Another week

Another beautiful Sunday bouquet from cousin Karin. The more I enlarged the photo, the greater my wonder at the delicate colors gauziness of the petals.

 My friend Georgia came by Monday. I urged her to pick the last of the flowers. She found this beauty.

And she dropped off a favorite sandwich from a local cafe, The Bridge, along with a couple pieces of art. She's been painting rocks and hiding them in places to cheer people. It had been her intention for me to search for them, but since I am confined to my chair for a time, they simply adorned the lunch.

I wish you could appreciate the exquisite details of her amazing miniature art.

The mail brings lovely and fun surprises almost daily. The get-well cards were a delightful mix of humor and sweet sentiments.

Phone conversations can be a wonderful and meaningful diversion. Tuesday was my Uncle Dan's 102nd birthday and I had a lovely conversation with him! He is now the last of the six Hirschy siblings left. He still enjoys life, even with the increasing limitations of his advanced age. He's looking forward to going outside and working in the raised bed garden as the weather improves. I told him I'd think of him as I hobble around with the walker.

Daniel, Philip, Kathryn

Wednesday we went back to the orthopedic center. The ankle is healing with proper alignment so that is good. I now have a walker and have permission to gradually begin to put some weight on that left foot.

Thursday I had special visitors and was allowed to hold my new great grandson!

Destiny, Skye and Kalani

Thanks to this confinement, I had time to remake and finish Kalani's blankie. I didn't like the first attempt so I frogged the project completely (in knitting terms it means to unravel). 

Eyelet Stripe Baby Blanket 

Another type of face-to-face visit was our weekly Writers' Bloc Zoom meeting. These days we are very grateful for technology that allows us to continue sharing each other's writing projects.

Those are some of the interesting distractions of each day. However, every day, all week, I have been plodding on in the process of mailing the surgical mask relief tension bands, as described in the previous blog post.

It's been fun to receive thank you notes, even a photo, and requests for more. So Michael has been busy all week laser cutting hundreds, even thousands more.

On more relaxed days, like Sunday, Michael has fun cooking and baking.

Blueberry Cherry Pie

I heard a Taylor University chapel talk this week, actually by a former student from years ago. His family answers three questions every day regarding Covid 19.

1. What have we lost?
2. What  is not lost?
3. What have we gained?

They are good for all of us to ponder and always remember Jesus' words, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  Variations of  "Fear not," are as numerous in the Bible as the days in a year.

2017 Week 36: Many Mixed Emotions

Typical week for us: very full and varied!

Sunday, Leah's family and friends came to bury her pet cat in one of our burial plots.

After sunset we enjoyed a beutiful fireworks display in celebrration of our town's sesquicentennial.

Monday was the last day of the grand celebration and the popular annual Labor Day parade, preceded by a 5K race. Even though I haven't run in a long time, I attempted to run/WALK and once again had no competition in my age group. I placed same as my age! Does that mean each year I'll be worse? Anyway I'm grateful for the opportunity, the 45' 53" time, and my daughter coming out to cheer me on as I passed her house!

We usually park our chairs by Leah's house for the parade and then visit others stationed nearby.

Family members present; Rebecca already enjoying "parade loot."

I planned to visit Mother Tuesday so made arrangements to see Malachi while in Winona Lake. We met at an ice cream shop by the lake. We decided it does not quite meet Ivanhoe's standards. ;-)

However, from the comparison of Malachi's selfie with Mike's high school picture, we all agree there is a strong family resemblance!

Mike felt I should visit my brother Lynn in Pennsylvania, and was willing to take off a couple days to go with me. Wednesday morning we set off on the nine hour journey. When we realized that evenings are not good visiting hours, we decided to stop not far off our route to visit Aunt Fae in Evans City.

With Aunt Fae and cousin Kae; lovely new framed photo--Phil's senior prom, Fae a sophomore.

We had such a fun time sharing memories and discoveries from old letters. We had to laugh at the memory about Mother (Kate) and her pet peeve--smacking and loud eating sounds. Her brothers teased her mercilessly and she would often leave the table.

12 year-old Phil's letter to his traveling preacher-dad

The back story to this letter is told in the following article that appeared in an American Family Association and Uncle Phil's response years after the incident.

