Oh.my.word. The whole ordeal stressed me out completely . . . and I was just viewing it through a television screen! Kids running every which way, getting into things, almost getting hurt, nearly knocking sets over, etc. . . Can't fathom the mayhem actually taking place live in Studio 1A. Ann, as usual, handled it all so very well. The Octomom, well, I'm still not sure she's right in the head.
We have a dear lil’, or should I say, flat friend here celebrating this lucky day with us! Hope he likes Shepard’s Pie, Green Sprite and mint chocolate-chip ice cream, because that’s what’s on the menu. We’re celebrating a little early, because Daddy will be busy Thursday evening and he’s doing the cooking.
Hope your St. Patty’s day is blessed . . . I leave you with this little Irish prayer I came across today:
May those who love us, love us;
and those who don't love us,
may God turn their hearts;
and if He doesn't turn their hearts,
may he turn their ankles
so we'll know them by their limping.
I have officially figured out how to Skype on the my iPhone! Yay, me!! I’m a little slow. So here’s hoping this will open more opportunities to Skype with Nana, we hope. Maybe if they create App that adds more hours to your day, that might help.
And, . . . okay, so now, just maybe, I take back a couple of the mean things I have said about this crazy little Apple.
subject of what happens to babies when they die. And that's when we remembered about the child Gramma had before Dave that she had lost prematurely. She had said she was looking forward to meeting this child in heaven one day. It was weird because we had never really remember this until today. She has finally met her first child!! This little thought blessed us so, gave a peace in our hearts on this grievous day. It's just like the Lord to do that. He is good.Today’s the day, we said our “final” good-bye to Gramma. It was a very short, just family, not a big deal affair, just what she wanted, at the location she chose. The same beach her husband was scattered at.
The sun shone bright as we walked as a family, all 8 of us, to find a quite spot on Coast Guard beach. When we spotted a seal, we decided that was a “sign”, so we decided that would be the location. Dave did well, we both hung in there, and Charity ran frolicking all over the beach . . . just what Gramma would have wanted.
Such a final process. Such a hard day. Being with family was nice. But Saturday we fly back to Nashville and we’re just dreading that empty house. Gramma’s always there when we get back from our trips away.
But, as we were headed back to Westfield from the Cape we passed a billboard in this very left-winged, blue non-Bible Belt state:
1 Corinthians 10:13
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Thank you, God!
Today we took “Gramma” by her old house today. Thought we’d show Charity were Gramma lived for many of the years of her life and where we used to come and visit her often. A special time for Charity and I, though she doesn’t remember it, is when she and I came and stayed a week with Gramma after her husband passed away. It was March, but we got the stroller out and would take walks each day and keep Gramma company as she prepared for another chapter in her life, moving up to Maine with us.
So here it is, Gramma. Awful, isn’t it?
This house used to be a cute little cape, before she sold it in 2004. If I were at home, I’d show the before and after pictures. We knew they had plans of making it a two story home. But it looked just hideous, with cars being worked on in the driveway, junk all around, complete with a gentleman bent over working on an engine . . . much needing to pull up his pants. Yikes. And my reason for not getting a real great picture.
Well, that made it a little easier to move on from there.
But it’s hard being on the Cape. The place Gramma lived and loved. She loved the Tennessee weather, but missed the ocean.
We drove down to Coast Guard beach, where she is to be scattered. The ocean just has this thing, it’s very emotional. Dave and I have both agreed this is going to be a lot harder than we thought. So after we found a hotel and got some dinner this evening, we went and got ourselves some tissues for tomorrow . . . because, we know we’re going to need them.
We’re trying to figure this out. All life’s little changes. Pick up all the amazing things Gramma did. Charity went down there every morning for breakfast. Monday through Friday before school. Saturday when I was sleeping in or out early doing errands. Sunday when Dave and I were busy with church activities. Charity was hanging at Gramma’s getting a yummy start to her day.
Tuesday and Wednesday morning, Dave and Charity went down for breakfast at Gramma’s. And then since we had to bring all the food up . . . which was incredibly hard. Who knew we’d have a breakdown cleaning out the fridge. Or carrying her cookies upstairs to our pantry. The last bag of lettuce she bought. Her candy. The crackers she always had on hand. Gramma had things well stocked. But she’s always had such a mouse and pest problem in the past, so we were worried without a lot going on down there, they might take over. Thursday Dave moved the “breakfast routine” upstairs to our kitchen. Of course, Charity adjusted no problem. I can’t even get over how resistant this kid is. Gramma probably prayed that she be okay with this all, that’s something she would have done.
Today is Dave’s first day back to work. So our plan is to keep our routine about the same. Dave will get her breakfast, then he’ll head up to work and I’ll continue getting ready, leaving Charity downstairs for about 45 minutes by herself enjoying her breakfast and watching Curious George as she did at Gramma’s.
She did ok. But it was bothering me. Ouch. She’s down their all alone, when I’m getting ready and she used to have Gramma waiting on her hand and foot. We’ve got to figure something out.
So I asked her when she came up at 7:30am to get her hair done, “Charity, do you like being downstairs by yourself? Are you okay?”
Her reply, “No, but it’s what I have to do.”
Oh, I love her. She was ok, she knows it’s just how life’s going to be. I can learn a lot from her. But I’m going to try and figure out this routine, so she’s not alone, at least not during the time she was usually with Gramma. Someway, somehow . . . we’ll figure it out. It’s what we have to do.
