"Save a Place for Me" by Matthew West

This time last year we were going back and forth to the hospital as Mammaw (my husband's grandmother) was in the final stages of her life here on earth. Thursday will be one year since she passed away. Say a prayer for my husband this week on this anniversary.

I've been thinking of her this week and her life and memories I have of her plus things my husband has shared with me. Here is a song that I'm thinking of this week in her honor. Click HERE to hear "Save a Place for Me" by Matthew West. (It wouldn't let me embed it so you have to click to hear it.)

Have a day of blessings!

Song: I Will Rise

One day I was driving home to meet my husband to go see Mammaw. This song "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin came on KLOVE. I realized it was also on my ipod. It really blessed and comforted me to hear and fit Mammaw's situation so well. I was thankful to have this song as well as others that blessed us so much during this time.



Praise God that the victory is won!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!" Revelation 5:11-13

Odds and ends...

I wanted to do an update on some various things from the recent past.


First, I have decided to move "As long as it is called Today" to a different day. I have wanted to change the day and now seems a good time since I've missed the past few weeks. I'll pick back up with the questions this coming Tuesday so stay tuned for that.

Next, I told you in my posts last week about Caleb's "preciousness" during our time at the hospital as we were saying good bye to Mammaw.

During one of our times in the waiting room we'd gotten word that Mammaw was worse. I told Caleb that we didn't know if Mammaw was going to be with us much longer and that God might think it's time to take her to Heaven. He thought a minute and asked if they'd have to take her body outside. I said no, God will just take her. He said maybe the angels will take her.

We talked freely with him about her going to Heaven. I told her she wouldn't be sick anymore and could run and play now. I tried to explain to him that we would bury her body but she got a new body in Heaven so she doesn't need the old one anymore.

He talks about Heaven and I can tell he's been pondering it. He told his grandfather in the waiting room that Mammaw was going to Heaven soon and he does have a real sister in Heaven and Mommy's dad (he meant grandpa Peepaw) went to Heaven already. It was all very sweet to hear him talk about.

We were gathered one night with the family to eat and Caleb said the prayer. It was just beautiful. He said help us Lord. You know we are sad because Mammaw went to Heaven. Then after the funeral we gathered at Mammw's house to eat again. He prayed then too. His boldness always surprises me. Sometimes at bedtime he says he doesn't want to pray but both of these times he just let out these beautiful heartfelt prayers. It was so touching to hear him.

Today is the first day of spring! This time of year is always exciting to me. It has been beautiful here all week. We plan to do something as a family. It has been nice getting back into the routine at home this week. Caleb and I are having a lazy day at home today after finishing up some chores Thursday.

Have a great weekend!
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"And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.' And it was so." Genesis 1:14, 15

Thankful Thursday: Mammaw

I am thankful for so many things this week. If you read previous posts you can find out what's been going on in our lives.

March 11, 2009 Mammaw (my husband's dear grandmother) went home to be with Jesus. We know she is at peace and rejoicing in heaven. It does bring comfort. She has always been such a strong woman. We got a call about 2:30 in the morning that her breathing patterns had changed and the nurse again thought she would go soon. We expected to get a call back that she was gone. She hung on till lunchtime, though, when her three daughters and her younger grandson were out of the room.

This week has been a week of learning experiences for me. I have so much to be thankful for and am glad for a chance to be part of Thankful Thursday. In so many ways I saw God's hand the past week.

* I am thankful for Mammaw and the life she lived, the example she was. She was so very special to my husband for his whole life. They had a special grandparent/grandchild relationship. He introduced me to her on his birthday weekend. After meeting me one time she introduced me to someone as her future granddaughter. I guess Mammaw's just know these things. :) That was always a special memory for me.

* I am thankful for all the people who have prayed for us and shown support for the family. I've seen people reaching out with hugs, prayers, calls, emails, and visits. Some have already brought food too. It makes you thankful for friends and thankful people care during a time like this.

* I am thankful for my dear sweet husband. Pray for him. Friday will be his 30th birthday (yes I'm exactly two weeks older than him.) We know all the firsts without Mammaw are going to be especially tough over the coming year and here is the first one. Please lift him up in prayer and that Caleb and I will do just the right things to give him just the kind of day he needs. I know Mammaw wouldn't want us to skip over his birthday because we are missing her!

* I am thankful for my dear sweet Caleb. I have so many stories to share about him. Was it easy for him to go to the hospital for several days and be entertained in small waiting rooms? Definitely not. But he was a trooper. We are all so proud of him. He was sensitive to us. He was a ray of sunshine to everyone he met. He was there when we needed him.

* I am thankful for God's timing. Weeks ago my husband was discouraged that his conference where he had to give a speech was scheduled for the first week of March this year. Other years this conference is always the middle or end of March. Looking back we are grateful for this schedule because the conference already happened, and my husband was finished with his speech and didn't have to worry about. Another thing about God's timing: Last week on Tuesday before Mammaw entered the hospital, one of her daughters found her and thought she was already gone. They got an ambulance and took her to the hospital. It was so serious that we could have lost her then. Why did God let her hang on for another week I've wondered? I feel maybe it's so we could all be there with her and tell her of our love and good byes. His timing is perfect.

