We spent last evening at Hospice House, playing cards, eating with family, just being together. Wondering how much longer Papa would hold on. The night before last, Dale had a dream we sang around Papa’s bed side, and without him sharing … Continue reading
Hey friends, my kiddos are on Spring Break, hallelujah! We are obviously hanging close to home, no Florida trip after all, due to a Papa in Hospice House, preparing to go see Jesus.
I haven’t cooked in 3 weeks, so I don’t have anything yummy to share these days. I think I will take this time to rest. I want to enjoy my family and our time together, as we watch Papa say goodbye to this World, and enter into Eternity. Just know, that there will be some days in the month to come, that there is no blog prepared, I just haven’t had time to work ahead, or think about it.
I am sure you will understand and offer me grace, it’s been a tough couple of weeks, but I wanted to at least give you a heads up so I don’t get a bunch of “Where ARE you?” emails! 🙂 You all are so good to me!
Dale is gone all the time to Hospice, which make no mistake, is exactly where he belongs!!!! But he leaves behind a tired Momma, and 4 emotional children, who miss their Daddy AND their Papa. I still haven’t had the heart to ask him to bring the couch back into the living room now that the hospital bed is gone.
Our Father in Heaven knows the number of days He had planned for our Papa from the beginning of time. We are trying to be patient, but watching someone you love waste away day by day, is difficult to say the least. ESPECIALLY when mentally they are so alert that they know every visitor by name, but cannot eat, can barely drink, and cannot speak above a forced whisper.
I have been working late into the night, on a special slide show for his Memorial Service, I can’t wait to show it to you. We also have ordered his casket from a local Amish craftsman, which will be custom lined in hunting fabric, and working on the memorial service to come.
Everyone will be invited to wear their best Camo. Pretty neat, huh? That’s our Papa, never one for fussy clothes! 🙂
We want his Service to be a celebration of a life well lived, and to be a reflection of him, his friends, his love of hunting, and most of all, his Savior, Jesus Christ.
In other news from the Ferguson’s household, we lost our beloved Bambie for 2 long, scary days!
I had 3 sick, fevered kids, no doubt a result of knocked immune systems from the late nights, and the delicious sweets they have been allowed to have. Between that, a life that doesn’t stop for us to breathe, and some bad news from a close family member, it was just the straw the broke the Camel’s back.
Good thing our Heavenly Father knows our thoughts and loves us anyways, because I was NOT happy and I told Him so. I put it out an S.O.S. on Facebook and began to pray diligently for Bambie’s return.
We thought she was gone for good, because of a recent Coyote scare! Thanks to Facebook, and a gracious Father in Heaven who heard broken-hearted sobs from the Ferguson Farm, our friend Ashley, found her at the local shelter. We were able to get her home safe and sound at 1 the very next day!
They told us she was found on the Highway headed into town. I know she was coming to see us at Hospice House, she is such a smart girl. We hadn’t been home more than sleeping at night for a solid week, and she simply wanted to find her family.
Praise God for answered prayers, and for healed children the VERY NEXT DAY!
I will keep you posted on our Papa, ok?
This photo was taken a week and a half ago, and it’s hard to imagine this, I know….but he is half this size right now.
I sure covet your prayers during these final days. It’s hard to want someone to go home so badly, while in the same breath, wishing they could stay. One month ago Wednesday, Papa moved into our home, 2 weeks ago Wednesday, he moved into Hospice…..
It all feels like a lifetime ago.
Hugs, T
I have the most thoughtful ladies in my life! My friend, Kalene, knew I was having a particularly busy week, and she made some amazing food to share with us: Baja, Black Beans, Corn & Rice. Oh my yummy … Continue reading
Ever since I was preggers with Paxton, I have loved Mac & Cheese…
but it had to be THE BOXED KIND.
Oh good heavens, I am so ashamed to admit that to you.
The fake cheese tasted so good! I ate a whole box for lunch. Eeek! {with a salad!!!!}
I have been on the hunt for a homemade gooey, cheesy Mac & Cheese to replace my addiction ever since, and I haven’t found one that we like.
Well, when I saw this recipe from The Sunflower Supper Club I knew I had to give it a go. I mean, it had sour cream in it! How could I go wrong? They don’t have one recipe on their site that we haven’t LOOOOVED. This Mac and Cheese was no exception!
