A Parent's Wish

Here's a wonderful website that my sister sent me. It speaks about the position that many of us are in right now...either caring for aging parents or being cared for by our children. It really touched my heart.

A Parent's Wish

Betsy blue eyes

I'm sick...

I thought I was going to make it through the winter without a cold, but it hit me hard on Sunday. Joel and Wendy were supposed to visit over the weekend but decided not to chance the bad weather we were expecting. We dodged the ice storm though...the ice started to build up Saturday night and then the weather warmed up enough to melt it before it got too bad. We haven't see Joel and Wendy since Christmas so we were really looking forward to spending some time with them. They haven't seen my mom since then either and really wanted to visit her. It's probably a good thing they didn't come down since I got sick on Sunday. I've missed two days of work with this sore throat and cough...I probably won't go out to Mom's this week unless I improve a lot...I sure don't want to expose her to this. I don't have much news...just staying warm and drinking lots of juice and hoping to go back to work tomorrow.

My Web Album

I've posted some of my favorite photos on a web album if you'd like to check them out. There's a short video of Mark Schultz singing "I Am". I hope you enjoy it!

After the blizzard...

The blizzard brought bunches of snow so there are piles everywhere...making it rough to get around. It warmed up a little on Sunday so some of the streets had a chance to be cleared. I spent Friday night and Saturday with Mom and Dad. Things are about the same there. Mom is sleeping through the night now and that makes it a lot easier on Dad and whoever spends the night. The days are pretty busy with meals, laundry, cleaning up and taking care of Mom's bathroom needs. She spends the day in her recliner...dozing a lot and talking a little. We still can't get her to eat much...a bite or two now and then. Anything that sounds good to her, we prepare but she has difficulty chewing and swallowing, so most of her nutrition is coming from Boost milkshakes. Her mind is clear most of the time but she gets confused easily. She's very weak...it's difficult for her to walk with a walker to the living room once a day and then back to bed in the evening. I'm just grateful that she can still talk to us and enjoy the family. My brother Steve's son and his wife just had their first baby girl...Mom enjoyed seeing the photos of Mikaylee Grace! We're just trusting that God will continue to give us the grace and strength to help Mom any way we can.

Mikaylea Grace

Our backyard on Valentine's Day

The Blizzard...the day after

The snow has stopped and it's pretty and sunny outside today. John's workplace is closed and so is the library so we're enjoying another unexpected day at home! He went out to shovel the driveway and took some pictures of the drifts...some in the backyard are six feet deep! It's very pretty...I'm glad I don't have to be out in it today! Happy Valentine's Day!

It's getting even deeper!

We have 11 inches of snow and it's still coming down and the wind is really fierce! I'm so glad we're both at home and staying warm!

Higher drifts...3 hours later

Photos of the storm from our living room

Wild Weather!

We're having a real blizzard today! I got a call at 7 a.m. from my boss saying the library is closed. We're having some wild weather. Our county is under a snow emergency. We're supposed to get up to a foot of snow and with the wind blowing, the roads are really bad. John was able to get to work...it's just a mile drive. When he came home for lunch he said the driveway is almost drifted closed. I called out to Mom's and Ruth is pretty much stuck there until the weather improves. Fortunately, none of us have lost power so we're staying in and keeping nice and warm. There's no one on the roads...even the snow plows are waiting until the wind dies down. That's winter in Indiana!

Blizzard in Winchester

Walking Her Home

Mark Schultz sang a song at the concert that always makes me cry. I told him how it touched my life when I spoke with him after the concert. Since my parents have been married nearly 60 years and Mom is dying of brain cancer, his song is especially poignant to me. My Dad is lovingly caring for Mom and still loves her like he did when they met more than 60 years ago. After all those years and seven children...their love is still strong. Here are the lyrics to Mark's song. You can hear it on his website too.




Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call

Her dad said son
Have her home on time
And promise me you’ll never leave her side
He took her to a show in town
And he was ten feet off the ground

(Chorus)
He was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him
Down that old road
With the stars up above
He remembers where he was the night he fell in love
He was walking her home

Ten more years and a waiting room
At half past one
And the doctor said come in and meet your son

His knees went weak
When he saw his wife
She was smiling as she said he’s got your eyes

And as she slept he held her tight
His mind went back to that first night

(Chorus)

He walked her through the best days of her life
Sixty years together and he never left her side

A nursing home
At eighty-five
And the doctor said it could be her last night
And the nurse said Oh
Should we tell him now
Or should he wait until the morning to find out

But when they checked her room that night
He was laying by her side

Oh he was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled when he said this is not the end
And just for a while they were eighteen
And she was still more beautiful to him than anything
He was walking her home
He was walking her home

Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call

Our room at the Marriott

Mark Schultz live!

My handsome husband!

Me and Mark Schultz!

We had a wonderful weekend!

We had a wonderful weekend! We just got back home...trying to beat the snow storm that's headed our way. They're predicting anywhere from 8 to 15 inches here tonight and tomorrow. We stopped in Portland on our way home and stocked up on food and water. Our weekend was so much fun. We arrived at the Ft. Wayne Marriott around 2:30 yesterday. Our room was very nice! We had plenty of time to get ready and then headed down to the Marquis Ballroom. We had our photo taken by a professional and they had a set-up that printed them out right away, so we got it by the end of the evening. We had a great meal. Chicken with mushroom sauce, salad, fresh green beans, rice, rolls and wedding cake! It was really a beautiful setting with 5 couples at each table. We met a really nice young couple from Holland, Michigan who sat beside us. They have 4 kids and were enjoying the night away...they stayed at the Marriott too. The concert was great...we were just 2 tables away from Mark Schultz so we had a great seat. He was very personal and funny as he always is. He sang several songs, then took a break. Then two pastors led us in a renewal of our vows. It was so sweet...John cried when he said his vows. Then they played a beautiful song and everyone danced right there by their banquet tables. Mark came back in for several more songs. Afterwards we got his autograph and my picture with him! I told him that my parents were living his song, "Walking Her Home" and he was so sweet about it. We got back to our room around 9 so it was really a wonderful evening! We were on the concierge level so we went into that lounge for our breakfast. It was amazing! They had everything you could possibly want for breakfast except maybe hot eggs. They did have boiled eggs, all kinds of pastries, fresh fruit, meats, juices, coffee, etc. No one else was there when we were so we had a nice breakfast by ourselves! It was such a great time...we really needed the time away and it couldn't have gone better.

Renew Your Vows Concert

Hospice care

My mother has been getting weaker each day and is now experiencing some neurological deficits on her left side. She has difficulty speaking and cannot seem to use her left hand very efficiently. I stayed out there Thursday night and all day Friday until the evening. We had some good talks...she's really worrying about how her death will happen. Her brother died of a brain tumor and he had lost his sight and ability to speak so she's really afraid of that happening. We really don't know what to tell her...I'm just trying to reassure her of our love and of the love of Christ. I know He is with her and I want her to find comfort in her faith. She's so weak she can barely walk with a walker. She isn't eating much at all. Dad finally agreed to begin hospice care now. They can offer so many more services and are skilled at helping the patient and the family deal with approaching death. I know that sounds really cold and clinical...but I've come to accept that Mom is going to die and I want to do all I can to make it as peaceful and comfortable for her as I can. John and I are going away overnight Sunday if all is well here at home. We're going to a "Renew Your Vows" concert and banquet where Mark Schultz will be singing! It's a formal affair so John is wearing a tux and I'm wearing the gown I wore to Joel's wedding. We're really looking forward to the time away. Molly and Myron gave us the money for this for Christmas! We're both really looking forward to it. We're staying at the Marriott Sunday night after the concert. The concert and banquet are being held in the Ft. Wayne Marriott ballroom. I hope to get some good photos to put on my blog next week.

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