Thankful For One More Day!

Friday I found out that my Grandmother had entered the hospital because her arm was numb.  She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.  And that was all I knew for hours.  Since she lives in Oregon, and I in Utah, it's not like I could just get in the car and head over there.  That side of my family has a history of heart problems and my Dad just passed away from a stroke last year.  Knowing all of this, it was all I could do to hold it together until I heard more about how she was doing.  I had been feeling sad anyway and was trying to hold the tears in until I had a moment to myself, but after I got the phone call about my Grandma the tears fell freely.  And  I continued crying off and on all day.

Why is it that when emotions hit you so strong, your inner voice kicks in with everything logical?  I kept thinking, "I know she's 82 and her health hasn't been that great anyway.  Besides, she want's to die."  (She's been telling us this since she was 69 - because it seems like everyone in her family has died by this age anyway, and she thinks it's totally unfair that she's still alive.)  But try as I might, my logical side of me couldn't win.  I was overcome with grief and I was so relieved to hear that she had pulled through surgery for a blood clot in her arm.  And I was so happy and grateful to have another chance to hear her voice.

You see, I believe that our life continues after the death of our bodies, that our spirits live on.  I know that I could talk to her after she died and she would hear me just fine, but I would most likely not be able to hear hers.  Even with this knowledge, I am thankful we get one more day to be together on this earth and that I could hear her voice again and let her know I love her and am thankful she's been a part of my life.

I also know that this was probably just the warning signal - just a "news flash" from Above to let us know, the time is soon coming for her to go home - her Heavenly Home.  Perhaps next time I won't take it so hard, but then again, I probably will.

First Grade in French

My oldest daughter started school this week.  (I can't believe it's been a whole week already!) Walking away from her on Monday I went through every emotion:
~ Sad to leave her, knowing how much I'll miss her during the day,
~ Panicked about leaving her in a place I have no control over where she is at every moment,
              (Yes, I am a control freak)
~ Questioning if I've taught her all I'm supposed to for her to be ready for school all day?
~ and Excited that she's growing and learning and enjoying it!

Every day she's come home so excited to tell me all about her day!  She LOVES school and she loves learning.  The exciting thing is that she's in a French Immersion program at her school and already she loves it!  She comes home singing a song they have learned in French, "Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept violet-uh bicyclette!"  Which is all the numbers from 1-7, and then it says purple bicycle.  Much to her excitement, I just reminded her that she actually does have a purple bicycle.

Her teacher's (she has 2 - one that teaches in English, and the 2nd one teaches in French) sent home a letter on Tues. saying, "Wow!  We are working with an amazing group of first grade students.  They have responded to the language challenge with excitement and enthusiasm.  They watch and listen, then try out the new sounds and words.  If they don't understand what is being said, a friend sitting next to them quickly 'helps' by showing or telling them what to do.  Thank you for sending us children so willing to do their best."  I mean, I know the teachers have to be positive or whatever, but I know they're right.  The kids in there are amazing!  (And I don't just mean my own, although I do think she's pretty amazing!)

We live in such a good place, where parents care about their kids and their education - which makes the children care too.  What a blessing it is for her to be here and to learn a new language!  I know this will open up a whole new world for her!  Which is why, although sending her away to school brings up tons of emotions for me, I'm glad to see her learning so much and so happy about school.

"See Mommy? Daddy's OK!"

Monday my husband went into a surgical center for the removal of a lump of lipoma on his right shoulder. (Lipoma is a fatty, non-cancerous growth.)  Of course, surgery is not fun and can be a bit overwhelming, but when we were reading the list of anesthesia's with their possible side effects, it was downright scary!  Did you know that there is a drug that can cause temporary amnesia? Yikes!  And, of course, there's the side effect that made us decide we should put on paper that if anything were to "happen", I would be able to make decisions for my husband.  With all of those "side effects" going through our brains you can imagine why we were so nervous!

However, in spite of all those scary warnings, the surgery went well and the Dr. reassured him that his growth - although sent to a lab to be checked - would not be cancerous.  As they were telling us about all the things he needed to do to take care of his wound, I had to joke that he would be more work than I was after having a baby!  To which he replied, "I hope not!"  (Honestly, it hasn't been bad!)

Nonetheless, the kids were warned not to touch him when he came home and were in total awe of the drugged up, silent man that walked into the house after the surgery.  Since the bandage isn't where they can see it, I'm sure they were wondering what was wrong with him and why they couldn't touch him.  All that first day they stole peeks into the bedroom where he lay resting and at one point they were invited in, but he was obviously not the jovial person they were used to seeing and talking to.

My 2 youngest just kept asking me, "Is Daddy ok?"  Of course, I explained as best I could, but it's hard to know what they understood.  The next day it was obvious that my little Ana was so concerned because every time her daddy ventured down the stairs, she would run to me, point to him and say, "See Mommy?  Daddy's ok!"

Yes, he's ok and on his way to healing!  Thank goodness for good medicine and for good doctors!