Home At Last

I have been absent from my blog over the past few weeks. I had some wonderful things to share through the holiday season and I planned to be here often but life didn't allow me to do that.  My dear, little mother's situation required much more attention than it had in the past and we were aware that she was declining more every day.  Our attention turned to meeting her needs and making the holiday season the best it could be because we knew this would be the last one we spent with her. And it was!

My sweet mama quietly slipped into the presence of Jesus late on the evening of January ninth.  We had planned to move her from her home this month because her needs were increasing so quickly that we knew we could no longer carry the full load in the best way possible for her - but she moved up instead!  She is in Heaven with Jesus and with my father and my baby brother who died at birth. Mom didn't want to move from her home. Her heart longed to stay in her earthly home until she moved to her Heavenly home.  When that day came she wanted to be surrounded by those who were dearest to her on earth.  And that's exactly what happened! 

My sweetheart and I stayed with her twenty-four-seven through the last weeks of her life. That brought such comfort to her and to us.  It was very hard but we will always treasure those days with her. She was placed on Hospice for the last two weeks of her life so we had their incredible staff to help. Our daughter is a medical assistant with training and experience in elder and memory care.  She has worked closely with Hospice groups through the past years.  She took a leave of absence from her job in order to spend the last week of her Nana's life with her and to help us with the day-and-night care required.  I honestly don't know what we would have done without her.  Our son was there often, as was his sweet wife and, at times, some of our grandchildren.  Our son and our daughter and my sweetheart and I were beside her when she walked through Heaven's gates.  She was home at last!


Last Saturday we had a beautiful service to celebrate her life and ministry.  It was a time to shed tears, pay tribute to a long life well-lived, share her favorite Scriptures and sing her favorite hymns. And there was laughter as we recalled memories of her fun, loving, creative spirit.  We were surrounded and loved and hugged and prayed for by family and friends from near and far.

I am just beginning to process the loss of my dear mother. I have good days and I have days filled with poignant memories and many tears.  My sweetheart and I are at the Oregon Coast for a week with our home-on-wheels and our little dog.  We're taking time away to rest and begin to heal. We're parked above the crashing winter waves that sound like thunder when they hit the beach below.  At night a string of lights line the dark horizon as crab boats brave winter seas to work their craft while we rest and sleep.  As I write this post a pod of seals is floating on the surface just below the bluff where we are parked. God has a way of sending special things just when we need them most!

We Are Celebrating. . .

A birthday at our house today.  Someone is a year older!  Not my sweetheart.  Not me.  Wonder who it is? It’s. . .

Joey!
He’s six years old today.
(He's a Long-Haired Miniature Dachshund)

Joey was a birthday gift to me from our daughter and her four children.  I’ll never forget the day I met him.  He was so tiny – and loving and snuggly-cuddly.  The moment we met I knew it was love at first sight.  For both of us.  My oldest granddaughter held him and watched to see the look on my face.  She added a bit of drama and gave me a sad, puppy-dog look.  I think she must have thought she had to convince me to take him.

He was so little the day he came home.  My daughter bought him the smallest doggie jacket she could find and it was too big!  It didn’t always stay where a jacket should be – you never knew how he would be wearing it.  He snooped around and didn’t venture far from the living room and then found a spot that seemed like the perfect place for a nap.
I’m sure the world seemed like an enormous place to him.  His bed was too big.
The world outside was so big he was not sure what to think when he was out there.When it was time to come back inside even the little step up was too big!  He was so small he couldn’t hop up through the patio door so my sweetheart put a little step there and carefully taught him how to come in by himself.He loved it when the door was open and he could stay inside and just look out.
But the best thing was when the door was open so he could lie down and hang his head out a bit.
Time passed quickly and he grew.  Life with a growing puppy was fun but challenging at times.  He went through puppy training – and so did we!  He loved to chew and he loved to steal things and hide them.  And sometimes chew them all to pieces.  Most of all he loved being spoiled a bit.If you know anything about Dachshunds, you know that they rule the roost.  They can be very stubborn but loving.  Joey has grown to know his boundaries.  Most of the time.  He’s a good companion and likes to stay close to us.  He loves it when our grandchildren come to visit but he always searches all around the house for them when they go home.

