I was awake and even UP before 8:00 this morning, probably because I was so excited about finally getting to spend some time in Fort Worth with two of my siblings as well as a visit with Lillian.
I let Louis Dean sleep as long as I could and finally woke him up after I had my prayer and praise time and two cups of coffee. He still had to stupor for over an hour before we got ready to go to Fort Worth.
We stopped at Subway for sandwiches all around and met up with Deanie and Charlie at Lonnie's house. We ate lunch together at the their kitchen table and laughed and talked and simply enjoyed being together. Lonnie is doing well as are we all. Life changes as we age.....most often it's a gradual change....and then at times it comes rather abruptly.....and sometimes in stages. We have no control about how it comes to us and know only the certainty that it WILL come. In one form or another. My prayer is that I will meet and accept it with grace.....the grace that only God can give. I saw that grace today.....in every pair of eyes and every face around Lonnie's kitchen table. I'm grateful there is no bitterness in us....in any of my siblings or myself ......as we journey through this winter season of our lives....together. That's a blessing right there. We are still together. We did not lose Lonnie. We have - the four of us siblings that grew up together - experienced every single season of our lives - together! And we have shared these seasons - or at least parts of them - with our other siblings as best we can.....Luann and Shari. They are part of our story and we love them, too.
I'm grateful we siblings and spouses have bonded so well together.
Louis Dean and Deanie bonded on the road trip home from Houston after Amber delivered the quadruplets....Trystan, Kailey, Harrison and Logan in the spring of 2012.
We have all loved Charlie and Mike from the get go. And we were so blessed with Michele when she and Lonnie married. God has been good to our family.
And I can't leave this thought without mentioning the new siblings I will be meeting soon.
Only God could orchestrate things in such a way that I connected with siblings from my father.... Leo Everett Gage. I love the name 'Gage.' Buster, Rita and Lori. I love them already.
And another miracle that they have been so kind and welcoming. I was a surprise to them. It could have gone so many ways.....
Only God......words fail me to describe the feelings of my heart tonight.
We left after lunch to do some shopping for Lillian.
She wasn't able to give me a list of things she needed from Walmart as she usually does.
We stopped and bought her some flowers and a vase and some fairly green bananas - she likes them green so they do not get too ripe before she eats them. The ones at the nursing home are all usually over ripe! I bought some pretty gold clips for her hair and some chicken salad and macaroni salad from the deli.
When we arrived at the nursing home - and I had made an appointment for our visit - they gave us a N95 mask to wear and both Louis Dean and I were able to spend an hour with her.
We prayed together......
And Louis Dean got a smile out of her!
She is very frail and skin and bones.
The stroke has taken a lot of 'Lillian' away and I am hoping and praying she can recover.
She knew who we were and when we arrived, she was clutching a card from Elizabeth S. in her hand.
That made me tear up. She asked me to read it to her.....
She reads and rereads the cards....and then she gives them to me to 'keep' she says.
We came home and Louis Dean and I both spent some time doing 'therapy.'
Our visit with Deanie and Lonnie left us happy and full of joy.
I admit the visit with Lillian hurt my heart as much as it gladdened it.
Louis Dean changed the oil in his truck and I changed the sheets on our bed.
I did laundry and picked up the house.
Then together we sat outside and talked about our day.
He made me promise that I would never let him live out his last days as Lillian is doing.
You never know what Life has in store for you.
Lillian is the youngest of 11 siblings. Only one is left beside her.
She had 4 children.....only one is left.
I think the best thing we can do - the only thing we can do - is to trust God.
He alone knows the plan for our life and if our heart is perfect toward him - and that does NOT mean that WE are perfect - we will have the grace to accept his will. Whatever it is.
Because this life is not all there is.
Heaven waits.
And while this evening I have had some sobering thoughts....
I will continue to rejoice.
The best is yet to come.
