First of all, I am very thankful that our daughters live nearby and come to help, visit and bring their famlies. I'm also very glad that they have taken over the turkey duty. (and here I have to thank the sons in laws too, because they are cookers also and do alot of the holiday feasts.)
We won't get to eat that turkey because it was consumed in Okinawa 12 hours ago. Maybe next year we'll get a sample.
And I must include in these thanks, our daughters' in-laws. They have treated us as family all along. Whenever we've had to run to the hospital, whether those scary visits at the ER or the happy ones at the Birthing Unit, our family nurse was there popping in to visit. She also has a very active prayer group and when I've needed the big guns, she hasn't failed me. And her daughter gives the most marvelous facials!
Our Virginia extended family has been so wonderful with cards, notes, emergency babysitting when I couldn't do and other forms of support we could never thank them enough.
Closer to home, we have the local in-laws who have been so very good to us and ours with notes, prayers and help.
I think we're lucky that our daughters all married sons from fine families.
The other family that must be mentioned is our church family. The altar guild brings us beautiful flowers when we can't make it to see them in person. St. Martha's Guild provided a prayer shawl for Pat that does much more than keep his knobby knees warm at night. A couple of men came to paint the shed. One family has sent Pat a card every week since his diagnosis. Another lovely woman brings us flan because she knows how difficult it is for Pat to swallow. Others have left bottles of wine, delicious little cheese snaps, cheese cakes and other delicacies. I can't forget the friend who seeing my proposed menu on Facebook one night, brought me the ingredients and stayed to visit. Her husband later brought a play pen for Dougielou. One family in particular will come over and bring a portion of whatever they're eating and they have provided many a wonderful meal when I was too pooped to prepare. They have provided smoked turkeys and colorful mums, as well as an offer to carve the pumpkin. We love the visits, casual drive-bys as well as the drop ins for cocktail hour. Our church secretary will check on us every week to see if she needs to open the door for the healing service. Our church family will not allow us to be forgotten which can happen with this sort of illness.
Our non-church friends are wonderful also. Some take us out for Mexican food and another climbed up on the roof and finished painting the windows that Pat could no longer reach. One friend will drop by on her way home from work at Elon U. Just to check on how we're doing.
Faraway family have made the trip. Pat's parents hopped on a plane, and despite his mother forgetting her makeup ( a tragedy for a former Ole Miss Cutie), we had a great time. His brother from North Dakota and sister from Alabama drove up for a quick visit and we had a lovely time eating chicken pie from our church under the carport.
My cousin, from Michigan who is a speech pathologist, gives me good advice on new technology available to assist Pat's speech. Thanks to her and Mr. Zuckerman for providing a path to reconnect after all these years.
My own siblings have all made the trek at least twice and I think the thing that I appreciate most is that I know they would do it even if I weren't here. They are that attached to Pat, for himself.
And of course, I cannot forget the grandchildren. One visit from any or all of them blows all thought of illness out of our heads. They are wonderfully insane and oftentimes bad, but always beloved.
So you see, there aren't enough words to express thanks for all the kindnesses. In this way I do think ALS has been a blessing. All that goodness is out there. I wonder if sometime, we get these sort of slaps in the face to appreciate them. Don't wait for that please.
No comments:
Post a Comment