He is an adult now and he has settled into life here pretty well.  He understands a lot of what we say and we find we have to spell some things so he won’t hear them and get excited.  He’s a good dog and I can’t imagine life without him. 
Happy birthday, Joey – you’re the best doggie pal a girl could have.  Today is your day and there are special treats planned for you today. 

An Update and a Special Visit

I haven’t blogged for awhile because of my dear, little mother’s health needs.  Her recent heart attack left her very weak and in need of help with many things she had been doing on her own.  We’ve had some scary days (and nights) and often wondered if she would be with us much longer.  Of course we continue to rest assured that she is in God’s hands and there can be no better place for our dear ones to be.  My dear mother has improved a tiny bit but is still needs a lot of rest.  She saw a cardiologist last week and his words brought hope in my heart.  He was kind and took more time with us than I imagined possible.  He gave her new medications to help her heart work a bit better.  She is having some light side effects as her body adjusts to the changes but is able to do some things around her home. 

My days are busy but I am right where I want to be, doing just what I want to do.  I’m always amazed when I look back and see how God has prepared me – and the circumstances of my life – for times like this.  I retired from my chaplain ministry at the end of last year with a sense that I needed to be more available to my dear, little mother.  Little did I know how true that would be.  Thank you for your notes and emails and prayers.  We see God’s care for our dear one and for us every day! 

I love the way God sends special moments just when we need them most.  One of those times happened just a few days ago.  I had a surprise visit from a young lady who marched right into my home – smiling!  Miss H. was so happy to see me and it wasn’t long before she was in my back yard, offering help with my garden beds.  Of particular interest to her was an area that has not yet been planted.  And a tiny, old shovel quickly brought out her ‘gardener’ skills.  Her little face still shows signs of the treat she brought to share!Her consultant was close by to give advice and be of assistance.It wasn’t long before she decided to have a brief conference with him to see if he would give her some help.After the hard task of gardening was finished I was treated to a concert of the finest quality.  There was a bit of commentary, too, as the sound of music filled the room. Notice the clean, little face - the rule at my house is that hands (and face) have to be clean before you can play my piano.I invited my young helper to come back again soon.  She left with hugs and kisses – and a promise to return again soon.

(The photo above is not from my garden.  I wish it was!  It's from a beautiful place I visited on a garden tour recently.  It's good inspiration!)

My Father’s Ties

On this Father’s Day I would love to celebrate with my dear father.  He was a wonderful man who was loved by everyone who knew him.  He was loved because he loved so much.  He gave when it seemed he needed others to give to him.  He was the best dad a girl could ever have!

(Taken in Oaxaca Mexico on a missions trip –
Dad’s lifelong dream come true)

My dad had a heart of gold – a heart bigger than you can imagine.  He was a preacher – a preacher who touched the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people.  For as long as I can remember he had a heart for people all around the world.  His lifelong dream was to preach in other countries – on missionfields around the world.  Every morning he prayed for the people in different countries, naming one country after another, until I knew them by heart.  Not too long before Dad went to be with Jesus his dream was fulfilled – he and my sweetheart went with a team of people to Oaxaca, Mexico where they helped lead a conference for pastors in that area of Mexico.  My dad was one of the preachers for the conference - it meant more to him than most people knew. 

When my father went to Heaven just over eight years ago I couldn’t bear to part with his ties!  As my dear, little mother and I went through his things I just couldn’t let them go.  They were such a part of him.  They were ‘who he was’!  It seemed that each tie held a memory for me and I wasn’t ready to let go.  Then one day I heard of a lady who took her father’s ties and made a beautiful quilt from them.  I ordered her book and I carefully planned the quilt I wanted to make.  A piece of my dad, a bit of my history, a thing of precious memories!  So, for the last eight years those ties have sat in a box on the shelf of my sewing room, waiting for the day I would take them down again and begin to take them apart and put them back together again.  To make that long anticipated quilt.     

