Update on September 3, 2018

April D. Green Photography ~ Moses Cone Estate ~ June 2018

This has been a very quiet blog from a very tired author!  This will be a short update, and I will update again soon.  We so appreciate those who check on us, and we especially appreciate those who pray!

Andrew goes back to the neurosurgeon on September 14.  This has been a tough little stretch, and we are anxious to get back and get a plan and a timetable.  He can run again - earlier than they originally said.  He is staying in Abingdon right now with my sister and her family.  They have kept him very busy during this waiting time.  He has been able to do some light work and go on rock deliveries.  My dad and nephew have kept him occupied painting my nephew's house.  And they have taken him to do some fun things.  Things he would not be doing at home!  He is also able to visit Grandmother lots more than I am and gives me good updates.  She is home with Hospice.  Andrew ran with Laura, and he has run with Waylon, her energetic dog.  He has only had one episode, and it was milder than usual.  We appreciate their love and help for him.  He has even visited Virginia Tech and watched my nephew finish a 30 mile trail run in Damascus.

The other boys are good.  Everyone has stuff going on, and I just pray...a lot.  I open my eyes in the morning and close them again praying for these boys.  And I pray for them every night when I crawl in bed.  And many many times in between.  Sam starts back his reading at ASU soon.  Of course I feel like it's crunch time, since he is in 8th grade.  But I just keep praying.

Maybe your life is not perfect right now.  Maybe you feel like nothing is going right.  Just keep praying.  That's what I am doing.  And looking in my Bible for my answers.  I have so much to be thankful for, and I have some big things hanging over my head.  Some days I dread getting out of bed.  I am trying to have that "be still" time and get sidetracked so easily - with big stuff.  Really big stuff.  So I keep trying and praying...a lot.  I know God is there.  Some days He just puts something right in front of my nose, and I appreciate those reminders that only He and I know about!

We are clearing out Pop and Sarah's house in a couple of weeks.  The Floyd house has sold, and we are moving things out.  If you see anything for sale on my Facebook page, please buy it or share with someone who may!  I have a lot to clear out to bring some of her furniture for her.  We don't know what will happen in the coming months, but some things will come to our house and go in Sam's room instead of storage.  So Sam's room has been spread ALL over the house.  That's why I told Pete I would get rid of a lot!  He is running the donate vehicle - to Hebron or Goodwill.  I have to clear out Sam's whole closet too!  Will has no idea (yet) that most of his room will be moved out in the next week or so to make room for some furniture Pop made and an old spindle bed that was Pete's grandmother's.  He will love it...when I get it all done!  As long as I keep him in cotton sheets and covers with good pillows, he is good.

It was so sad to go into the house today with Pop not there.  We talk about him every single day many many (many) times.  And that has hindered my grief in a way.  So today, looking at the spot where his hospital bed was and passing the dumpsters a few miles from his house where I almost turned around and went back (to his house) on February 8 brought some tears.  I did not turn around that day.  I had to get home to Sam and Andrew.  Pete had arrived in my car, and I stayed a while and went home.  I was coming back in a couple of days, but I knew when I kissed him and told him I loved him, it was the last time on this earth.  He had gone downhill so fast in the few days I was there.  It will always be one of my hardest and most blessed weeks.  It was an honor and privilege to care for him for a little tiny bit, and he was the best patient ever.  I got another of his LL Bean totes for Peter with the same initials.  I am thankful he is in Heaven and not in pain.  I could hear his voice and see his face, and I just let myself miss him (without all of the extra stuff surrounding it). 

And speaking of good patients, my grandmother is just as sweet and precious as can be.  If she is able, she lights up when a visitor steps up to her bed; and her blue eyes just sparkle.  She makes everyone feel like they are a favorite ~ without making anyone feel any less!  She says she is "just fine" when she answers to everyone asking how she is.  She kissed me and told me she loves me last week.  I have not been this week and plan to see her tomorrow.  She was able to see and enjoy my extra special pictures of the boys I printed for her.  My grandmother is going to Heaven.  Pete talked to her a couple of weeks ago - soon after she came home with Hospice.  Pete, Sarah, Sam, Will, Peter, Julianna, and I went to see her on a Saturday morning.  Pete read to her and asked her questions -which she was able to answer without hesitation.  So even though this time is very very hard, there is peace and hope for Grandmother...and for all of us.

Romans 12:12 says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." I am trying to keep this in the front of my mind every minute of every day.  I know God is here.  And He is faithful.  And He loves me.  Why else would He send Jesus?  So thankful for Him.

Thanks for reading and for praying.