We all struggle.
We all hesitate to talk the things that are hard for us.
We all could learn from one another.
These past few months have really been difficult.
Pop (my mom's dad) is suffering from kidney failure/poisoning and it is only a matter of time. As he and his North Carolina family go through this, I wonder why God doesn't always take people quickly to be with Him? What purpose does lingering in between life and death serve? On the other hand, all of the family who is able has had an opportunity to say goodbye one last time.
Grandma (my dad's mom) has been fighting urinary tract infections, dealing with chemo, and enduring physical therapy the last few months. She is slowly improving and hopes to move from a nursing home/rehab facility to an assisted living facility in order to live with my grandpa soon. I think I mentioned they moved from Cullman, AL to St Louis, MO a few posts ago. Though this has been a very good move for them, as a result we can't visit them very easily anymore. I regret not going to visit them more often when they lived closer. That's how it often is...you don't want to take advantage of what you have until it's gone.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to have pretty close relationships to all of my grandparents. In my elementary school years, our family went to Atlantic Beach for visits with my mother's family at my grandparent's time share. The thing I most remember about that was actually GETTING there! We'd leave my grandparents house right after worship services and lunch. We stopped at some antique stores along the way, so the old folks could shop. My uncle would play games, teach us fun songs (Under the Boardwalk, There's a Hole, etc), and provide general entertainment (Ruuuuuubbbber Biscuit?!)for us young ones. About 6 hrs later we'd finally get to the beach. It was SEVERAL years later that my cousins and I realized that the travel time from Mom and Pop's house to the beach was actually only 3 hours! When I was middle school age, my sister and I spent a couple of weeks every summer with my mother's family in North Carolina. We worked at my aunt's bakery, hung out at Mom's antique store, played basketball with my uncle, and spent time at the river house with all of them. We spent some good times together!
During the summers of my Florida College years my dad's parents were kind enough to let me live with them. I LOVED this time with them. We went through some tough times in those years (my aunt's divorce, Grandma first got breast cancer, some big issues in the congregation) but I learned so much in how they handled each trial. We had some good times too. There was the Rook playing...YES, Kaye and I did take Grandma and Grandpa down a couple of times out of SKILL and not luck. We sang together, ate meals together, and were sure to have intelligent dinner table conversation. Do any other families try to stump each other with state capitals?! I am grateful for the quality time I got to spend with them!
In comparison to the struggles the older generation of our family is having, our little family troubles seem to be but trifles. However, at times, when we are in the thick of it, it seems pretty difficult. We are trying to train two little girls in the way they should go and sometimes they seem to run in the opposite direction! The terrible two's are in full swing at our house and Adam and I are learning how to deal with them. For example, currently, Chloe has developed a fear of EVERYTHING! We have had to put a night light in her room and leave her door open a little bit just to get her to go to sleep. She has woken up screaming a few times for no apparent reason. We've never really had sleep issues with her, so this has been a surprise. We are also struggling with immediate obedience. She has really developed an opinion and has no issue with telling us she is busy right now :)
Autumn, on the other hand, is getting a little easier. She is starting to crawl (mostly backwards) and play with all of us. She has learned peek a boo and likes to play with whatever Chloe brings her. Her sleep issues seem to be resolving.
We need a new roof on our house as a result of age and a stormy summer. The a/c in the van needs fixing. The Rendezvous needs a new wheel as a result of a pothole. AND we learned we probably won't be able to sell our house for quite some time. No, we aren't seriously looking for a house yet, but learning that we may not be able to sell for a couple of years was a little disappointing.
However, we have 2 cars that run and we have a house that is more than adequate for our little family.
Finally, I have not felt like much of a homemaker lately. I never feel like I have any energy for cleaning or preparing supper. Usually, I can figure out some way to motivate myself, but not lately.
Thankfully, I have an awesome husband who will help me clean for 2 hours on a Friday night before Ninny gets here AND who will cook supper for all of us after a rough day at the office.
Yes, recently life has been hard, but it's only a season and we have many things to be thankful for.