Last month I ‘ran into’ a dear friend I hadn’t seen for quite some time.  As we talked she told me of a lady in our town who has founded a ministry to pastors who have been imprisoned in Rwanda.  She goes into the prisons and takes Bibles and helps in training them to share the message of the God's love with the people whose lives have been so ravaged by war and terror there.  She said ‘prison pastors who receive the ties and women prisoners who receive the scarves say these gifts are evidence that people are praying for them and that they have not been forgotten.’ One warden told her that, after many years of empty handed visitors, the ties, scarves, and Bibles her ministry provides, were the first gifts the prisoners had ever received! They love scarves and ties and they all want a Bible of their own.  She gives them a Bible of their own.  And gives the ladies a bright-colored scarf.  The men receive a tie!     

As I stood there listening to the story of Rwanda, how lives were being changed, how they longed to have a Bible of their own – and a tie or a scarf – I knew what I had to do.  With tears running down my face I told my friend that I had my father’s ties and I wanted to give them to go to Rwanda.  There was no doubt in my mind – it was what Dad would have wanted.  If he couldn’t go to Rwanda, he would want his ties to go in his place.  He would want his ties to bless men who would go on to preach and share the message of the Bible he so dearly loved.

A few days later I reached up on the shelf and brought the box down.  I opened it up and looked again at the ties I had so carefully folded and placed there.     

As I took each tie out of the box I prayed for each man who would receive the ties.  I asked God to bless them as He had blessed my dad and fill their lives with the joy I had seen in my dad’s life.  And I knew I had really saved my father's ties for this - this was the reason I had kept them.  It was the reason why I hadn't cut them into pieces for a quilt.  No quilt I would make would ever have the impact my father's ties would have in Rwanda.
I took the ties and I drove to my friend’s house to give her the ties to pass on to the lady who was leaving for Rwanda just a few days later.   
I handed my friend forty-eight ties – ties that had taken on new meaning.  Ties that meant a part of my father would go to Rwanda.  After all the years of prayer for that part of the world.  After all the years he had longed to go and preach around the world.  After all the years he had been gone.  He could not go, but his ties went!

Today, on Father’s Day, the team is in Rwanda, giving out my father’s ties!  His ties are touching the hearts of some dear men in that land so far away.  There is no better way for me to celebrate today than to think about the day my father meets these men in Heaven.  And they talk about the ties they shared here on earth!

(These photos are from the website of International Reconciliation Ministries.  You can read more about the ministry to Rwanda here.  The ties in these photos are not my father’s ties – they represent the ministry and show the joy one tie can give when it is given in the name of the Lord.)

While She’s Sleeping

Shhhh. . .I have to be very quiet.  My mommy is sleeping and I have been sleeping a lot, too.  Everything is very different at our house now and my mommy isn’t busy anymore!  I don’t really understand it but I know something changed.  And even my daddy is at home.  That’s pretty special.  I love having both of them home at the same time and I love it when one of them sits down or lays on the sofa so I can snuggle next to them.  And sleep!

Two days ago my mommy told me she was going away for awhile yesterday and she would come home again before bedtime.  And, you know what?  She did!  I almost wagged my tail off when I saw her!  She told me things would be different for awhile.  I didn’t know what she meant but I listened very carefully – and I’m trying to be a very good boy so I don’t disturb her!  I’m not sure what’s wrong, but I know something isn’t normal.  When she came home late yesterday afternoon she had a funny thing on her left arm – I think she said it’s a sling.  Or something like that.  I was so happy to see her again.  I wanted her to pick me up and when she told me she couldn’t do that I knew she felt bad about it, too.  I like to sit near her and wait for her tell me to jump up on her chair or the sofa beside her.    I could hardly believe my ears when she asked me to write to you on her blog!  She knows I can handle it.

Late last night my daddy sat down at the computer and sent an email to a whole bunch of friends.  He told me I could copy it so you would know more about what happened to my mommy yesterday.  This is what he told our friends.

