Just tuning in? This is a 3 Part series on our beloved Papa’s Celebration of Life service. Catch up here: Part 1 Part 2 While the men left the church in front of the casket, this beautiful song played by the … Continue reading
This is Part 2, please head back to Part 1 if you missed it yesterday. The service opened with prayer and worship, Papa’s favorites: Amazing Grace, old style and then leading into the new worship version and How Great Thou … Continue reading
Hey guys, I have missed you all! The break has been wonderful, well, maybe just necessary is the word. Life doesn’t quite feel like it’s back to normal yet, I am wondering how long it will take. I can’t believe … 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.
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
This one comes from Pioneer Woman, so you know it’s a winner! Oh you guys, it was so incredibly easy and good. My favorite part is the topping, it adds a cinnamon butter crunch to the dish. from … Continue reading
There is a walker, a commode, and a wheelchair sitting in my living room. And I am not sure how I feel about it. Actually, I do…. I am TERRIFIED for the day we have to use … Continue reading
I love our home, and I am so thankful for it, it suits our family well. HOWEVER, I have always hated having carpet in the kitchen. For 11 1/2 years I have rued it’s existance….. Yes, … Continue reading
We had a busy, but productive weekend with church events, Essential oil classes, and a Pancake Feed for Papa….. The church Dale grew up in, the one Papa still attends, is so incredible! When they have things to … Continue reading
Last month, I told you about Stitch Fix and how much fun I am having getting beautiful, high quality pieces delivered to my door!!!!! {You really should try it, just once!!!}
However, you also know, that I am a stay at home mom, who works hard to STAY HOME.
Do you follow me on pinterest? I have a Pinterest Board called “A Fashionsita Wannabe In A Stay At Home Mom World” and that sums my life up perfectly!
I adore looking at the latest fashions, putting together outfits, accessorizing, but the truth of the matter is…….
I literally only wear “real” clothes 2 days a week!
Family Friday to go see Grandma at her restaurant {followed by an occasional date night with my honey} and Sunday for Church!
Otherwise?
Comfy clothes ALL THE WAY!
I have been a stay at home momma for over 10 years. Comfort became important to me from the day I brought my babies home from the hospital.
I mean, my outfit is only going to get puked and pooped on, right!?
I got really scruffy over that time, sweatshirts and sweats getting bigger and baggier the more kids I had. I didn’t go anywhere, so it didn’t matter.
Well, that part of my life has changed a bit. I now have to pop into school, or get out for errands much more often than I used to, simply due to the age my children are now. With a 5th grader and 1st grader that must be picked up every day, my days are no longer spent within the walls of my home like they were when they all were babies.
So about 4 years ago, I decided I was too scruffy, and went shopping……..
And came home with cute church dresses.
So I went shopping months later…….
And came home with cute tops and jeans.
Oops.
I didn’t NEED that kind of stuff, but it was so pretty! It was hard to find comfy stuff that was cute!
Finally, after months of picking up bargains here and there, I realized I was getting NO WHERE in the “Home Clothes Department”, so I MADE myself start looking at the cotton comfy items.
I am not an athletic person, I tried sweats, but they just didn’t trip my trigger. Then, the clouds parted, the angel choir sang their Hallelujah chorus, and leggings came back in.
Woo-hoo! NOW we were talking!!!!!
I found some long t-shirts at Sears and 2 pairs of leggings at JCP. I wore them over and over and over again that first year. Adding sweaters in the winter, changing from boots to flip-flops in the summer. Paxton was still a baby and I could easily nurse him with no fuss.
{EEEEEK! Where does the time go? I want my baby back!!!!}
{sigh} 4 and no more, 4 and no more, 4 and no more……
Anyhow, it was perfect! I felt cute, but was still super comfy!
The next season, I added to my wardrobe:
I hit Khols’ sales racks, and found a few longer sweatshirt-material tunic tops that went with 2 pairs of leggings. I also got some comfy slipper-esque boots in both black and grey. (10 pound babies did a number on my arches, so I have to wear shoes or slippers at all times!)
The next season, I found some cardis on sale at Target, some seriously marked down brown boots from our Marketplace grocery store, and a scarf to complete one of the outfits.
All of this will go with the same basic leggings, & colorful v-neck undershirts I had from before:
This season, I added a bit more flair to the rotation, when my favorite bargain place to shop, Zulilly, had a big printed legging sale:
My SAHM fall, winter and spring wardrobe are now complete!
I love that I can ABC all the different pieces, and make a bunch of different looks!
As we transition to Spring then Summer, I switch to long cotton skirts, and v-neck tees in a variety of colors with the same cardis until it gets too warm for that extra layer. I do the same with shoes, switching from boots to moccasins then flip-flops as the temperature rises……Still comfy but cute!
In order to be classified as “Home Clothes”, clothing items must:
A) Be comfy
B) Be comfy and on the clearance rack
and
C) Have I mentioned Be Comfy? Yes?
Ok, then CUTE enough to run into the school, go to Bible Study Wednesday night, or stop at the store any time, without having to change clothes first!
I want to be free to lay on the floor with my kids, curl up with a book during nap time, get snot wiped on my shoulder, without any harm. I do NOT like to wear jeans, or anything that would cut or pinch when I moved around cleaning the floor, and nothing that will catch and rip while I am doing chicken chores.
I also want to be well dressed for my husband. He is my number 1 human priority and I want him to be proud to have me pop into his office, or get that big ol’ grin on his face when he comes home, because he likes my cheetah leggings and fur boots.
Dale is a corn-fed country boy, he doesn’t care about jewelry, makeup, or fancy clothes, but I think he responded differently to me when I put away his giant sweatshirts and my ugly sweats, and got out some cute- but-comfy home clothes that made me look like a woman again.
*Note: Dale brought up a good point here. He says his response didn’t change towards me, but he said my response back did.
Think about it, when I felt like I woman instead of a frumpy mom, I responded like one….. INTERESTING!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs, T
4 little Fergusons 