Hospice

Well, we're down in Southern California spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. This visit has been extremely surreal. We came to help take care of Shirley, but the last three days have been more of a family reunion. The house has had a rotating door with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends coming and going. The house has been filled with love and laughter and tears and although it's horrible to watch someone you love die, it's such a blessing to be able to say goodbye. And as I watch people come and go it is extremely obvious that Shirley is a very LOVED woman. Everyone has been chipping in to feed the masses and it's wonderful to be a part of a family that care for one another so well.


The kids are doing really well. We try and get them out of the house every day, and thankfully there's a park right across the street from Grandma and Grandpa's house. That's extremely convenient.


We've finally told Molly that Grandma has cancer and that her body is shutting down and will soon be going to heaven. It wasn't a big shocker to her, because it is obvious that Grandma is very sick right now. But Molly amazed me with her strength and faith. Last night she prayed, "Dear Lord, please help Grandma not hurt. Please help her go to heaven so she is in a new body and isn't sick anymore." She had a hard time seeing Grandma so sick at first, but yesterday she crawled into bed with her and watched VeggieTales on my laptop. That touched my heart.

The hospice care is seriously outstanding and they're trying everything to keep Shirley comfortable. We are so appreciative of that. It is very difficult for her to get out of bed now and we are thankful that she can just sleep a lot. This experience is so hard. It's such a blessing to be able to say goodbye and hold her hand and pray with her, but it's very surreal to talk to her about her wishes for a funeral and what life will be like when she's gone. And although her body is frail, she's still very much the same person... concerned for everyone else. She is such a beautiful person. Please be praying that her nausea can be kept at bay and that she continues not to have pain. And as much as we don't want to go, please be praying that she goes quickly. She has expressed to me that she doesn't want to linger, and has asked me on several occasions to pray with her for exactly that. Please God... help her go quickly and peacefully.