Kim calls it Creamy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese, but since I used more than just a pot, I felt like I would be lying to you, so we have dubbed it a new name at our house based on my favorite part, the buttery Panko on top!
from Kim at Sunflower Supper Club
Preheat oven to 350*F
Boil noodles and salt until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix cheese and sour cream. Add in still warm pasta and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer to a sprayed 9×13 baking dish.
Mix together bread crumbs, parsley flakes and butter. Sprinkle over shells and cheese.
Bake for 35 minutes, or until brown and bubbly.
Serve hot!
Tastes best first day.
You all this recipe is SO rich, SO creamy and SO divine, it made my eyes roll up in my head when I took a taste. Yup, it’s THAT GOOD!
Thanks Kim, for allowing me to share your yummy dish today! Head on over to Sunflower Supper Club and check out more of their amazing food!
~T
I think everyone might have a recipe for Tater Tot Casserole, but I had to blog it anyhow. I didn’t grow up eating this, so it’s still a novelty food at our house. I got this recipe from … Continue reading
Sorry to keep hi-jacking these posts to update you on Papa, they are already scheduled and ready to go, and since these recipes are kinda Seasonal, I figured this was the best route……just leave them be and add a … Continue reading
We had a really great day on Tuesday! Papa was alert and happy, he ate his dinner out at the table with us, all without a gag, or a hiccup to be heard. It seemed he was beating death for the time being, our thoughts turned from weeks to maybe months with him on Earth?
But at 8 Tuesday night, Papa lost movement in his left side. And instead of passing after a few minutes, it stayed paralyzed. The next morning, it had not returned fully, which means Dale was lifting him into the wheelchair and lifting him in the bathroom.
Poor guy fell during the night and banged up his knees because he didn’t want to be a bother and yell for us. We knew Wednesday, that we had some big decisions to make. Early on in his time in our home, we had established a “line in the sand” and after several messes, lots of vomit and a Papa no longer able to make it to the bathroom because he couldn’t walk, we knew we had reached that line.
It’s so strange, we knew it was coming, but it still took the rug out from under us and we spent the majority of the day, talking with Papa, praying over him, loving on him and crying with him. He knew what the move to Hospice meant, he knew his body was showing all the signs of being done.
Hospice is amazing, I can’t say that enough, Miss Janet, our nurse, Miss Marsha, our social worker and Miss Jennifer our Home Health Care nurse, were here in no time flat, all working like a well-oiled machine to clean up Papa, assess the situation, and make the necessary arrangements for his transfer.
We had some special folks stop by, right before me moved him.
Papa’s adopted parents and his pastor:
I loved hearing them pray with him, read him the Psalms, and his parents sang and played harmonica. They are 93 and just completely adorable together!
It was a precious last “Papa Memory” in our home……
I don’t know what it is about Wednesdays, but Wednesday, February 26th, Papa moved in, and Wednesday, March 12th, Papa moved out and went to Hospice House. Longest, hardest, best 2 weeks ever.
The Father knew the number of Papa Don’s days on Earth before He even created him, He knows the exact moment He will call him home.
Hospice, who know the signs the body gives at the end, are guessing we are down to the “days to a week” stage of the game. We plan go to Hospice House every day, do homework there, practice piano, play together, eat supper and stay until the kids bedtime. We don’t want to waste a precious second. Dale will stay until Papa is ready to sleep, and he will head back over in the morning, after dropping kids at school each day.
Alright, that was my big update, now back to the food I scheduled a month ago, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day….bless you all for your love and compassion for my family.
Dale and I had our 3rd ever canning adventure last month! First time was tomato sauce, second was jalapenos, both were 2 summers ago. Bad crop last year. Boo. This time we canned with a PRESSURE COOKER… Oooooo! … Continue reading
I quit last night. Walked out the back door and quit. I am tired of bodily fluids and dirty laundry, I am tired of listening to barfing sounds at the table, in the middle of family dinner….and I … Continue reading
Papa loves Sister Schubert’s ROLLS, that is! Before I knew our lives were going to get busy, and would revolve around the family member living out his last days in our home, I agreed to Host a Sister … Continue reading
4 little Fergusons 