop dialysis this coming Monday and we knew the end of her life on earth was near. The Lord decided to take her home while she slept. What a blessing! My mom has suffered so, and I am rejoicing that she is at peace and out of pain and casting her crowns at the feet of our Lord. I will miss her, as I miss my Dad. But how wonderful it is to know my Savior and have faith in his promise. To know that life on this earth is just a blink in what will be our eternal lives.

Today I am thankful for Grace supplied by the Lord to see us through the difficult times.

Early Morning Phone Calls

I don't like early morning phone calls. Nothing good comes from them. At least not in my circle of family and friends. We sleep in, unless we're going to work or somewhere...and then we don't have time for conversation. Not at unspeakable times...like 5 a.m.....on a Sunday!

So, when my phone rang this morning, I knew it wasn't good. I made my way to the phone, groggy and disoriented. In the darkness I couldn't figure out how to answer the phone! Then I heard Virgil's cell phone ringing.

Nope...this can't be good.

And it wasn't.

Mom was transported to the hospital early this morning. The aide at her nursing facility said she went in to check on her and she was convulsing and had blood coming from her mouth. This was the information I had as I got dressed and Virgil drove me to the hospital. When I saw Mom she looked at me and said, "Momma, I hurt!" I comforted her as best I could.

I'm not sure about what happened at the nursing home, but officially she was admitted to the hospital with Aspiration Pneumonia. She had bitten her tongue and I assume that is where the blood was coming from.

And she knew who I was before I left. I think she just got a little rattled with the pain and called me Momma.

Keep her in your prayers. Prayers relief of pain are SO appreciated.

~ @my