I was up with the sun this morning. My mom and dad pulled out before the sun even came up. As I sat in my quiet thinking space preparing for the day the walls started turning pink...everything aglow. Is there anything better than a glorious sunrise or sunset?? I don't think so.
I've had a lot of thoughts rumbling around in my mind this week. There have been some changes in our house. Good changes, but changes nonetheless and it's a constant reminder to me that we are part of a plan. A bigger plan than we see...there are pieces being moved behind the scenes. We have to just go with it...trusting that He knows the end result. He knows right where the puzzle pieces fit in perfectly;)
Okay so my time with my parents was precious as always. When they come everything slows. My normal stops. I sit and drink coffee at the kitchen table until 10. I don't go to the gym. I stay downstairs and watch tv with them until late. We sit in soccer chairs in the driveway and "visit". I have thoughts of recording my dad praying over dinner...but always too late. Next time I won't forget. **BTW my dad is doing great. He paces himself. I'm praying that his heart will steady and he'll keep on keeping on!! Thank you so much for lifting him up. I appreciate it so much.
The forced slowdown is good for me. I have a tendency to over extend. Unfortunately, I was hormonal this visit. PMS and being overly busy had taken it's toll and I found myself edgy and irritable some days. I didn't feel as engaged and alert. I wasn't on. If I could have just slept all day I would have. I'm sure they noticed. Kind of hard to miss the yawns, snippy responses and quiet mood I was in. Oh I hate that. Wish I could rewind and be a bit more like myself. So thankful they love me unconditionally.
My momma had a lot on her mind this week as well. HER mom is a month from turning 100. They're planning a visit out to Arizona to see her for her birthday. Unfortunately over the past few months my Grandma has been declining and almost overnight has developed pretty severe dementia. Last night my Aunt called and Grandma was in the ER with trouble breathing etc... They were running tests.
It's hard to believe that the day is finally here where Grandma won't be with us much longer. I'm in awe at how God has prepared my mom for this day. I can see His grace covering her...giving her peace and I know her heart is prepared for when she goes home to be with Him.
Instagram this week...farmgirlpaints
Several years ago my mom would talk about Grandma passing and break down and cry. Her heart just wasn't ready. The grace for that moment wasn't there. And I know no matter what age they are it's never easy to let our loved ones go...BUT God readies us. His grace is sufficient.
I'd love it if you could lift my family up. My mom wants more than anything to be there when Grandma passes. I pray that the timing all falls into place. I pray that her "time" will be peaceful and quick. I pray for my family out there who is caring for her that mercy and strength will fall on them. I pray for those pearly gates to be lined with all the ones she's been waiting to see. I pray for an awesome homecoming!
Have a blessed day.
806. unconditional love
807. antiquing with my folks
808. glorious pinks and oranges from His perfect sky
809. my new fall pillows
810. Grandma H...
Those lengthy visits...ahhh...(I'm doing well to get my dad here for two days.) We are in a similar place with my maternal grandma. She's 94. My mom spent some time w/ her, last weekend, and my grandma thought they were sisters. So tough. I hope your grandma's slipping away is easy and peaceful. Love you, Girl.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Wow, that your grandma will be 100!! I think no matter what age - it's always hard to let someone go. But knowing where they are going can make all the difference! :) Blessings and God's wonderous peace be with all of your family!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful wish for your Momma and her Momma. Wishing many blessings to your family for all that is changing and all that is staying the same.
ReplyDeletei love all of these pictures of you and your family and i really enjoyed following them on IG.
ReplyDeletethe deep bond you share with your parents is SO evident. i love that.
it makes me a little sad i have to admit.
we used to live away from family and our visits home were much like yours now.
now, we hardly EVER see each other and my dad isn't the type who wants us around much. my goodness we take our closeness for granted!
SO thankful for my Heavenly daddy!
and as for your grandma, i will definitely be praying that He works out all of the details for her home going.
it's never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, but thankfully, because of what He has done and if we have trusted in Him, we can confidently say, 'see you later.' :)
what a blessing and comfort.
xoxo
ps your mama reminds me so much of my mama. :)
Your Mom is so beautiful. So incredibly beautiful. I am praying for her at this very sad time. I hope your Grandma will not be in pain.
ReplyDeleteI miss my grandmas so much. God blessed me with the most wonderful ones a girl could ever ask for.
