Be Singing Angels

December 25, 2013 Be Enough 1 Comment

We have been very fortunate to have met incredible nurses, care aids, patients and families at hospice.

I have felt a particular affinity to C, D and M.

M is across the hall from mom and is a light and lovely soul also battling cancer. We think she may have also been in the chemo room the first time mom had her chemotherapy.

C is just here to help get his pain under control. He has asbestos in his lungs from working in an asbestos-lined building for many years. Did you know that hospice is a place to get help for pain relief not just a beautiful place to die?

Then, we end with D and his family. D is a fellow teacher, nature lover and suffering valiantly with ALS. I have felt depth and love from his daughter A and she has helped me tremendously through this by sharing her story and her life.

This afternoon D, his wife and his three girls blessed us with their singing. It was a lay down on the ground kind of moment.

Listen to this….

And a little bit more…

Glory to God for the gifts He gives each of us. We are so incredibly unique and beautifully made.

Boys, cancer, Family

Be Wearing Toques

December 25, 2013 Be Enough 1 Comment

A gift.

A toque.

Sewn with love.

Peace.

Merry Christmas.

cancer, christmas, Family

Be Eating Dinner for Breakfast

December 25, 2013 Be Enough Leave a comment

Hospice is hosting a wonderful Christmas lunch including all the fixings and even Santa Claus.

The beautiful, hard-working and well-meaning volunteers have delivered Nana a plate of turkey dinner. We have decided, actually made an executive decision, Rea will eat the lunch. I hope we haven’t offended anyone.

Happy gobble. Gobble. Gobble.

Boys, cancer, christmas, Family

Be Having Wifesaver

December 25, 2013 Be Enough Leave a comment

Every Christmas for as long as I can remember, my mom would make Wifesaver from the Best of Bridge cookbook.

I remember this was last thing she would do before she went to bed on Christmas Eve. She would cut the crust off the bread. Layer it with ham and cheese. Pour the eggs overtop. And then in the morning as we were unwrapping gifts we would hear the crunch crunch crunch of the cornflakes as she put the topping on.

A few days ago, a good old friend of mom’s asked how she could help. I told Bev B. it would be great if she could make mom’s Wifesaver.

Right now this memory and ritual created by mom is being eaten by our family. Thanks to Bev’s love and generosity.

The smells, the look, the taste, the memory, the memory, the memory.

Boys, cancer, christmas, Family

Be Cousins

December 25, 2013 Be Enough 1 Comment

Cousins.

Siblings.

Times spent.

Memories shared.

Love my peeps.

Boys, cancer, Family

Be Reading the Psalms

December 25, 2013 Be Enough Leave a comment

Pouring these words over mom and all of us this morning. Amazing at how God loves us and pursues us.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Boys, cancer, christmas

Be Having A Merry Christmas (Drawing for Nana)

December 25, 2013 Be Enough Leave a comment

The boys woke up and were so excited that Nana was still alive. We found out that this was their one hope. Santa also visited in spades.

We are so grateful.

Merry Christmas.

cancer, christmas, Family

Be Jenny Penner designer for Elle Mikal Designs

December 25, 2013 Be Enough 1 Comment

Jenny from Elle Mikal design was one of the first people I told when I knew my mom was going to die. She has prayed, sewn and her gift of a toque and word for everyone has helped each of us walk this journey with my mom and dad in style and with God’s anointing.

Here is what she wrote to us:

May each of you receiving your hand-stitched toque/hat today open hearts to the prayers that have been prayed for you in specific… each hat has been carefully named with much more meaning behind the name itself. It is my prayer that each of you will receive all that has been stitched into you as you wear your Toque/ Hat.
Elle Mikal means… Who is like God? Each of us have been created and designed by God for God for the display of His Splendour.
Each Toque/Hat has either a flower for Fragrance of the Glory of God or a circle that represents Rejoice…sometimes life is difficult
sometimes life is ok
sometimes life is good
sometimes life is great…
in it all there is joy
a circle of joy
but mostly there is… Elle Mikal
Glory to God in the Highest!!!

Revelation 22:1-5 NLT
“Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.”

The Family of Toques