When Do You Feel Blessed?

This morning I put clean sheets on our bed (now I am not a "dirty" person, but changing sheets is not a weekly occurance I am afraid to admit), and I thought about how blessed I was to have a good bed. Many people sleep on dirt floors, but I have a new mattress that is a "back supporter", that is about 10 inches thick in cushion and padding, and that cost as much as some people, in some countries, make in their lifetime! Now don't get me wrong, my mattress did not cost thousands of dollars, but I have read that in some countries people might be fortunate to make the equivalent of $300.00 American dollars per year- so it would take them about 4 years to buy my mattress. Aren't we blessed? Have you thought about the things that make you feel most blessed? Here are a few of mine- feel free to list some of yours-
1. The blessing of knowing Jesus as my Savior and the opportunity to worship freely and unharmed
2. The blessing of a wonderful husband
3. The blessing of my children, and their mates
4. The blessing of 4 beautiful, healthy, smart, grandchildren
5. The blessing of my extended family and the fact that we can all be together in one location and no one is fussing or fighting or talking ill about one another
6. The blessing of going to a store and filling my buggy with food and anything else that I truly need
7. The blessing of employment- yes, we all tend to complain about our jobs at times, but what a blessing it is to have a source of honest income
8. The blessing of having had good parents who provided me an education so that I could make a living
9. The blessing of sight and sound. I am so thankful to be able to see my beautiful grandchildren and to hear their noisy chatter (well, it is actually above chatter level at this point!)
10. The blessing of health and life. I awoke this morning to no aches or pains, and what a blessing that is.
11. The blessing of each of you who read my silly old blog.
Remember- Count your many blessings name them one by one, and it will surprised you what the Lord has done.

A Special Day

Today would be Mother’s 96th birthday. It’s hard to believe that come June she will have been gone from us for 10 years. I was blessed to have a wonderful mother. I wonder if people ever quit missing their mothers. True, time heals, but at times I still want to call her to tell her something special, and then I remember that she is gone. Mother had a lot of pride in her family, and I think in my heart how I would love to share the past 10 years with her. So much has happened- weddings, babies, graduations, jobs.
So, on this February 16th, I remember a special woman. Happy Birthday, Mother.
On another note...MaMa is still very bad. We had hoped that maybe things would start to improve, but they haven't. They could not give her a treatment Friday because she was so aggitated. We understand they are moving her to another section of the hospital, possibly a medical unit, but we are not certain. Billy was there today and they told him they were moving her. We are not certain what is going on, but being the weekend I guess it will be Monday before we know what is up. We think they are trying to see if there is something medical going on. They did all kinds of tests in Jasper, and could not find anything medical. I think they are barking up the wrong tree, but perhaps they might unearth something. For some reason they say when a person hallucinates, that something medical is usually going on. One of the nurses told David that she had not been working all that long, but MaMa was in the worse shape of anyone she had ever seen on the unit. Billy said she was yelling that the house was on fire while he was there. I simply can't express how bad this all is and how sad it all is at the same time. I hope that something works, and soon.

A Day for Love!

Today is Valentine’s Day. I have found great amusement in my middle schoolers and their delight at bringing their so-called boyfriend or girlfriend a balloon, candy, or stuffed animal. Oh that love were as simple as a balloon or a red teddy bear.
I awoke to beautiful card and a new Bible. I had warned David that I did not want (let me re-phrase that…I did not NEED any candy), so he obliged me. I bought him an Allison Krause CD and one of the secretaries put it in a basket with some gum and a small bear and, get this, hand sanitizer (David uses A LOT of hand sanitizer). It turned out cute.
I can’t imagine my world without David. He is just the best. He loves me and I know it. We have such a great time together, even after 31 years. I love spending time with him.
So, Happy Valentine’s Day my love, and thanks for being my perfect Valentine!
For my children on this day, let me say- Your mother loves you beyond words. Kim, Josh, Daniel, you are my hearts. Also, Paul, Katie, and Mandi…how did I get so lucky. And then for the baby Valentines- Addi, Levi, Hannah, and Lila…I thought I had loved as deeply as I could love, and then you came along. I found a new “chamber” in my heart called the “Granna Chamber” and it is as big as the world full of love for the four of you. I pray that you will always know love and kindness in this world.