This is such a sweet post directly from your heart. Love it! It is so hard to lose your grandparents. I miss my grandma's so much. Praying for a peaceful passing for yours and a peaceful transition for your mom and you.
ReplyDeleteOh Becky, I am so very happy you had this time with them, so happy your dad is doing well I hve prayed for him daily, I am so sad about your grandma but I will be praying for your family for your mamas heart, hugs to you friend.
ReplyDeleteYour mom & dad are just as cute as can be, so happy he is doing good enough to come visit you all! ( PMS bites I can so relate sorry about that)
ReplyDeleteHappy day to you!
I'll remember you and your family in my prayers. It's so hard to lose a parent/grandparent, no matter how old they are. God does give grace, just at the right time. Thanks for that reminder.
ReplyDelete~FringeGirl
All the talk about mommas makes me sad I don't have mine anymore. I know what a blessing they are and I miss mine still everyday even though she passed away almost 30 years ago which means I have lived more of my life without her than with her and yet I still remember so much about her and so many wonderful things she taught me. Most of all she taught me what it meant to be a woman of God even when she faced death. I will probably never know this side of Heaven why God took her so young when she had so much left her on earth to do, but I do know God has plans we couldn't even begin to know and they are good. Love on your mom and enjoy every second with her. I can tell that you do and it makes my heart happy to see your photos on Instagram and here on your blog as well. I will keep you, your mom and your grandma in my prayers.
ReplyDeletexoxo
I'm in agreement with you, Becky, that these wonderful things you're praying for be manifested. Matthew 18:19and 20 - "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning ANYTHING that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gthered together in My nname, I am there in the midst of them." That settles the matter. Hallelujah!
ReplyDeleteMy mother would have turned 100 on September 15th, but because she's in heaven, she's completely ageless. How wonderful!
How amazing it must be to live til you are 100. But her passing will be sad no matter how hard you prepare for it. I will pray for your family.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your father is feeling okay.
Sounds like you have alot on your mind. I hope that all works out. (((((HUGS)))))
I saw the sky this morning as well! Gorgeous pinks and orange!!! His painting:)
ReplyDeleteI will keep you and your family in my prayers. Oh, and being the only girl between two brothers, I feel like I am the only snippy hormonal one in my family:) Can't believe they tolerate me. Love them!
PS-I did the art show! It was great but I am relieved it is over;)
i will be praying for your sweet family. many in my family have died so young... it's always hard for me not to get jealous when i hear of people living to be 100. isn't that crazy?! what wonderful memories your mom must have with your grandma - so many milestones. regardless of the age, it's always hard to live on this earth without them. may you each be comforted as He holds in you in the palm of His hand!
ReplyDeleteI have lost one grandma already and my other one is in a skilled nursing facility and just turned 90. My grandpa is staying there with her - he's 96. My parents have been away for the month so much of their care has fallen to me. It makes it hard to imagine that this could be my parents one day...
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about God preparing us and walking us through. Before I lost my grandma, who was like a second mom to me, she had been in the hospital and they had prepared us all that she would not come home. But she did. She was home a couple months before she passed and I had the opportunity to be caregiver. It was such precious time for us together. God knew I wasn't ready before. I would crawl up into bed with her and rub her back, pray with her. Moments I won't soon forget.
Praying for you and your family as you walk this road that will take your grandma to her forever home too. She is an obviously very loved lady.
Beautiful...all the values we hope to instill in our own children, the values that last for eternity
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, it is wonderful that our parents love us unconditionally and we love our children that same way. Oh, to live to be 100, I can't even imagine, but regardless, we are never ready to let our parents go. My Mom went home to be with the Lord almost 4 years ago at the age of 78 from a massive stroke. It was just awful and I still miss her so much.
ReplyDeletePraying God's blessings on you and your family as life happens, changes come and go but HE is always on His throne. Blessings!
I do believe that God prepares our hearts for this letting go. I experienced it one year ago tomorrow when my dad had his homecoming. God readied both me and my mom in the days ahead, and while it was so hard to say goodbye, it was incredible to be in the room when he passed from this temporary home to his eternal one.
ReplyDeleteBecky, I will be praying for you and your mom, and specifically that she could be with her mom when her time comes. May He be your rock, both now and always.
