Merry Christmas!!!!

Finally, Christmas is here! I do love this time of year. Everything is so beautiful with colored lights and sparkling things everywhere. I love sparklies!

I finally got the tree up 3 days ago. No, I'm not being a scrooge. It's just that our main Christmas event will not take place until January 3rd. That's the day that all the kids can get home. So I still have a few days to prepare the last minute items and get the house ready to be filled with people, love and laughter.

Right now I am at my job. Sickness, it seems, is no respecter of persons or seasons. My patients don't want to be here, but we all make the best of things. It pleases me to be able to tease and cajole with these dear people to perhaps make the day a bit brighter for them under the circumstances. In a couple of hours I will go home, but they will remain until their bodies are sufficiently healed before they can go home. I am blessed.

I am excited about 2009. In spite of all the dire predictions of 'hard times', I still see each new year as a time of positive change and new opportunities. I used to get together with a friend of mine each year and we would review our accomplishments of the year past and write down out goals for the new year. She always managed to accomplish her goals, but mine often fell by the wayside as I was easily distracted by one thing or another. Or just to lazy to work toward the end result. This year I want to eliminate some of the distractions. I want to refocus on the things that really matter. I also would like to take a little time to just enjoy the simple things of life, like a nice walk on a summer evening, or a good movie. So we'll see how that goes.

But for today, it's Christmas!! So Merry Christmas to each of you! May God bless your socks off!

Searching for normalcy.....

My very wise, 80 year old Dad says, "Life goes on." I know he is right. So in my grief I am groping my way back to normal. It's hard. A part of me wants things to be normal again, but another part of me wants to think about and remember my sister. Well, I suppose that is normal, too, under the circumstances. So, I guess all is well. My sister lives in Heaven now. And it's not 'Goodbye' but 'See you later.'

I do have plans for a couple of projects in remembrance of my sis. She had 4 very special friends that I plan to make special gifts for. That would make Jo happy. She was also trying to grow her hair long to donate to 'Locks of Love'. I will do something special for some cancer patients on her behalf. Jo was always about giving and serving. I can't be Jo, but maybe I can become a little more like her. I'm looking forward to seeing her again, later.

My Sister. My Friend.

On the evening of Thanksgiving day I received a call from my nephew in North Carolina.

"Irene," he said. "Mama's having a heart attack."

"Oh John, are you sure?" I asked.

Yes, he was sure. I could hear the EMT's in the background. I recognized the sound of the ACD directing 'No shock advised.'

"No Lord," I prayed. "Please don't let my sister die!"

Not long after, my other nephew, Barney, called to tell me that "Mama is gone."

How sad. I'm going to miss her so much. She was only 56 years old. Younger than I.

I heard her announce her arrival in Heaven. "I'm here."
I saw her being welcomed by my baby sister and my mom who had gone before. I saw her walk toward me to welcome me into Eternity. She was beautiful and happy. So was I.

I thank God for allowing me a glimpse into Heaven at a time when I needed it so badly. Still, I'm really going to miss her. She was so uniquely special. I am so sad.