A Race Finished

Today on the blog, dad’s memorial service….A Race Finished.

Hugs, T

http://www.rvoilers.com/blog

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There Is A Hospital Bed In My Living Room

  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 …

Waiting for Paradise

We went to Hospice House for dinner Friday to be together as a family.  Out of respect for Grandpa, I am not going to share images of him, just the family around him, holding his hands and just murmering their love and affirmation of a life well lived.

It’s so hard to see someone you love slowly, painfully die.

Not really here, but not gone to Paradise either.

His head tilts back as he lays in bed, his eyes open and shut, but do not see.  His breathing raspy, gurgling actually.  He doesn’t talk much anymore, except….except on Wednesday, when I lifted the children up, one by one to kiss his forehead and say hi in his ear, his breathing changed, excited breaths followed by an exhaled HIIIIIII.  Oh so faint, so soft we almost missed it.  Again tonight, he said it to us except we were blessed to hear his whispered voice three times Hi, Hi, Hi….

{Instant tears}

 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

—2 Corinthians 4:16–18

A brave Papa fighting cancer, an oh so special Great Grandpa in Hospice, an adopted, and well loved “Gramma” Esther in another state, also in hospice waiting for Jesus to take her home, dying of the same cancer our Papa is fighting so hard against….so many loved ones on their way to Jesus.  And it’s my job to comfort my little ones, and answer their questions with accuracy and honesty.  In simple, but real terms to bring comfort in the truth of death.

But isn’t it funny, how sometimes THEY bring comfort to us, with their innocent understanding of life, death and a new life in Heaven.

  Avery is so excited for Grandpa to have new “bendy legs”. His old childhood injury, a smashed ankle turned rod in the leg, has given him a lifetime of pain.  She knew new legs would be a special part of his Heavenly body.  Paxton was most excited that he’d “Wun wiff Jesus!” {run with Jesus} The older two, quietly taking it all in, their thoughts kept quiet as they prepare to say good-bye to a Grandpa who was a big part of their lives and weekly routine.

   But we know, good bye is never really good bye, not when you have the hope of Jesus.  Good-bye is really just “So long for now”…..

And so we wait, life feeling like its holding it’s breath, anticipating yet dreading the day we get “the call” that he has gone.  Until then, we ask Jesus to ease his pain and take him home soon.

Because this Earth is NOT our home.

  *I wrote this post not knowing that the day I wrote it,  Friday, April 26th at 10:45pm, my sweet Grandpa would get to see his Jesus in Glory.  My mom and my Grandma each held a hand as he went.

  So long for now, Grandpa.

So long for now…….

No more sorrow, no more pain.

I sure do love you. 

~T

  I also want to add, that this morning {Saturday} soon after 7, our beloved Gramma Esther went to see Jesus too.  She had been talking of a “reunion” she was planning all week!  Praise God her time of suffering is over, and she is in Paradise with my Grandpa and many others who have gone before them. What a REUNION!

A Different Kind of Photo Shoot

  Family shoots are usually fun, light-hearted events, but sometimes, we have to take a different approach to a Photo shoot.

  This shoot was different.

This shoot provoked laughter AND tears, because this shoot was taken out of urgency.

The kind of urgency you get when you receive bad news.

  Dale’s father, not yet 60, was just diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. 

More spots then they can count on his liver, and spots in his lungs too.

We aren’t going down without a fight, both with the doctor and chemo, and natural remedies too. But it didn’t change our feelings on the timing of this Family Photo Shoot.  Some things you just don’t realize you need to do, until you think that maybe soon you won’t get the chance anymore.  

  We wanted to take Papa Dons photo BEFORE the Chemo took it’s toll on his body and his appearance. 

  There have been many, many tears shed at our house and many difficult decisions to make, and paperwork to fill out.  

  There have been many serious talks, some with tears, some without, about what was happening to Papa.  

Because of this, the children decided to make Papa Don cards, listing all the reasons they love him. They worked so hard on their pictures.  

We decided at the photo shoot would be a perfect time to give them to him……

  We are believing in Faith, in a God who is the Great I AM.  The perfect Healer.  And we will pray and fight with and for Don until the end, no matter what the end holds. 

  That’s the hardest part about all this,

Praying and believing for the best, yet having to take all steps to prepare and plan for the worst.

  But I know this, our Heavenly Father has plans for Papa Don, plans to bring him hope and a future…..

  And until we know those plans, our job is to make each day count as if it were his last. 

  But that’s the funny part about all this,

Any of us, at any time could be living our last days, minutes, moments.

  So here’s to saying I love you,

I care about you,

You are an amazing example to our children,

You make us laugh,

We admire you and your quiet strength,

Thank you……….

And here’s to spending just a few more seconds in that hug good bye each time you come over…..

  For this Earth is not our home……

We are all here but a moment in time.

~T

 

Update:  God is so so good!  We have been pursuing both chemo and natural treatments via The Life Vessel and we have some amazing news.  Don’s markers in his blood were over 8,000 his first visit, and the doctor frankly told him he shouldn’t even be here.  2 months later: his marker count came back at 4,000!  Praise God for His healing touch, and may He continue to bring healing to Don’s body as he fights this cancer.  Thank you for your prayers!