* I am thankful we have a home in Heaven. It is such a wonderful hope we have to look forward to and anticipate. We didn't want to tell Mammaw goodbye in our earthly flesh. We know we will miss her. But we know also that she is in Heaven and we rejoice over that.

Once again I want to thank all of you who have read my entries and offered prayers for us. Keep those coming. We appreciate them. I'm not sure when I'll be back to regular posting or reading blogs. I need prayers myself because my throat is scratchy and I have an achy back.

Thank you for visiting. Join us for more Thankful Thursday posts by visiting Lynn.

This passage really blessed me this week (I Corinthians 5:1-10):

1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Checking in.....

We went to the hospital quickly this morning after getting a call that the nurse said it would be soon. The family was gathered around her bed and prayed. I sat in the hall with Caleb instead of in the waiting room so I'd be nearby for my husband. We talked and read books. I enjoy my conversations with that boy so much. :) Well they came out about 11:30 and said they were going to get something to eat. I was very thankful because Caleb had started saying he was hungry and I was feeling hunger pangs myself. We ate a quick lunch in the cafeteria and went back upstairs. The nurses have said they are surprised at how strong Mammaw is and she keeps holding on. She was looking around today and smiling, my husband thought she must be seeing the other side already. The family has all told her their love and that we'll be okay and it's okay for her to go. We've always known how strong she was!

I've enjoyed hearing my husband share stories of his Mammaw. She has been so special to his life, and I told her I was thankful for her and for her being so special to him.

Thank you again for your prayers. I have felt God with us and holding us really to get through. The days are running together. We came home earlier tonight and relaxed (I had a nice hot bath) and Caleb got to play at home a while. We're just going to take this one day at a time.

Update on Mammaw (Monday night)

We've been at the hospital again today. We were able to rest and arrived at the hospital around 11 this morning after a couple errands we needed to do before leaving town.

Mammaw is steadily declining. The hospice doctor told the family this afternoon he would expect her to pass away in the next 24 hours. An encouraging thing was during the conversation something was said and he said oh, is she a Christian? We said oh yes. He said I am also. That takes a little of the sting out because you know it isn't a good bye but a see you later. What a blessing!

Caleb was a big boy again today. I took him downstairs to a little couch in a lobby area for him to rest yesterday and today he marched over to it ready to nap when we got off the elevator. He has cheered so many people. I've really been watching him and it blesses me too to see the smiles he brings to the faces of all those around him if they know him or not. I have some precious Caleb stories I may share as well from this experience.

Let me say thank you to those of you who have encouraged us with your messages here and your prayers for our family. I have missed reading your blogs and being encouraged by you, but you've come here and encouraged us. Thank you.

Sunday evening update

We've spent Saturday evening and most of Sunday up at the hospital with Mammaw and the family. Tonight they have moved her to hospice care. Please remember the family in your prayers as well as Mammaw.

I must say Caleb has been such a great boy through this ordeal. Hospital waiting rooms are not the most fun place for a little boy to be. He has done great though. We keep telling him how proud we are of his excellent behavior. We have activity bags we take and switch out with books and activities for him to occupy his time. One of the waiting rooms has a blocked off area for children with two small tables so we've been in there regularly. He doesn't really understand about Mammaw. I told him we just had to pray for her and whatever God wanted was what we wanted, either to make her better or take her to Heaven.

I appreciate your prayers and concern. Friends are a blessing.

Evening update

Thank you to everyone for your prayers. We spent more time today up at the hospital. It's been a long day it seems. Mammaw was awake this morning when my husband visited. She was talking some but didn't remember last night, one of her grandsons being there, etc. After lunch we went back together and she was about the same. The doctor was talking with the family when we got there. He said he will try to drain the abscess on her back on Monday. I believe in 1996 she had some hardware put into her back (they call it a rod) and it is trying to protrude and it has an infection. She is very weak and her blood is so thin so they're trying to giver her things to thicken her blood over the weekend.

Her daughter called 911 Tuesday a.m. because they found her in bed, not sure she was alive. Her body was apparently full of toxins. I believe they called it septic (or septis? I don't know) shock. She had her dialysis today. Tonight when I went in to see her, she tried to talk to me. She was watching TV. I couldn't make out her words, it was like she had to think of what she was saying. She seems very weak to us and like she is in pain. She's still struggling with her breaths and has irregular heart beat and her blood pressure gets extremely low.

Thank you for your prayers.

Update on Mammaw

We got to the hospital during the visiting hours this afternoon. I waited in the waiting room while my husband went in and then I went back to see her. She tried to talk to me and all her numbers on the monitor got irregular and dropped. My brother in law came down also and Mammaw's brother is planning to come tomorrow. We ate supper with my inlaws and then went back for the evening visiting hours. My husband went in this time and said she was very different from the time before. We are going back now. We came home to get Caleb in his pajamas and let him bathe.

Please pray for this family. Mammaw has been a strong strong lady for her family. She has been a strong fighter for as long as I've known her. Several times we've had scares with her health in the past. We are praying for God's will.

Prayer request

We just received a call from my father-in-law that my husband's Mammaw is in the hospital in ICU. She is a strong lady and has pulled through many times in the past with some tough health issues. She has been on dialysis I think the whole time I've known her and her body is wearing out at this point. We're going with my husband to check on her. I'll post an update later. Please say a prayer for her and the family.

Thankful Thursday is below.