We enjoyed reading these and other memories with Lynn Thursday morning. He and I shared some mates together, wonderful nostalgic fellowship.
Lynn has lost weight and is very limited by  the ravages of liver disease and LBD, but his spirit is alive and well. Our time together was precious.

Our Friday evening fun was at the Delta vs Burris soccer game. We're grateful for the opportunity Elijah has to be on Delta's first soccer team. BTW, Delta defeated Karen's Burris students 6 to 2. (Sorry, Karen.)

Elijah, Delta's #25

Saturday's excitement was a wedding. The bride rode in two Circle Tours of the Basque Country with Mike. And, after being pronounced Mrs. Sean Richardson, rode off on a tandem with her new husband, side saddle in her wedding dress, down the lane lined with bicycles!

Sara Hemmick's outdoor wedding and Circle Tour reunion with Dane & Laurie Davenport and Tate and Chelsea Gaines

This week's travels afforded the opportunity to listen to an audio book and finish two colorings!

2016 Week 6: Mother

My last post ended with the query, "What will next week hold?"

Monday Mother ended up in the ER with a serious bowel obstruction.

I went up Tuesday. She had slept well (morphine-induced) and was in no pain, just waiting.

Her health professionals wanted the blood flow rates to go down (lower Coumadin levels) to insert a pick line and prepare for surgery, if necessary.

I could only stay an hour and half and then had to rush back to meet my classes in Marion.

I spent Wednesday in the recliner at home with a heating pad to relieve lower back pain, a restful day grading papers and reading.

With pick line in and no change in her condition, Mother's surgery was scheduled for Thursday at 1:00 p.m. when I was due in the classroom. It was hard to focus on teaching, but there was nothing I could do for Mother that day, except worry and pray. 

Alan texted the good news later that afternoon--laproscopic surgery through three small holes, released the kinked intestine bound by scar tissue, and the bowel was restored to normal function. I could finally breathe! 

She was sedated and wouldn't be allowed to wake up till the next morning. When I arrived Friday she was awake, alert, and hungry! But, to her chagrin, had to remain on a clear liquid diet for at least a day.

She had a string of visitors and also enjoyed hearing about all the people everywhere who were praying for her--amazed and comforted listening to the many Facebook or e-mail messages.

I spent the night in Mother's Grace Village apartment and looked through all the family photo albums, searching for pictures of young Uncle Phil (who passed away January 31st) when he came back from Europe after MIA for a time, having been wounded while serving in WWII.

1945, with Uncle Phil

When I arrived back at the hospital Saturday morning, Mother was very serene reflecting on a memory that came back insistently throughout the night. She was in the Glee Club in high school, Miss Ziegler the director. The most vivid recollection was of competing in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The lyrics of one song, taken from Psalm 103, kept going over and over in her mind. When she tried to recite them for me she became a little upset because as many times as she'd gone over them in the night, now she was getting stuck in one part.

She fell asleep. Alan and I talked in the hallway so as not to disturb.

Interestingly, after he left and I quietly resumed my vigil, she opened her eyes and recited the following:

Bless the LORD, oh my soul,

and all that is within me bless his holy name.

He is full of compassion and mercy

long suffering and great in goodness.

He will not always chide

nor leave his wrath forever more.

Bless the LORD, oh my soul.

Mother also told me the story of the terrible winter in Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, when so many soldiers died of satrvation, disease and exposure.

The surgeon came in with a very positive report--she could eat solids and go back home in a day!

Studying the menu

Before heading back to Upland for the night, I stopped by Mother's apartment to do laundry and gather some clothes for when she'd be discharged the next day, especially her winter coat to face the frigid temperatures.

I slept soundly in my own bed that night and didn't even notice when Mike got back from his long day at robotics.

February 14th was Rebecca's 18-monthaversary! 

 Mother commented, "That 's how old you were when we went to Argentina."

With Daddy in New York                                                                             On the ship

Sunday, Valentine's Day, was also the day Mother got to go home!
I stayed for a day to help her transition, and worried a little after I left. But all reports are that she is coping quite well. Brother Alan is nearby and can check on her more regularly.

Once again I close wondering what lies ahead, but assured of the Lord's promise, "Lo, I am with you always."