We all hesitate to talk the things that are hard for us.
We all could learn from one another.
These past few months have really been difficult.
Pop (my mom's dad) is suffering from kidney failure/poisoning and it is only a matter of time. As he and his North Carolina family go through this, I wonder why God doesn't always take people quickly to be with Him? What purpose does lingering in between life and death serve? On the other hand, all of the family who is able has had an opportunity to say goodbye one last time.
Grandma (my dad's mom) has been fighting urinary tract infections, dealing with chemo, and enduring physical therapy the last few months. She is slowly improving and hopes to move from a nursing home/rehab facility to an assisted living facility in order to live with my grandpa soon. I think I mentioned they moved from Cullman, AL to St Louis, MO a few posts ago. Though this has been a very good move for them, as a result we can't visit them very easily anymore. I regret not going to visit them more often when they lived closer. That's how it often is...you don't want to take advantage of what you have until it's gone.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to have pretty close relationships to all of my grandparents. In my elementary school years, our family went to Atlantic Beach for visits with my mother's family at my grandparent's time share. The thing I most remember about that was actually GETTING there! We'd leave my grandparents house right after worship services and lunch. We stopped at some antique stores along the way, so the old folks could shop. My uncle would play games, teach us fun songs (Under the Boardwalk, There's a Hole, etc), and provide general entertainment (Ruuuuuubbbber Biscuit?!)for us young ones. About 6 hrs later we'd finally get to the beach. It was SEVERAL years later that my cousins and I realized that the travel time from Mom and Pop's house to the beach was actually only 3 hours! When I was middle school age, my sister and I spent a couple of weeks every summer with my mother's family in North Carolina. We worked at my aunt's bakery, hung out at Mom's antique store, played basketball with my uncle, and spent time at the river house with all of them. We spent some good times together!
During the summers of my Florida College years my dad's parents were kind enough to let me live with them. I LOVED this time with them. We went through some tough times in those years (my aunt's divorce, Grandma first got breast cancer, some big issues in the congregation) but I learned so much in how they handled each trial. We had some good times too. There was the Rook playing...YES, Kaye and I did take Grandma and Grandpa down a couple of times out of SKILL and not luck. We sang together, ate meals together, and were sure to have intelligent dinner table conversation. Do any other families try to stump each other with state capitals?! I am grateful for the quality time I got to spend with them!
In comparison to the struggles the older generation of our family is having, our little family troubles seem to be but trifles. However, at times, when we are in the thick of it, it seems pretty difficult. We are trying to train two little girls in the way they should go and sometimes they seem to run in the opposite direction! The terrible two's are in full swing at our house and Adam and I are learning how to deal with them. For example, currently, Chloe has developed a fear of EVERYTHING! We have had to put a night light in her room and leave her door open a little bit just to get her to go to sleep. She has woken up screaming a few times for no apparent reason. We've never really had sleep issues with her, so this has been a surprise. We are also struggling with immediate obedience. She has really developed an opinion and has no issue with telling us she is busy right now :)
Autumn, on the other hand, is getting a little easier. She is starting to crawl (mostly backwards) and play with all of us. She has learned peek a boo and likes to play with whatever Chloe brings her. Her sleep issues seem to be resolving.
We need a new roof on our house as a result of age and a stormy summer. The a/c in the van needs fixing. The Rendezvous needs a new wheel as a result of a pothole. AND we learned we probably won't be able to sell our house for quite some time. No, we aren't seriously looking for a house yet, but learning that we may not be able to sell for a couple of years was a little disappointing.
However, we have 2 cars that run and we have a house that is more than adequate for our little family.
Finally, I have not felt like much of a homemaker lately. I never feel like I have any energy for cleaning or preparing supper. Usually, I can figure out some way to motivate myself, but not lately.
Thankfully, I have an awesome husband who will help me clean for 2 hours on a Friday night before Ninny gets here AND who will cook supper for all of us after a rough day at the office.
Yes, recently life has been hard, but it's only a season and we have many things to be thankful for.
I love you.
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