Just a note to update you on Adrienne’s shoulder surgery today.  But first, let me thank you for your prayers on her behalf.  The Lord’s presence was certainly with us today.

We arrived at Providence Milwaukie Hospital at 8 AM for pre op preparation.   At 10:15 she was wheeled into surgery.  One hour and five minutes later the Dr. came out to the waiting room to tell me that all went fine.  Two large bone spurs had been removed.  After a few hours of recuperation in the hospital, I brought her home where she is resting comfortably.  Her voice  is raspy from the breathing tubes, so she must limit her talking for the time being.  Her pain is controlled with the nerve blocking shot she received in the hospital.  She has started a regimen of pain meds as the shot will wear off by tomorrow.

Again, thanks for your prayers.
God is Good,
Mommy’s Sweetheart

(He didn’t sign it that way – I did because that's what my mommy calls him.)

Some things have changed since Daddy wrote that email.  I’ll try to tell you what I heard them say when they were talking this morning.  Mommy is resting comfortably.  She had trouble sleeping last night because she slept so much during the day.  I snuggled next to her for awhile but she kept moving around and getting up so I decided to move somewhere else where I could sleep without being disturbed.  Early this morning I found her sound asleep on the sofa in the living room and I woke her up.  My daddy said it was time for her to wake up and take a pain pill so I had to do it!  Even though I wanted to let her sleep.

The shot they gave to make her arm numb has worn off (I don’t understand that – I thought things that are worn are tattered and look old but she looks pretty good!)  She has been up walking around and doing a few things by herself.  My daddy fixed her a nice breakfast and she liked it a lot.  I heard her tell Daddy ‘thank you’ and she said it was very good. 

I’m so glad my mommy is home again.  She is resting and taking it easy.  She told me we will be able to do all kinds of things again.  I like that.  I love to do things with her.

I think I’d better go lie down – it’s time for me to rest!

Joey

P.S. - My mommy looks so pretty!  My daddy bought her some new tops that zip or snap up the front so she can get into them easier than some of her other clothes.  She has a new purple top on today.  It has a shiny butterfly near her heart.  I don't know what she means but she told me it adds just a bit of 'bling'!  Oh, I have so much to learn!

A Gift From The Heart

I couldn't let today pass without wishing my sweetheart, Dave, a happy birthday here. He would prefer that his day goes by in a quiet, unadvertised way. By his choice there was no special celebration for him today. Tomorrow after church my dear little mother will join us here at our home for a dinner prepared just for him. This dear man who I love with my whole heart gave a gift to someone else today. The gift of himself and his strength. He is a gentle, tender man who cherishes opportunities to bless others in helping ways. So, today, one of the hottest days of our year so far - by his choice - he headed up a crew of men from our church to meet at my dear mother's home, joining together to put their hands to a task that required much energy and hrad work. He chose this day to completely sand her good-sized deck and prepare it for new stain. A job that needed to be accomplished last summer. Every time he scheduled a crew to help him we had rain. Lots of rain last summer. Today he gave the gift of himself. On his birthday, much to my dear mother's protests. Soon she will be able to use her deck to relax, visit and entertain friends and enjoy her beautiful back yard. More than a job well done. A gift on his birthday to her. A gift from his heart.

I love you, my sweetheart, and I admire and respect the Godly qualities that make you the person you are. I am so glad - and blessed - that God chose me to share life with you. On this day we celebrate more than your birth - we celebrate YOU!

A Gift From The Father Above

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

James 1:17

Hudson Cole

Born at 5:29 p.m. on September 7, 2007

8 lbs., 20 1/2 inches long

Today our family received a good and perfect gift from the Heavenly Father. We have been blessed by the birth of our new grandson. He is a precious little boy who we have prayed for much over the last few months. There were many concerns and risk factors involved - but God heard and answered our prayers for a safe and healthy delivery for our daughter-in-law, Mrs. K. and little Mr. H. After his birth we learned that God had guarded him from a situation that could not be detected before his arrival. The doctor discovered a very large knot in the cord that was his lifeline until birth. She said it was a good thing they had induced labor and brought him into the world today - additional time and weight gain would have led to certain disaster! When we heard this news we thanked God for His mercy and the way He gave the doctor wisdom to sense the need to intervene today.

