A sad day

I have been remembering the events of last year on this blog, but the present has a sorrow of its own.
My dear cousin Char (pictured on the right) and her husband were devastated yesterday by the death of their daughter, Maddie (center). This picture was taken in March when they were all down to visit us for Spring Break. I am thankful for the joyful memories we made that weekend - will continue to treasure them - but we are mourning today.

I know that God is good ALL THE TIME, even though I don't understand why 5-year-old Maddie died so suddenly. He is my source of peace, He is my strength. I am leaning on the everlasting arms, and leaning hard.

I know I belong. :-)

I have been living in this town for 5 years. Today, I feel like I belong. Why, you ask?

Well, at my local Publix this afternoon, the number of people/families that I saw or visited with (8) was greater than the number of items in my cart (7). If I count everyone's children, I saw... 15 people that I know!!

Kinda cool, for me. This place is feeling more like MY town today.

One year ago -- Part 1

July 4 is coming up, and it is bittersweet. So many things happened one year ago around this time.

Near the end of June, my dear sister was advancing in her pregnancy, and she had some pain in her abdomen that was severe enough to warrant a day-long stay at the hospital. She was given instructions to "take it easy", which is practically impossible with two toddlers around. My mom was not able to go up and help. Here at home, David's parents had just moved to town and had been in their apartment for a little more than a week (rather than living in our house as they had done for the previous 3 weeks), and we were starting to settle into our new "normal". David agreed that it would be a good idea for me to go spend a week with Mel & Patrick and the kids, and hopefully help a bit.

I had such a nice week in TN; Mel was feeling a lot better by the time I arrived, the pain was more under control, and we were able to do fun things like go to a big playground and the local water park. It was a busy week, but it was a FUN kind of busy. I enjoyed kisses & hugs, baths & bedtimes stories, and time with my sister. I even enjoyed changing my nephew's diapers! On my way back home I got the phone call about David's sister.

I was driving to my parents' house, a convenient stop-over between Mel's house and mine. David's brother called my cell phone and told me that his sister was in the hospital. She had been diagnosed with cancer in her lung and elsewhere, Stage IV, and was told that it was terminal. Due to her low body-weight and general fatigue, treatment would not be possible. Hospice care would be arranged as early as possible; her condition was growing worse by the hour. We had found out she had gone to the hospital a couple of days before and was not feeling well at all, but we had absolutely no idea it was that serious.

I had the presence of mind to pull off the road while Lynn told about Diane. I remember exactly which parking lot I was in, and the last time I drove by it, I was flooded with the memory of that conversation and the one that followed--I had to call my husband and and tell him that his sister was dying. I believe it was Friday, July 3.

Thankfully, it was only 30 more minutes before I got to my parents' home. They hugged me while I cried, encouraged me, and prayed with me. We knew it would be a difficult journey, and I felt ill-equipped to handle it, but I committed myself anew to relying on God's strength. The morning of July 4, I headed home.

Tales from the road

We survived our week-long trip to PA with the elder Latonas. It was a good week, and there were no major problems, until the airport delays on the last day. (UGH!!!) Since everyone else shares the funny things their kids say during trips like this, I decided that I could share some funny stories about the parents. They know we love them.

Day 1
After landing in Pittsburgh, driving in the rented BLUE DODGE CHARGER for an hour, and stopping for lunch: We had our lunch and paid our check, then I went to the bathroom with Mom for one last pit stop. On the way back to the dining room, she took a wrong turn and went out the back door of the restaurant. I ran out the door after her, hollering, "Mom, where are you going?!??" She said, "I'm going to the car. It's the black one up there, isn't it?"

Meanwhile, at the front of the restaurant: David had watched me run out the back door after Mom, and he headed out the front to check on Dad, who was smoking a cigarette. After the cigarette was done, Dad started to walk down the sidewalk to our car. David said, "Dad, where are you going?!??" He said, "I'm going to the car. It's the red one right here."

More Day 1
In the hallway of the hotel, as we were heading out to dinner, Mom said: I hate to say this, but I wish I was back at home!!!

Day 2
In their hotel room: On the afternoon of day 1, we left a sheet of paper on the dresser stating our room number and the approximate time we would be leaving to go have dinner.

In our hotel room the morning of day 2: [knock, knock, knock] David said, "Is someone knocking on our door?" I went to check, and when I opened the door, Dad was knocking on the door of the room NEXT TO OURS. He had come to tell me that mom couldn't figure out how to turn on the water in the shower, and that she told him to come get us in room 111 (we were in 109) so we could come and help her. When I went to turn the water on for her, she was quite frustrated, as she had been trying to get the shower on for over 10 minutes and couldn't figure it out.

