And what fun it's been!
First off, to think that God makes us all so completely different, in body, mind and in spirit!
To be in healthcare, caring for and serving others takes a very special heart, and people who are compassionate and incredibly caring. Mom is surrounded by incredible healthcare people, who truly connect with their patients and their families. We thank God for them!
The last couple of days in New England have been stunning! The sun is out and it's been warmer than usual here with temperatures in the high 70's! We've all enjoyed the beautiful foliage, sunshine and warmth.
Friday morning, once again, Mom initiated another move from her wheelchair to her bed - alone!
While we applaud her initiation, we explained the danger in her decision and get to keep reminding her of the 'what if's'...The doctors continue to find the balance of mixing medication that heals her by increasing her appetite, keeping blood pressure low, and stimulate her in a way, with little side affects. She continues to be an unbelievable trooper - willing, open and accepting to what is before her.
Before her dinner, we asked her to lead us in prayer for the first time, and her prayer was:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for arranging all of this and for blessing me. You are the reason why we are together. Help me to accept this and to not fight through this. Thank you for all the blessings. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
That pretty much says it all as to where Mom is at....
After a 9 hour drive from New York, Oma and Opa (Ray's in-laws, Mary Beth's awesome parents) arrived, bearing sweet treats, gifts and their big hearts for all of us to embrace! Mom, 'Happ' and 'Ness', (Ray's coined their name 'Happiness', because well, they are walking joy, basically) the Chin's and the Chiarella's have had the amazing blessing of spending time with one another every Maui winter season, as all three, having overlapping winter vacations. So, to reunite with Oma and Opa, is such fun! and means so much to all of us...
They were able to watch Mom work so hard yesterday in therapy. The physical therapist had her doing things that she's never done. She walked to and from her room, without her therapy belt, to assist the therapist in balancing her. She walked in and around cones for balance. Later, she got to walk to each cone and bend down to pick each one up. That was difficult for her, but she was able to do so as her confidence grew. To further practice balance, the therapist had Mom in a 'dancing partner position', where Mom got to mirror step-work in dance moves. This took great focus, sequence, and balancing. After this 35 minute workout, Mom then participated in group therapy, where she worked on her upper strength and lower strength exercises. She was wiped! Unfortunately, she was so wiped, she nodded off during lunch, without eating much. She chose to take a nap and thankfully, ate more at dinnertime than at lunch.
Auntie Berit, her son Jon and his son Zachary, all showed up late yesterday afternoon, to offer their love and support to Mom and all of us! What an extended family Mom is surrounded by, who love her unconditionally and overwhelmingly! You realize how time is flying in life, when you are seated next to someone you played with as a child, and that he now has a child! Yikes!
Once again, to end the evening, Ray (and Goobie), took all 12 of us out to yet, the third Italian restaurant in the area! It is such a grand time to be together, especially with the presence of Oma and Opa, connecting, eating, and sharing our lives! Breaking bread with one another is something that we all love doing....Oma and Opa leave early Sunday to continue their travels to the Cape.
It's a three day weekend here as they observe Columbus Day.
Today will be the last day that Mom will have all of her children together as Ray leaves tomorrow for Auntie Wendy's and then back home. We are grateful that God brought us together during this time, giving us the opportunity to reconnect, support and love Mom, and one another. We are incredibly appreciative to each of our spouses, Beth, Jeff, Mark and Al, who couldn't be more supportive, loving and understanding people! We cover our spouses in prayer, asking that God continue to bless each of them so abundantly....
Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15.
Do not cry to Me in the hour of crisis and distress as though I would extend some miracle in answer to prayer. Of course, I do answer prayer, and I can perform miracles and bring deliverance, but if I do this, I have only rescued one of My own out of trouble while you have won no victory at all! I want to teach you how to circumvent the enemy - to drive him out of the arena; how to subdue kingdoms and how to truly reign in the kingdom of heaven. I want you to experience Jerichos, not Ais. You must be overcomers if My work is to be accomplished.
Rise up, then, and lay claim to the power that is yours, because I am in you, and you are in Me, and as I was in the world, so are you. I was victorious, and you too may be victorious. I withstood every encounter with the devil, and you too can stand against him.
Learn to reign, for I have made you to become kings and priests. I have intended that you should come into that place where you share My authority so I will be able to manifest My glory through you. This is My greatest joy - to lift you out of enemy territory and seat you in the heavens with Me. And where am I? At the right hand of the Father who sits upon the throne. He has invested in Me all power in heaven and earth and under the earth; and you are seated with Me, far above all principalities and powers. Through Me you have inherited all.
An excerpt from Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts.
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