Father and son

Big brother, Mr. R.

Big brother, Mr. G.

Mr. H.'s two big brothers were very proud to introduce us to him when we arrived at the hospital. It wasn't long before they joined the two grandmas who were very busy with their cameras.

Just before they left for home and bedtime, Mr. R. and Mr. G. spent a few minutes near their mom while she shared the news with a good friend by phone.Our hearts are full of praise and gratitude for the precious gift of life that has come from God above. Little Hudson has come into a home and a family who will dearly love him, enjoy him, teach him and help him grow to be the man God created him to be. I am filled with awe that we should be so blessed! And I am truly happy to be part of this little boy's life. I am a grateful grandma.

He's Here!

I am SO proud to announce the arrival of our little grandson Hudson Cole into the world and into our arms. He was born at approximately 5:30 this evening. Mrs. K. is doing fine and Mr. S. is ecstatic! Mr. H. has not been weighed yet but the doctor estimates that he is around 8 lbs. He is healthy and doing well. At last report he was snuggled up in his mother's arms and she was smiling!

We are leaving in a few minutes to drive to the hospital to meet him and enjoy this wonderful, little answer to our prayers. Pictures and more details will follow!

With a grateful heart,
Gramma Adrienne

A Great Day For A Birthday!

Today seems to be the day for the birth of our sixth grandchild - our fourth grandson! We can't wait to meet him and hold him and snuggle him in our arms and kiss his little neck. This is the day we have been waiting and praying for.

Our son and daughter-in-law, Mr. J. and Mrs. K., will soon check into the hospital to begin the process that will start labor and bring their precious little boy into the world. These months of waiting have been filled with stress and, at times, much concern. Mrs. K. has to be on blood-thinning medication during her pregnancies because of a blood factor that can cause blood clots during pregnancy. About two months ago she contracted a virus that can cause serious problems or fatality for the unborn baby. A year and a half ago they experienced the unexplained death of another little son during the sixth month of her pregnancy. The doctors assure us that everything looks good with Mrs. K. and the baby. Through the past weeks she has seen her obstetrician every week and had weekly ultrasounds and appointments with a specialist. I know she will be glad to be finished with all the medical appointments and begin a more normal life at home with Mr. J. and their three sweet boys. There has been a lot of prayer for them through these months, especially during the past few weeks. We have seen some amazing answers to prayer during these long months of waiting. Our hearts are full of joy and peace as we wait today.

Mrs. K's doctors feel it is wise to induce labor and bring our precious little grandson a bit more than a week early. In the past she has gone beyond her due date and her babies have been big. It seems to be in the best interest of Mrs. K. and this little one to convince him to come a bit early, so today is the chosen day! His little lungs are well developed, he is in the correct position and it seems he's just waiting for the signal that it's time to come out and meet his family. His mom and dad are more than ready to hold him in their arms. And his two big brothers can hardly contain their excitement. He will be welcomed into a family that is just waiting for him to join them.
So, today is a waiting day - waiting for a 'birth day' celebration. Mr. J. plans to stay in contact with me by phone and keep us informed of the events of the day. We live about 40 minutes from the hospital where they will be and you can be sure we will be there as soon as possible after this precious little boy makes his entrance into the world.

We would appreciate your prayers for Mrs. K. and her baby boy today. You will be among the first to hear the news and see pictures of our wee grandson.

Oh, What A Dad I Had!

I think I had the world's greatest dad! This is the 4th Father's Day he has celebrated in Heaven with Jesus. He was the sweetest person you could hope to meet and he was quick to express gratitude and appreciation to anyone he met.

