An Update...in Many Parts...the last part..

This is the part I didn't want to ever have to write......... it's the part I've been stalling on, but I guess I just have to do it...

The day after Zane's graduate we got in the car and headed down to LA.  Aaron would be coming down on Monday.  About halfway down, Gene called and said that Mom had fallen asleep Saturday afternoon and wouldn't' wake up unless they woke her.  It would be soon.....  We made the decision to have Lydia FaceTime mom...  I talked to Aaron and told him not to worry about coming down.  I think he was relieved.  He got to see her for Mother's day and she was in such good health then.  He wanted to remember her that way.   I asked if he wanted me to tell her anything and he said to tell her that he loved her.

We got in and I gave her Aaron's message.  Lydia called and was able to see mom.  I read a letter that she wrote to mom.  I know mom could hear us but I just down't think she had to energy to answer.  Zane prayed for her and he and James went home.  They would come back first thing in the morning. I stayed behind and slept next to mom's bed.  It was just good to know that she was home.  I know that it made daddy happy to have Gene and I there and to know that mom was in her own house.

Mary and I would have to get up every 4 hours to give her a few doses of medication to help her breathing.  At 4 am I told her that I was putting a pill under her tongue and for her not to bite me.....well, she didn't listen and she bit me!!!  I think that was her way of telling me that she could hear me....  I couldn't go back to sleep so I got on my iPad and played a few games.  I'd look up and talk to her every now and then.  I told her how much I loved her.  I told her that I didn't want her to leave, but that I knew that the cancer was eating away her bones and that she was in a lot of pain.  I told her that I didn't want her to suffer and then when she was ready to go, then she needed to go.  I would miss her terribly, but I didn't want to hold her back from her eternal reward and that Jesus was waiting for her.  Around 7:15 Monday morning on May 28th, I watched as my mom took her last breath.  I looked up from my iPad and she took a breath.. I looked down and then a minute later looked up again and she was gone.  She was with Jesus.... She was whole and she was healed...  I can't say that she was running in Heaven, but I know she was rejoicing...

I called for Gene and Mary and they confirmed that Mom was gone.  Gene went to wake Daddy and I texted James.  We called Aaron and Lydia and gave them the news.  We then waited while they came to get mom's body....  My mom was my momma for 48 years 363 days....... I miss you momma...

An Update in MANY Parts, Part 10

Zane graduated!!!!  We drove up to TN and arrived just in time for the Family Picnic.  I've missed my boy, I hadn't seen him in 15 days!!!

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  The first is a Servant Leader award that Zane got for his class.  I am so proud of him. The next are of their Senior Trip. (once again, thanks to all the moms that kept me in the loop while I was in another state) And then Graduation!!!

 

An Update in MANY parts Part 9

Mom wasn't doing good.  Daddy and I were sitting with her in her room, when a lady walked in and started talking hospice...end of life, the last chapter...no.... 2 weeks left......NO!! I didn't want to hear this. Mom was getting so strong. She was doing well.... what was I going to tell my kids??  What was I going to do without her??  What was Daddy going to do without her??

I called James and he came right over...I am so glad he was just 5 minutes away.  I called Gene and told him.  Then, we called Aaron and told him. Then we called Zane, he was on his senior trip.  I am once again, so grateful for our FCA family.  One of the guys just stayed with Zane while everyone was eating and loved on him and ministered to him.  Then we called Lydia's counselor and she got her on the phone.  We had to make a decision, do we go get her and risk not being here when she passed!!  Zane was graduating in just a few days!!!!

Mom would be upset if I missed his graduation.  I knew that I had to go.. but I hated leaving her.  She was going to be going home the day we left for TN, Gene and Mary would be arriving that day.  We would stay for graduation and then drive back Sunday. That would give us a few days with mom.  I didn't want to leave her....