More Day 2
After 3 hours on a plane to Pittsburgh, 2 1/2 hours in a rental car driving to Altoona, and an overnight at the hotel in Altoona, we checked out of our hotel and continued on our journey to Lucinda. On the way out of town, Dad said, "Oh, we're going this way to Pittsburgh?"

Day 8
In the back seat: Dad complained that it was too hot. He started to take off his sweater, and he opened the rear a/c vent (for the first time the entire trip). Mom said, huffily, "Why are you doing THAT if you're HOT???"

In the front seat: We exchanged raised-eyebrow glances, knowing full well that when you are hot and you want to be cooler, you open A/C vents and take off your sweater. Hmmm....

Day 8 was particularly long; our 5:20 flight from PIT to ATL was delayed because of thunderstorms in Atlanta. We sat on the plane for over 2 hours (wheelchair assisted people get on first and get off last) with Mom & Dad huddled in sweaters & blankets trying to escape the A/C, and eventually the plane had to go back to the terminal, and we all had to get off. David got off first while I waited with the parents. He got us some dinner, and we hurriedly ate at the gate before they put us back on the plane. We departed PIT at 9:00pm.
In Atlanta at 11pm, I zipped off the plane first and was thrilled to see that our connection home was delayed from the original 8:30 departure time to 12:11am. I asked for the wheelchairs so they would be ready when Mom & Dad & David finally came off the plane, and got the gate info for the next flight. We hurried to that gate, 2 concourses away, pushing Mom & Dad's wheelchairs ourselves and toting the carry-ons & rolling suitcase, since there were not many wheelchair-pushers on duty that late. We got to the gate at 11:45, and the video board at the gate did not show a departure time of 12:11... it showed 11:38. AAAAACK!!!!! I begged David to ask an agent if the plane had really left, and as it turned out the plane was still sitting there since a crew was not yet available to get the plane away from the gate. We quickly and thankfully boarded (with 3 other VERY thankful people).
Back home (around 12:30am), a strong storm had come through and damaged the tunnel/ramp used for passengers to board the plane, so the only way to get off was the steep & narrow steps. We had to wait for the staff to bring a lift with which they brought Mom & Dad down from the plane one at a time. By the time I got into the terminal, David had found our car, found our luggage, and loaded it in the car. I was SO ready to go home.

In the wee hours of unplanned Day 9, at about 12:45am: As we were getting in the car Dad said, "So Dave, are we gonna go get coffee and a doughnut?"

Waiting sure keeps me busy

Well, it's been about two months since our final home study visit, and we are securely in the "waiting" phase of adoption. It has been a busy time, though.

My MIL has had some urinary infections; the most recent one was a kidney infection that kept her in the hospital one night. There are still more tests to be done with regard to that situation. We are ALMOST done with follow-up appointments from the carotid artery stent she had in March. My FIL has been diagnosed with Alzheimers, which really was not a surprise. For me, it's a relief to know that his forgetfulness and general state of mild confusion HAS A NAME. Even though Alzheimers is a downhill-path, we know what that path is now, and somehow that makes it a little easier. There is much to be thankful for (perhaps a separate post is appropriate for this). Today I am taking him to the DR for a 3-month check-up that was probably supposed to happen about a month ago.

I am playing the piano! I accompanied for 8 band students and about that many voice students for recitals & festivals in early May. I also accompanied a high school chorus, played a piano duet at a school fundraiser, accompanied rehearsals for a play at our local theater, and I have a gig next Friday, playing love songs for "cocktail hour" at a wedding rehearsal dinner. Practicing has been a lot of work, but it is so much fun to play.

We are preparing to travel and take my MIL to see her sister in PA. It has been five years since Mom has been up there, and she is really looking forward to the adventure. Dad has declared that he wants to go with Mom (even though he used to HATE traveling...) so there's plenty of busyness to be had with the whole TRAVEL thing.

We are preparing to host David's brothers & sister for Dad's 90th birthday. It has been years since we have all been together (the last time was at our wedding), and we are looking forward to travel plans being in place so we can talk it up with Dad that his kids are coming to see him for his birthday. If we say it enough times, he might get to enjoy the expectation of their arrival. If not, at least he'll enjoy the surprise. :-)

We are waiting and praying for our baby. With each new medical "emergency" and situation, I tell the Lord one more time that I trust HIS timing, and that I am willing to serve Him by caring for my elderly family members. He knows my heart and my desire to be a mom, and as far as our adoption goes, "He's on it!!!"