He was a fun dad to grow up with. He was big and strong and fearless, at least I thought so. Not only was he a tall man -- he stood tall, head and shoulders, above other men I knew. He was a true man of God who lived his faith every moment of every day. He was a preacher, and I was so blessed to call him my pastor as I grew up (although one day when I was 5 years old I did threaten to stop attending his church because I was upset with him!). The way he was on Sunday was exactly what you saw every other day of the week. One time someone asked me if he was the same at home as he was in public. My answer was an emphatic "Yes".

I would like you to meet my dad. I wrote this tribute for his memorial service.

MEMORIES OF MY DAD
By Adrienne T. S.

"I’m J.T.'s daughter!" I have always said those words with such pride. Many times in my life those words have given me instant identity because Dad always seemed to know everyone wherever he went. I have often been asked, "Are you J.T.'s daughter? He’s told me all about you, and I feel like I already know you." And I’ve been asked if I would share my dad so someone else could be his son or daughter. While I was always willing to share him, I knew that no one else could ever share my place in his heart. I have been very blessed to have him as my Dad.

We had lots of fun together. We rolled down hills together; did somersaults together; had snowball fights together; made snow angels together; sang silly songs together; read stories together. Dad was so patient – he helped me with homework, endured my constantly changing hairstyles and taught me to drive. When I was upset and knew he would be mad because I had just put a big scratch along the side of his brand new car, he gently said, "It can be fixed."

There were many special times with my dad – Christmas shopping each year together for his gift to Mom, the moments before he and I walked down the aisle together at my wedding, the arrival of my children and my grandchildren and the last days of his life on earth.

What I treasure the most about my dad was his deep commitment to Christ. What you saw in public was exactly what I saw behind closed doors at home. Because I trusted Dad, I learned to trust God, the Father. When I was just a baby, he sat me on his big hand and as I grew stronger and could sit up well enough to balance myself, he would slowly raise his hand higher and higher until his arm was fully extended and I was high in the air. When I could stand by myself, I graduated from sitting to standing on those big hands. His other hand was always ready to hold me if I lost my balance. It’s no wonder that I love the Bible verse that tells me that "underneath me are the everlasting arms [of God]." Because I knew – and trusted – the security of my father’s arms, I have no trouble resting in the arms of God, my Heavenly Father.

Dad was a man of prayer. I grew up hearing him pray. Not only did he pray in public, but he prayed at home. He prayed for everything – before meals, at bedtime, when my cat was sick, when I was sick, when the car wouldn’t start. Every morning our family sat together as Dad read from the Bible and then we prayed together. He was patient with me when, at age 3, I announced that I was not going to pray anymore because you can’t see God anyway – He’s all covered up with sky. Soon after that, I began to pray again. When I was 7 years old, my mother was in the hospital and not expected to live. The doctor told Dad that they had done everything they could do for Mom – there was no more that could be done. The doctor knew Dad was a praying man, so he told him to go home and pray that God would spare Mom’s life. I’ll never forget seeing Dad kneel by his bed, in tears as he asked God to save Mom’s life. I quietly slipped into the room, joined Dad and together we asked God for a miracle for my mother. God heard our requests, and Mom came home from the hospital a few weeks later. Not too many teenagers have the privilege of hearing their father pray early in the morning before daylight. When I was in Jr. High School, Dad’s office was in our house, in a room next to mine. Dad never prayed quietly, and I often woke to the sound of his voice in prayer. It was not unusual to lay in bed around 4:30 in the morning and listen to my dad pray. He prayed for the needs of the world, for missionaries, pastors, family and friends. I loved to hear him pray, but the prayers that meant the most were when I heard him pray for me! The sound of my father praying for me was a strong influence through my teen years. He continued to pray for me right to the end of his life. Just before Dad went to be with Jesus I found the following quote by Martin Luther on Dad’s desk: "I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first 3 hours in prayer."

Yes, I’m proud to be J.T.'s daughter. We have had a great life together. Heaven seems a lot closer now that Dad is there, and I wonder when I get there, will someone ask "Are you J.T.'s daughter? He’s told me all about you, and I feel like I already know you."