The last several weeks have been somewhat challenging, to say the least.  First, my husband had to have hand surgery, then his mother was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, I had to have three teeth extracted in anticipation of upcoming heart surgery, followed by a needle biopsy.  My mother was rushed to the hospital the following day and died less than 20 minutes after I got there to be with her.  Even though her health had been deteriorating, she seemed fine the day before.  So, I guess we were not really prepared for this.  I am so grateful that I was with her when she passed.  I held her hand and sat with her for the following hour or so.  Being able to say good-bye and to keep her company gave me a sense of peace that I carry with me today.

My family is from Altoona, so we went back home for the funeral.  It was so comforting to be around friends and family.  Sometimes I need to be reminded; family, friends, and  people are the most important things in life.  Everything else is just “stuff”.  We are doing what we can to honor her memory; funeral donations are to be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help her great-granddaughter, and we are using the Alzheimer’s Stamp to help raise money to fight Alzheimer’s disease.  Even though  my mother was healthy physically, her dementia ultimately caused her death.

Tomorrow I go into the hospital for a heart valve replacement.  Hopefully things will quiet down after this.  Even if they don’t, I feel as though I have been reminded of a valuable lesson in life.  I think Jesus said it best, “Love One Another.”

Tell someone you love them today.

Cindy

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”

Abraham Lincoln