My birthday came and I was kept so busy that I hardly had time to breathe. I felt like Tom was whispering in everyone’s ears “don’t forget Mom, don’t forget Gramma, don’t forget Linda”. I had phone calls, FaceTimes, beautiful flowers delivered from our children and my sister (I already had flowers from Wendy and my ministering sisters), I had Mary take me to lunch and Jean bring cake and eat it with me. I even had Jack call from Africa and Jacqui and Max FaceTime the next day from Australia. I was overwhelmed and blessed beyond expression. A day I had been dreading became a precious memory filled with kindness and love. How blessed am I?
Liza’s family ran into some difficulties with their spring break trip to Australia. Liza and the younger three children were to leave last Sunday evening but they discovered that Keaton’s passport was to expire that day. They also received a call on Sunday from VRBO stating that the home they were to be staying in had a pipe spring a leak. Adjustments were necessary last minute. They expedited the processing of Keaton’s passport and changed his flight to Wednesday when Brendon was to fly out. Cindy and Paul returned from their trip on Monday, picked Keaton’s passport up at the Surrey passport office on Tuesday and then drove it half way to Kelowna where they met Ted and Keaton who driven that far to meet them. Liza and the girls got to Australia and VRBO put them up in a hotel for three days until they could get them into another home. They stayed at Courtney’s until they could get into the hotel. Brendon and Keaton left on Wednesday and Bryson flew out of Edmonton on Thursday. They have been spending some time with Max and Jacqui.
Trevor, Tammie, Jadyn and Trey got back from their Caribbean spring break cruise but not without some flying and luggage mishaps. Travelling is difficult and challenging these days. Cindy and family did have a restful time at their accommodations in Washington State. They drove back down on Friday to pick up some packages for Liza and themselves and a wreath for me and probably, because of the cost of my wreath, were stopped at the border and questioned but all was finally sorted. Always something.
I did some gardening this week, cultivating garden beds and removing and then replacing a bush. The removal was a little more challenging than I had hoped for. I took some things to Thrift and took the Burnco bag back. Kona and I visited the grave and then went for A+W. I did some LOW training with Judi Laurie on Saturday and Barbara Loza on Wednesday. I attended Bob Water’s 75th Birthday celebration on Tuesday at Moxie’s restaurant with about 15 other people. I taught Amy and Hyrum Temple Prep on Tuesday evening in anticipation of Hyrum receiving his endowments and their future sealing. I had Liane and Ross Lyle from Nanaimo stay with me on Friday as they attended the Temple.
I went to my dermatologist appointment Friday in Burnaby only to find that it was in the same building where Tom received his pet scans at Initio. As I sat in the building, I realized that it was about one year exactly since I had been sitting there waiting for Tom to have his final scan in anticipation of our fourth trip to Germany. The scan showed no soft tissue involvement but blood tests indicating low blood platelets soon prevented the trip from happening. The end of March and beginning of April was a turning point. Our dear children had been taking turns coming to be with us and on March 24 Lara Lyn was visiting with Colton and Cindy took us out for brunch in Fort Langley to celebrate our collective birthdays. Exactly one year later, after that brunch, I found myself back in the building where Tom’s pet scan would take place just a few days after our family celebration. I have included a picture of us at the restaurant last year. He looks good but he was failing. I was holding onto hope and though in my heart I knew what was going to happen, I did not let go of hope until a few days before his death. The appointment last week brought all these remembrances back to mind and to heart. Life is an adventure, a challenge, a joy, a sorrow but roll it altogether and in the end it will be worth it. Now I hold onto the eternal hope the Savior offers.
No comments:
Post a Comment