Well it's for sure that getting old ain't for sissy's. LOL. We all seem to have our aches and pains of late that's for sure. You had a full day that's for sure. No grass growing under those tootsies.
ReplyDeletePrayers for your friend Lillian.
Hugs Carla
I don't often comment, but I do read all of your posts. There are so many happy and sad times in our lives. We never know what God has planned for our lives. Praying for Lillian. And Devin who you mentioned yesterday. So glad you got to spend time with your siblings. Family is so important. And glad LD got a good report from his doctor. Good news!
ReplyDeleteAging is easier for some than others--health problems being a big factor, how alone one feels another. Ups and downs of life! But we are never alone when we know God and that He gave us Life forever through Jesus' death and resurrections! I wish everyone could know that peace.
ReplyDeleteEd and I do our best to help one another and be kind to one another, and to others. Loving kindness is so important, and just knowing you are loved means so much! As we get older, it grows sweeter. 55 years this past June 30th
Lillian looks very fragile. I can't remember when she had her stroke, but it seems most recoveries are better in a shorter time than a longer--but time will tell. She has a lot of us praying and I don't underestimate prayer at all. It literally saved my life at least once, but, I'm sure more than once!
Glad you got to see two of your sibs. My older brother turns 82 tomorrow and his health is very good, thank the Lord, and he lives right down the street!
Have a great week. Hope no more plumbing problems occur!
<3<3
This is a very thought and poignant post. Life is fragile and fleeting, but God is in control and he loves us each infinitely. Prayers for your Lillian and Lonnie. So glad they are doing better. It's also great news that Louis Dean got good news from the doctor in your last post. I love the new fridge!
ReplyDeleteYou gave us all the best wisdom and advice with "Trust God." Circumstances are so strange just now. We are all a bit unsettled. Still we have seen the hand of The Lord. We can trust Him and lean into Him. Ongoing prayers for you and Louis Dean and Lonnie and all your family. I am keeping Lillian tucked into my prayers. God knows and He cares.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know what may come our way but we can only make the best of it while we can and I think you do a good job of doing that. Lillian looks better than I expected and since she is a strong person I feel sure she'll make a good recovery. You are ver fortunate having all those siblings. I only have one, but she means the world to me. I'm so thankful you are all doing good.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to see someone get to the end of their life. I know that God comforts and keeps them from pain. I've seen it over and over working with hospice patients. So we leave it in His hands and try not to worry about what the future holds. I'm glad you had a good day with family. Give L. D. hugs for me! He's so sweet and thoughtful!
ReplyDeleteI have a card ready for tomorrow’s mail pick up! I hope it will encourage and bless Lillian. She looks pretty inspite of her being so thin. Hopefully she’ll recover quickly.
ReplyDeleteI have vowed to my parents to keep them out of a nursing home. It’s a much bigger blessing to live out your days among people you love and who love you! My dear MIL who is 99 years old, is cared for in her home mostly by family and by an occasional caregiver who loves her too.
Your visit will have helped Lillian hugely - look forward to seeing her continue to recover. Keep on spreading that charm.. Cheers
ReplyDeleteOh Sweet Linda, how I wish I could give you a big hug and just sit and gab with you.
ReplyDeleteThis post is so full of tender, wonderful and heart-wrenching moments.
I love your attitude about Life here and now and the Life to come.
I try to live my life that way too.
Prayers for Lillian, prayers for Lonnie and prayers for the time you will have with your new siblings. Things sure do have twists and turns along the way.
(((hugs))) to you and LD.
Sue
Your journal today was uplifting, heartbreaking. Filled with laughter, tears. Life and family, trials and "victories". You are all in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to read about and see Lillian's decline, but your friendship and support (both of you) surely brings her happiness. You and Louis Dean are such caring and supportive people and so glad you "found" one another.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most beautiful posts ever. These words really touched my heart and made me realize how blessed I am. Thank you. I read all kinds of blogs and yours is my absolute favorite.
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