Keeping your entire family in my thoughts and prayers Becky. Trev's grandmother was 99 when she passed ~ while it was sad and we were sad ~ she lived a good long life and she was ready. The circle of life ~ it sucks getting older as this is all part of it ~ hugs to you sweetie ~ I am thinking of you. xo
ReplyDeleteOh girl, you know you
ReplyDeletehave those prayers. I
didn't know your grandma
was older than mine : )
The dementia is so hard ~
that I do know about.
Love the photo of your
parents together. Beautiful!
xo Suzanne
I pray all those things for your family...it isn't easy even though everyone may know it's time. What a legacy for her to leave, though! Your parents look precious in those pictures. All my grandparents are gone, and it's funny what little things bring them to mind at any given moment. Those memories are little treasures, aren't they? May your family have many of them!
ReplyDeleteI will be lifting you, your family, and your precious grandma up in prayer tonight, Becky. You are not alone in this. :)
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie
Sending love and prayers to your grandma, your mom, and to you, Becky... God bless you and your lovely family... 99 is a good age... That's a long, loving life... Stay strong girlfriend.
ReplyDelete-Ann (@Rymina)
Hello sweet friend. I put your Grandma on the prayer chain ( the same group that has been praying for your parents) tonight. And tonight I pray for you. May you feel his love & his peace.
ReplyDeleteGod does, indeed, prepare our hearts. My mother was ill for a very long time ~ she had strokes and dementia resulted. It was the most difficult thing ever. I couldn't understand why God allowed all this time to pass but I now feel that He was preparing all of us, especially my brother. Our hearts had to be ready.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers go out to you and your entire family. I hope you feel the angel's wings covering you with peace and God's love surrounding you always.
xo
Pat
I knew it!! I mentioned earlier that your mam looks like me ... It's because we are so alike! My grandma, who cared for me and who I have cared for in her waning years, is also nearing 100. 10 years ago I pleaded with her not to leave me ... That I needed 20 more years with her. That was then ... So much has changed and I see that her quality of life just isn't there anymore. She's always been ready to "go." It was me ... But now I'm ready and I want her to have what she dreams abou now ... My grandpa and her other friends and family, including a grandson. I will still be beyond sad. But I will give her over to this dream ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for cleaning out my tear ducts this morning. I'll be praying for your mamma today!!
(((Hugs)))
You have me in tears.
ReplyDeleteSweet tears....
What a sweet, sweet, post about your family! Love how God prepared your mom for this event, I will pray for a peaceful passing.
ReplyDeletethat kind of family love
ReplyDeleteis such a beautiful legacy
....prayers for enormous grace
and comfort and wisdom.
as the days unroll and reveal
their offerings.
no matter what they hold,
may all your days be peace.
-Jennifer
Praying for that peace and your Grandma's homecoming. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Mica
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you all, Becky.
ReplyDeleteI am keeping your family in my prayers. Even when we think we are ready, saying goodbye is hard.
ReplyDeleteI often feel that you must have read my mind when I am reading one of your posts. I am in a constant struggle with my emotions when it concerns death. So much so that I usually never leave a church service dry eyed no matter what the message may be, as my loved ones are often in my thoughts while I sit through the service. My only surviving grandmother has been living the last few years with numerous health issues. Alzheimers, having all teeth pulled because of rot, and now loss of circulation to her feet (with medication they are controling the pain). I too have been praying for her peace. I am so thankful for your different perspective, I hope it will help me to get a handle on this train wreck of emotions I feel. My Grandmother will have a wonderful homecoming where she will be reunited with her maker as well as her loving husband. That thought of homecoming gives my heart peace when thinking of her, as well as those that have gone before her. I am thankful for the comfort I receive in the words that you write. You are a kindred spirit. Praying for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteWow 100 is great! Do you know that sometimes people who are that old are thought to have dementia when in fact they have a UTI urinary tract infection. It might be something to look into.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely uniting with you in prayer
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post and family you have. How awesome to have a grandma turning 100!!!Glad to see your dad doing great prayers for a good trip for them. Thanks for always sharing:O)
ReplyDeleteA tender post, dear friend. Hugs & prayers, always. xo
ReplyDeletei'm behind on blogging....hate that i missed this post when you posted it.
ReplyDeletepraying for your mom and your whole family!!!
it is comforting to get to the place where we trust in God's timing with our loved ones lives...grateful your mom has found that peace with her mom's life.
sweetness... will keeping you and your family in my prayers.
ReplyDeletelove to you.