An Update in MANY parts Part 8

James returned Friday and got to work clearing the vine growth on our trees.   The dogs were settled in and doing good.  Gracie was kept in the air-conditioned workshop until we felt she wouldn't bolt.  I think she enjoyed the AC..LOL

 We got word that my mom's oldest sister was sick and it wasn't looking good.  Mom was sad.  I've never seen her depressed before, but she was having a hard time with Aunt Ginger being sick.  It happened suddenly.  My Aunt passed away on May 21st, 2018.  My mom was alone when she found out, but my Aunt Sheri walked in right as she read the text from my cousin.  Mom was devastated. She became ill the next day and was transported to the hospital.  The following are pictures of my Aunt Ginger.  The first when she was about 15 or 16 and the second just this year with my Uncle Allen.

Any Update in MANY parts...Part 7

Well, I backed up  my bags and left the day after Aaron moved out.  The plan was to close on the 10th and James and Aaron would drive down that day.  Mom was getting stronger and they said that she would be able to leave on Mother's day if she could get in and out of the car.  She wanted to see our house and go to Olive Garden.  It was a craving that she had since before her fall.

I arrived and went straight to visit mom.  She was doing good, but tired.  The next day I went with her car and she was able to get in and out with assistance.  Two days later she got in the car with Daddy just watching over her.  She even told him not to touch her..She wanted to do it on her own!!!LOL

Friday James closed on the house in TN early in the morning and drove the Truck loaded with most of our stuff down to Louisiana.  I  closed on the house in the early afternoon here in LA.  I arranged to have the mattress delivered right after while cleaning and waiting on Aaron with the animals and James with the truck.  The house has a wet bar and anticipating James' arrival I transformed it into a coffee bar.  The is the initial set up.  It's much better now!

 Aaron arrived with the animals. I've never seen two dogs and a cat so happy to get out of a car!  Aaron only stopped for gas and never took them out.  He said he wasn't taking a giant bear and a demon dog out of the car.  His friend followed  behind in Aaron's car so they wouldn't have to drive the suburban back. Although I don't think it would have made it back. Both of the guys showered and then left to get food.   James arrived a bit later parked the moving truck in the drive and we went to get pizza at our favorite pizza place.  I was tired and decided that kept wasn't going to happen this week, but we walked in and they were advertising crustless pizza.  Jesus loves me...LOL

 The next day, a group of guys from Crossroads Leadership College arrived to unload our truck.  They did it all in 3 hours!!  It was such a blessing to have our home church chip in and help.  It made the unloading bearable.

Sunday mom came over and was able to see our house.  She was happy to see it.  The whole time I was looking at houses she was upset that she was unable to look with me, so I would show her pictures and tell her the good and bad  things about each house.  She chose this one because it had satsumas and kumquat trees.  Those were her favorite.  I think it's why I chose this house too.  We went out to eat and she was so happy to be out!!  

James and Aaron went back to Tennessee Monday and I was left alone to set up the house.  James just had 4 days left of school, but he needed to be there.  Zane was busy with finals and getting ready to go on his Senior trip.  I am so grateful for our FCA family who took Zane in during this crazy time in our lives.  They never hesitated to help us during this time.  

An update in several parts... Part 6

Well, our family has had quite the adventure.


 May 7th we were planning for me to move down to LA to close on the house.  Aaron came home on the 6th and told us that he was staying in Nashville until August.  He had an apartment and needed help moving his things out.  That was the hardest day of my life...so far.....

Sunday we got a truck, packed his things in it and moved him out/in.  He was rooming with 2 other people, so his rent was affordable. He took my grand dog and moved out. His room was empty.  I was hoping not to see any empty rooms in this house.  My heart was breaking.  I was leaving the next day, saying goodbye to our home of 14 years, saying goodbye to our farm and leaving my firstborn behind.

An Update in Several parts Part 5

WEST SIDE STORY!!!

This was this years spring musical.  I love that FCA encourages all students to get involved in the Arts.  So many of the football players were in this play.  Zane played Doc and would fill in as one of the gang members.  During one of the fight scenes he and another football player took their rolls a little too seriously and Zane got a bloody nose....but he wasn't that innocent.  We were laughing that makeup wouldn't be needed to make it look like they were all bruised...LOL