My son died yesterday.

 

 Last September my son (52) and I bought this manufactured home in a 55 and over park. I told you about that I think. Excuse me if I repeat myself. We thought it was going to be our forever home and we sat smiling and looking around thinking how we would make it "ours". Within two weeks things started going wrong. Well.....right away we found overwhelming evidence of rats and mice in the house. Call in the Orkin Man!!! Then the hot water heater died. Our home warranty was called and after $600 out of my pocket was shelled over we had a new hot water heater. 

I told you about my son being in ICU last February. He is now in a nursing home under hospice care. Alone I have had to empty 4 large storage units and bring everything home in order to save money and not lose this "mouse house". Every spare minute I have, and when visitors are allowed for hospice patients, I am at the nursing home with John. He is scared. According to the hospice doctor, John was not expected to live more than a few days when he was admitted. This is month three. He has an incredible will to live. He says he is not scared of dying, because Jesus lives in his heart and he knows where he is going, but he is a bit afraid of the journey, because he has to take it alone.

It's raining and cold outside today and I'm going to be busy trying to purge myself of most of what came home from storage. I may end up having an estate sale or something. Right now my rooms are wall to wall boxes, bins, totes, baskets, odds and ends of furniture, rolling tool boxes etc. Problems with the "mouse house" continue; non working light fixtures, garbage disposal backing up, antiquated appliances not performing. 

You know what? It will all work out. God's mercies are new every morning. God, just wrap your arms around John and his two children and give them peace and hope. Please meet them at their point of need, because you know what that is even if I don't. Praise you and thank you for your love. In Jesus name, Amen

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 This is what I woke up to this morning. I have to admit that I had a serious talk with God about this. My son, John is in the ICU and it's really bad. I cannot drive up to the hospital in this snow that is covering a layer of ice and more freezing rain is falling on top of it. I am thankful that John is in good hands who are taking excellent care of him. He will be very disappointed that I can't get up there to see him.

 

Good Thursday Morning!! Here in Milwaukie, Oregon it is chilly, but not cold and it is wet, but not soaking. As I sit and enjoy my square of dark chocolate and my morning coffee, I am thankful that I can view the sunrise from my comfy chair. Some mornings it is stunning and colorful, but this morning it is overcast and gray. Still it is a new day and God's mercies are new every morning.

Also here in Oregon, senior citizens, fearing infection or worse, have been anxiously awaiting their turn to get the Covid vaccine. As their time approached, the governor announced that she has bumped them down on the list so as to immunize inmates in the jails and prisons. Teachers also were on the list to get their vaccines, but will have to wait for inmates. Go figure. As for me, I choose not to get the vaccine. 

For anyone that read my last post, I would like to say that my son, John still has his foot. Praise the Lord! He is still not out of the woods, but things are looking up. He spent several weeks in a rehabilitation facility, where they gave him the first dose of the Covid vaccine. He will have to go back in a couple of weeks for the second dose. 

My pugs are softly snoring and snuggled together this morning, but a couple of days ago we had a short lived sliver of sunshine coming in the window and they took full advantage it.

Oh, how I love those little dogs. John has a little dog also. His dog won't leave his side. 

Normally I would be taking my short walk around the neighborhood this morning, but John has a doctor appointment for his foot and we are getting ready to head out.

I hope all of you have a blessed day.

Sandra

 

New Normal

One day I went for a six mile walk with my son. A few months later he lost his ability to balance. A while after that he was in the hospital for the 14th time due to brittle type 1 diabetes. 

One day I had coffee with my good friend and we visited at the coffee shop for four hours. A year later and we have been isolated for many months, not able to hug or see each others smiling faces or join hands in prayer.

One day I went to the credit union where my daughter works and made a deposit and exchanged small talk and the next day I went to make a payment on my loan and she had to stay 6 feet from me. Automatically I was about to give her a small hug goodbye and she backed up saying she had to protect her members. Of course, I didn't think.

One day I had a couple of cheap masks to use when I sprayed Simple Green to clean the bathroom. Now I have masks in the car and in the kitchen and by the back door and the front door. When Home Health comes to take care of my son, I have to mask up. When I run to the property managers office to drop off my rent, I have to mask up and stay 6 feet from the door.

This is the new normal and I don't expect it to change any time soon. I attend my Sunday church services on You Tube or Facebook. I disinfect everything in the house regularly (door knobs, toilet flushers, banisters, faucet handles, counters, I wash my hands so much they are dry and cracked. I facetime my grandkids and they cry that they want to come and visit or spend the night.

I have a collection of masks. Washable masks, disposable masks, kids masks, homemade masks. I don't buy designer masks. I googled masks, (masks with sequins, masks with lace, masks with fringe, masks with pug faces on them). If you can think of it, it has already been designed. Cottage industries are popping up everywhere selling masks. This is the new normal.

Now I'm told there is a new strain for covid spreading that is more easily transmitted. Will there be another and another and another. The news tells me "We are all in this together". NOT!! I'm in this alone taking care of my son. I can't get my hair cut, I can't go for coffee with a friend, I've even been denied visitation rights when my son was in Intensive Care. He's in the hospital now assessing whether or not to amputate his foot. I'm on my way to see him and at this time I believe I will be allowed into his room.

I pray for health, safety, peace and prosperity for this new year. I will trust in Him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-SXz_exKE