November 4, 2013
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A Change in Plans
Much has changed in our home since I last posted on Xanga. Things didn't work out for Mom to go to the home we had planned for her.... and instead, we moved her into OUR home! So we spent three weeks -- 6 days a week, all day long, turning my office/classroom of the past 16+ years into an empty room that could be cleaned, have new carpeting and curtains, and ... Mom's furniture. We also had the bathroom remodeled to take care of some termite damage, et al, and to make it handicapped accessible. Then on Sept. 20-22nd, we drove to IL, and then brought her back with us to HER NEW HOME. Here are a few of the adaptations.
Bathroom remodel: part 1
- Bathroom remodel part 2
- Bathroom remodel part 3
Mom at her desk in her new room.
Mom and her only son (& our only bro Don, who lives less than five minutes away from us), enjoying a casual chat at our dining table.
Mom's bedroom ... opposite side from her office in the room.
Dad's picture on Mom's file cabinet next to her printer and computer.
Mom has a couple of very special ministries. She writes letters, and sends cards to inform, encourage, and bless the many people that she has on her contacts lists. She also is a real prayer warrior for many people... including lots of missionaries, preachers, and lay people who are serving God wherever they are.
We arrived with Mom on a Sunday, and the following Sunday she went with Mike and me to visit and have a birthday celebration for our oldest granddaughter at a restaurant in the Pickerington area. She hadn't seen Tristen since she was 4 (it was her 9th birthday!), and had never seen in person our other two grandchildren -- Brogan - age 3, and Quinn - age 4 mo. Here are 3 pictures from that day.
Mom with Mike and I, our younger son Shaun, and his two older children, Tristen and Brogan.
- Tristen laughing as she was being sung to by the restaurant staff.
I don't have a picture of Quinn from that day, but here is one of her that makes me smile whenever I see it. Her smile warms me, and brings me joy.
I shall try to do a better job of updating and visiting you - my friends who read my blog. My days of private teaching have been replaced with a different, busier type of busy ... but it is a wonderful busy! (Did that make sense to anyone?) Next time I will share more of the great times and pictures that have kept me away from blogging. Meanwhile, I have my blogging friends (& FB friends, etc.) to visit. See you around!
Comments (20)
Makes perfect sense to me. Such joy you must feel to have your mother with you. Perhaps she can include my son in law in her prayers. Please read my posts in the last two or three weeks if you want to know. Love and hugs.
It is a joy and privilege to have Mom living here in our home with us. It had been our desire, but Mom did n't want to be a "burden" to us. We convinced her that it was GOD's perfect plan for her and for us as her children, to have her living with us.
It is also my desire and privilege to join with you and all the other family and friends in praying for your SIL DAVE and the rest of the family.
Love ~ Carolyn
Indeed , Carolyn, this is a big change in your life . Your mother is kindly spoiled by you both. You managed very well her room and the bathroom . I congatule you for the love you give to your mom and what you are doing for her.
Love
Michel.
Thank you, Michel for your kind words. My husband Mike and I believe that it is God's plan for children to care for parents as completely as possible, whenever it is feasible to do so. We are thankful to have the ability to do this, and so we are all the more richly blessed!
Love~ Carolyn
You ask about the name Yris . It is a new name for us too .In fact we pronounce like for the flower iris .
Phonetically ,in English, it should be Y-ris or e-ris .
lOVE
mICHEL
Thank you for sharing. It is a lovely name, meaning flower (from the Hebrew)or colorful or rainbow (from the Greek). I'm sure that she and her brother bring much joy to you and the rest of their family!
HI Carolyn! So good to read this update ... I understand now why I haven't seen you on much, either! What a blessing you are to your dear sweet mom!! And what a blessing she is to others with her ministries! This makes me miss my mom, too!
This is the first that I've seen you on the new and 'improved' (?) Xanga, too. :/ I would be on here more often, but with the health issues my hubby is walking through, as well as what our son has been going through, well, it's not been easy to find time to get on, but I'm sure glad to see you here on the list in my 'Reader'!
I know I haven't been by here in a little while to post, but now I notice that my Premium account is expired so I can't update or post anything on my site, and I don't know how or where to go to upgrade. (?) I tried on their main page here, but it took me to the fund raiser, which is now 'closed', and it looks like there's been no activity from the 'XangaTeam' for a month, or more! Anyway, at least I can still see what others post, and still comment! I do have a WordPress account set up where more of my Xanga friends have gone, so I may start using that. It is a bit easier to understand too, besides, I can't see paying $48 for one year here, especially with more pressing financial needs right now.
Hope you are well, Carolyn! If you want to stay in touch other than on Facebook, here's my other site. Drop in when you can, and let me know you got this:
http://threadsoffaith2.wordpress.com
((Hugs)) Debi
Hi Debi,
I will indeed follow you on your wordpress.com.
I do want to keep up with you as much as we can,
and have always appreciated your journaling.
You really have had a lot "on your plate"!
How are your menfolk doing now? I shall head over
to your site now to see if you have answered my
questions there.
I still don't know a lot about posting here, but
am trying to figure things out as I go along.
HUGS! ~ Carolyn
Wow! Big changes! I am sure your mom loves being with you, instead of going into a home. Your grandbabies are beautiful! I can't believe Tristen is NINE! WOW!
Yes, Mae, we have indeed had some huge changes! Mom and all of us (our son & DIL who live with us as well) are all making the needed adaptations well.
Thank you for the compliment about the grandchildren... I too find it hard to believe that Tristen is nine now.
And speaking of grandchildren, you are on a roll with having beautiful grandbabies! You have now outdone me on the number of grandchildren! I'm so delighted for you!
RYC: Thank you for such a beautiful e card and your loving words. I appreciate you including Dave and my daughter Saadia and her sons in your prayers Joyce. I am indebted to you for this loving grace that you show me.
We took care of our MIL and Aunt (sisters) in our home for 5 years. My wife and I worked together. I think your mom sounds nice. Wishing you the best. Nice to see big brother participating.
frank
Thanks, Frank. That's great that you kept both your MIL and her sister with you!
My brother lives in our subdivision, and so he often stops by, or sometimes he'll
spend time with Mom when Mike and I go out to do something.
Of course your comment about busyness makes sense. It looks like you did a great job on Mom's room. Thanks for your comment. I couldn't read all of it. Still don't understand Xanga 2.0
Thank you for the comment; we have tried to make Mom's new home as homey, pretty, and practical for her as possible.
I hope that you were able to find out how to access all of your comments.
Thanks for stopping in! It sounds like your mom is still interested in learning new things. I would love if my Mom had Facebook but I don't think that will ever happen. She's still working the factory at 83!
It's so nice when they can be close to home! God bless you as you take care of her.
Mom is definitely still into learning some new things. Your mom is working doing what? Yes, it is wonderful to have Mom here so that we can care for her.
A side benefit that I'd not expected: I've been sick since Saturday, and she went into Nurse-Mommy mode (she retired as an RN)! I'm starting to feel more human today, and so my meds are doing their work... as well as all of the extra rest, prayers, and spoiling from Mom.
How wonderful that your mom got to meet her grandchildren and they her! Bless you for opening your heart and home to her and creating such a pleasant place for her.
Some of the adjustments look very familiar, as my sister & I have gotten similar things for our mom.
you sound busy and happy! I am so thankful that you have your mom still and you have her in your home! A blessing for her and you! Thanks for stopping by my blog too!
Yes, to both adjectives!
And it is truly wonderful to have her in our home!
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