On another note…please continue to pray for my mother-in-law. She is having such a hard time. She was so bad that on Monday they could not give her a treatment. She did get a treatment on Wednesday, and the doctor is now giving her fluids because she is not eating or drinking. They cut her hair off to keep her from pulling anymore out. She does not even look like herself to me, she is so aged and pitiful. The doctor said it could take a number of treatments before she sees improvement, and in reality, it could be that she does not improve. We certainly hope not. Thankfully she was sleeping some yesterday, although fitfully. The nurses are having to sit over her to keep her from coming out of the chair. I just don’t know how long a body can physically endure the type of situation that she is currently in. On another note, PaPa seems to be doing fairly well, and for that we are thankful. He doesn’t know any thing or any one, but he seems content. Every so often he will say something that makes you wonder if he is having a lucid moment. He still smiles on occasion, and that is worth so much. We are thankful for Cherry Hill and for the wonderful care they give. Having a place for PaPa that seems to be as good as it can be has made it easier.

Happy Birthday, Mandi and other thoughts

Today is Mandi’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Mandi! Mandi is such a special member of our family and we truly owe her a debt of gratitude for marrying Daniel! (Just kidding!!!!) Seriously, Mandi has made herself a member of this tribe and we truly love her. She is sweet, funny, caring, beautiful, and smart. I hope your birthday is a great one.
Jasmine celebrated her 18th birthday on Thursday. We enjoyed eating with her at Olive Garden. She is a beautiful, sweet, young woman. How time flies.
I lost 2.4 pounds this week. Not bad for an emotional week. Bobby’s passing has been hard on us. His funeral was truly appropriate and I think David just did an outstanding job delivering the funeral message. Daryl led the singing, and he did so well. It was almost like I saw him let the emotion come as he sang the last word. Bobby and Charlene had talked a few weeks ago about dying, etc. and Bobby had told her that he wanted Daryl to led the singing and David to speak. I know that was an honor to both of them as they both loved Bob deeply. He will be missed. Daniel made the statement that Bobby was the first member of the couples that we have been close to through time to pass. Bobby was just 60 and at this point in my life that seems so young to die. Please remember Charlene and the girls, as they truly adored and loved Bob and his passing will certainly leave a huge void in their day to day lives.
On other notes, MaMa was transferred to UAB yesterday afternoon. We are hopeful that at least we will be able to have some communication with a doctor now. I would not recommend the psychiatric part of Brookwood Hospital in my top 100 list. It has NOT been a good experience. How can a doctor continual tell you he is too busy to call, etc. The nurse said he did not usually talk to family until discharge. We find it hard to believe that he could possible have another patient in the condition that MaMa is in, which seems would warrant talking to the family. We were also not all that pleased with the nursing care. Please remember MaMa in your prayers. She is going days without sleeping, she is so tormented, yelling, thrashing, pulling her hair, and just pitiful. She has thrashed about until her arms are solid black (I guess other parts may be as well but her arms show), and we just don’t know how someone can physically continue to go without sleep without their heart giving out. It is a sad condition for someone so special.
David is continuing to deal with Medicaid, trying to get his powers in order to sell the house, etc. He has had a lot on him in dealing with the business end of the nursing home. It seems that it is something every day. I truly don’t know how unorganized people handle this process. My dining room table, bar, desk, all look like they are covered with Medicaid and nursing home business. Please pray for David- handling business of this nature is not on his top 5 list and the end is not yet in sight. I guess we would all be just as well off to be paupers.
Love to all!

