Wednesday, December 31, 2008

So long '08

This has been a bittersweet year. The first half was positively wonderful! My Sweet Hubby and I kicked off the year with another K-LOVE Friends and Family cruise. We traveled, visited family and friends at will...We joined a wonderful new church that gave new meaning to the term "church family." I was focusing on my esthetics business and we were just enjoying life in general.

I truly understand now what it means to have your life - everything you know - change in a heartbeat. On July 10th, our world turned upside down when the reality of "Stage IV pancreatic cancer with mets to the liver" entered the picture.

The second half of 2008 was filled with illness, hospitalizations, blood transfusions, oncology appointments, chemo and briefly, hospice. And then a funeral as we said goodbye to our husband/father/grandfather/son-in-law/brother/brother-in-law/best friend/co-worker. My Sweet Hubby slipped ever so quietly away.

And then, as I was trying to come to terms with Christmas and our anniversary without my Sweet Hubby, my Mom was hospitalized. Critically ill with an internal injury that has a tremendously high mortality rate. Suddenly, all thoughts of Christmas are gone and my days and nights are filled with life in the intensive care unit.

But God is good all the time...it looks like my Mom will be going home tomorrow. We met with the palliative care team this morning and there is nothing more they can do here that I can't do for my Mom at home. And hopefully, she will recover better and faster in her normal environment.

So tomorrow night, New Year's Eve, I hope to be in my own home preparing to sleep in my own bed for the first time in a week and a half.

My son-in-law left for a job assignment out of state on Friday. Today, my daughter and grandsons left to join him. Matthew will return to Richmond tomorrow to spend New Year's Eve with his girlfriend and their best friends.

And I will experience another "first." Alone...

Somehow, it seems fitting.

I pray that 2009 brings God's blessings of peace, laughter, love and much happiness to you all. Thank you for sharing this "journey" with me.

"And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry." Genesis 8:13

6 comments:

Jody said...

Dear Gigi,
My husband and I are going to a New Year's Eve service where he will be preaching bringing the new year with other believers. I wish I had magical words for you, but I'm praying for you today. May God bless you and your mom.

Tamela's Place said...

Hello Gigi,

It is good to hear that your mom is going home and out of the hospital.

Jesus is our PROMISE of LOVE and as we enter 2009 i was reminded that the #9 means Promise. So may 2009 be a year of experiencing the Love of Jesus like we as a body of Christ have yet to experience as we keep our eyes on HIM!

God bless you Gigi!

Vicki said...

Gigi,
As we get older, the road does not become easier. Hopefully, with the Holy Spirit, the True Comforter, we have more tools to deal with the pot holes, sharp stones, and uneven terrain of the road we must travel to the end of our journey here. You are better equipped than most. Continue to be encouraged, My Dear. And know that you are a tremendous encouragement and witness to all around you.
Jim and I would like to take you to dinner here in Richmond, in your neighborhood, or in Williamsburg.
Blessings,
Vicki

Dawn said...

I am glad to have met you and love your attitude and outlook. God has done a wondrous work in your life. Praise Him.

May your 2009 be blessed in every way.

Putz said...

i'll be praying for some dry land for you, my dear gigi...do you know that i just love the name gigi, french i suppose

Jess said...

Hi Gigi, I hope that you had a good new year. I have been praying for your mom, and it's so good to hear that she is most likely home now.

Thank you so very much for all of your wonderful comments while I have been away.

May God bless you this week.

Lots of love, Jess