Hospice and Hope...

Our family has recently received some news, and I wanted to share it here with my blog friends.

My sweet mother in law has been admitted to Hospice. This happened very, very suddenly a few weeks ago. She has been battling for her life over the last year, and she has fought the good fight every step of the way. You never would have believed that she underwent radiation last year because she has been up and going to all of her many, many activities, allowing no discomfort to slow her down. She was going to parties only a few weeks ago!

She is amazing, and she is my hero.

Blessedly, "Mom" remained well enough to continue to live each and every day to the fullest, enjoying every moment of a wonderful life, while looking forward to being with The Lord and loved ones in the hereafter. She doesn't just hope to do that.  She lives with that complete assurance because she believes the Lord's promise to her. She is joyful in the face of pain and being separated from the loved ones here who mean the world to her. After all, it's not that long before we will be joining her at the party ahead in a place where there is no more sorrow or sickness or pain of any kind.  Amazing Grace, indeed...

Speaking of grace, the other day, Mom shared that she had gone to sleep thinking about my grandmother and a visit we paid to her in the nursing home years ago, where we sat with Granny outside in a beautiful setting with Granny singing every verse of "In The Garden" for us.  Mom went to bed thinking about that and dreamed she was sitting on a bench in a beautiful garden.  Suddenly, Mom saw Jesus coming down the garden path, and she knew she was the next to go through the gate.  Just as He got to the gate, someone woke her up.  Even in her sleep, she is at perfect peace because, as the Scriptures say, her mind is stayed on The Lord.  What a blessing to her and to us!

I want to share more about her in another post because she is truly a remarkable person, and I feel so blessed to have had her as "Mom" all these years. I just need time to do her justice.

I am sure you will understand when I say that time is of the essence right now as there is a lot going on here. So if I am delinquent in my visits to your blogs, please know I will return when I am able.  My mother in law would be the first to say, "Go on with your lives," and she would mean every word.  "Keep living" is what Dad told her when he went on ahead, and she listened well and lived with gusto.

I would ask one thing of you.  Please pray that she is pain free.  She refuses to take her pain medication as she doesn't want to miss the time with us, or endure grogginess, so I would really appreciate your prayers to that end.  I believe in miracles and have witnessed them first hand, both on and off the blogs, and I know that you all are faithful in your prayers.

Loving and appreciating each and every one of you!

XO,

Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)

P.S.  I wanted to share the flowers I arranged for a family party that Mom wanted us to host at her home last weekend to introduce her grandson's (our nephew's) fiancee (visiting from New Hampshire) to a close circle of family.  Even though Mom was unable to get out of bed and didn't get to come to the party, the party was able to go to her by filing into her room to say, "Goodnight" and to tell her how much she is loved and appreciated!

Mom's favorite flowers are pink peonies, and she loves a garden bouquet look.  I found the vast majority of these flowers at the grocery store, my favorite stomping ground next to the yard. Despite the bad lighting, lighting which played havoc with the flowers' actual colors (sorry!), they are my bouquet of gratitude for your prayers and loving thoughts.  xoxoxo