You can read the beginning of their love story here.
June 15 is my parents' 66th wedding anniversary. Yes, 66 years! Here they are today:
If you have read this blog for a few months, then you know Mother is under hospice care. She was sent home from the hospital the first of March with congestive heart failure. Hospice comes in Monday-Friday to bathe her and the RN comes twice a week. Dad is her primary caregiver, though. I go on Saturdays and Sundays to bathe her and change her, basically to give him a break. Some Sundays he goes to church.
Hopefully, by mid-July the insurance will allow her sitter to start so Dad can have more help than he does have.
God has been so faithful and good to us to allow Dad, at 87.5 years, to still be in really amazing health with a sharp mind to be able to take care of her at home. Her bed is in front of the dining room window, so she can look out if she wants. Also, my brother lives nearby and is their "maid" once a week, and he can come if they need him more often.
I am praying for 67 years.
Today, my soul was refreshed. A student I had 25 years ago came to town to see me, and we spent four hours at lunch and reminiscing. I had not seen her since graduation....and I cried when I saw her and when we parted. At the time I had no clue the effect I had had on her. I have thought much of that in the last few years. We don't know how we may influence those we come in contact with. I needed this nugget from God today.
"yeah, so it turns out the greatest faith is found in the deepest valleys, climbing the highest mountains, through the blackest night.
That'd be us -- right about now.
Yeah, so it might look bad, hard, miserable, impossible ---
but the thing is?
Nobody gets gold medal faith, unless they've gone through some Olympic-hard trials.
Nobody gets strong faith unless they've felt real weak.
Nobody gets to stand tall unless they know what it feels like to think they can't stand at all.
The time to hope --- is exactly when it looks hopeless.
And no matter how things may look down and out?
In the midst our setbacks --
God is setting things up for a *comeback of our joy!*"
Ann Voskamp
I am beginning the hardest stage of my life right now, harder than cancer or anything else I have experienced. I covet the prayers of those of you who do pray. I can not share it at this point, but one day I will. Thanks to Debby and Rick, who have been an incomparable encouragement.