The Weekend

This morning as I was getting ready for church, I begin to think about the events of the weekend. David and I went to Albertville on Friday night to spend some time with Charlene and the girls. They were, of course, surrounded by their family and were having all of their physical needs met. The table was full of food, ladies were in the kitchen cleaning any dish that became empty, and others were making certain that everyone had something to drink. Charlene has a lot of strength, but she is still so hurt. She told us, “Angels visited our home last night”. I begin to think about that this morning and I thought what a sweet way to look at death. I also thought about the old saying, “Here today, gone tomorrow” and I thought about how untrue that statement really is- it is really- “Here today, gone today”. Bobby and Charlene had eaten supper, watched television- just normal things even though he was not doing well. And then, about midnight, Bobby fell to the floor. Charlene got to him, and he was still responsive. She dialed 911- they got the call at 12:01 a.m. and arrived at 12:12 a.m. By the time they arrived, Bobby was no longer responding- they worked on him for almost an hour before given up on reviving him. Charlene and the girls told us that Bobby had preached on Sunday and had taught his Bible Class on Wednesday night, although he certainly was not able to do so. They said it had taken him 20 minutes to get into the building on Wednesday night, as he could only walk 10 steps without stopping. He was having to use oxygen to help with the breathing. After Bible Class they said he got sick, and it took about 45 minutes for him to get to the car. He even admitted that he should not have tried to go to church. What dedication and determination. Bobby was waiting to see a specialist, but because of their health insurance he was waiting on referrals, etc. He could not even see who he needed to see as that doctor was not on their list of “approved” physicians. They had finally got him an appointment with a pulmonary specialist but he could not see him until the end of February. There is something wrong with that picture. Charlene said she would really like to call their insurance company (Aetna) and give them a piece of her mind, as she felt that if Bobby could have seen the proper doctors they might have been able to start some type of medication or treatment. Of course it might not have made any difference, but if he had been seen at least they would have felt that everything that could be done was being done. They had also been held up by a doctor that had not forwarded their information to the other doctor. Charlene said she had tried to move mountains to get everyone coordinated so that Bobby could be seen by the proper doctor. I can imagine her frustration, as I have witnessed what David has been through in the past few weeks with his mother and trying to get her the help she needs. So, while we can’t second guess what has already happened, it is hard to see people have to go through so much because of “red tape”.
We went to see MaMa yesterday. I had not been since I had been sick, so I had not seen her. I have never seen anything more pitiful in my life. David seemed to think she might have been just a little better (quieter), but it that was better, oh me. She is just pitiful, pitiful. I have seen her bad, but never this bad. She was strapped in a chair, all slumped down, and had to be just the saddest looking thing I have ever seen. I pray she will pull out of this. I think she has been so bad that she has bothered some of the patients. One of the old ladies told me- “She want be quiet- she just keeps saying everything”- like she was telling on MaMa (this is the old lady that MaMa said scratched her, and we believe she probably did). I guess the old lady thought I could make MaMa be quiet. Mental illness has to be one of the worst things to watch. We have analyzed and tried for years to make sense of it, and the reality is that if it were something that she could help or fix, that she would. She can’t- and this time we are just praying that the treatments work and that she is able to regain some degree of “normalcy”. Please pray for her.
We will not be attending the lectureship this year. Since the funeral will not be until Tuesday, and with MaMa not doing well, we decided to cancel our reservations. Perhaps next year will be better.
I love you all-
Susan

Sad News

This morning our phone rang at about 4:00 a.m. I assumed it was either the hospital or the nursing home as we have become accustomed to those middle of the night calls. I could tell, once David answered the call, that it was someone else. As I stirred into consciousness I recognized the sweet, little, shaking voice on the other end of the phone as Janell Satterfield. She was calling to tell us that our dear wonderful friend, and her father, Bobby Joe Norris, had died at about midnight. Bobby had been having some heart problems and Janell had called earlier in the week to tell us that he was having problems. Our hearts are heavy. Bobby and Charlene and their family have been dear friends of David and myself since before we married. Bobby preached at the Hatt Church of Christ, and he also worked for some years as the full-time caretaker/director at Indian Creek Youth Camp. During those years we developed a friendship that has withstood the test of time, distance, and being busy. Although we did not see one another often, we talked on occasion and for certain we knew we were there for one another. For the past years Bobby has preached for the Alder Springs Church of Christ near Albertville. Bobby, Charlene, Christine, Janell, Jeannette, and Rachel have all been part of our lives. We have shared laughter and tears and our times together were always special. Bobby and Charlene were a true couple, and their love for each other was so evident. They enjoyed their time together, and much as David and myself, if they had the opportunity to go and do something, they wanted to be with one another. Bobby was a great lover of the truth, and he had dedicated his life to preaching, often at little “country” congregations that barely paid enough for a family of six to survive. I guess when I think about Bobby, I can’t help but to think about his little “sayings”, such as “Ignorance gone to seed”. Our loss is Heaven’s gain, but right now our hearts are heavy. We have lost a dear friend. David will help conduct the funeral on Monday. Arrangements are being made today. Please remember the family, and us, in your prayers.