Just touching base … we returned home late this evening from our run to Fort Worth.  Grandma is not long for this world, I am sure.  She slipped into a coma Monday evening and has not awakened since then.  We got there late Tuesday night and went to the hospice facility to spend a little time with her.  Then we returned this morning before heading home.  Her breathing is labored, and the nurses are giving her small doses of morphine to make her more comfortable when they need to move her.  Her right arm is in a cast from when they did surgery on her wrist last week and I’m sure she must be achy all over from lying in a hospital bed for going on three weeks.  So the morphine is probably a blessing to her comfort.  The sweetest nurse attended her while we were there this morning.  She came in and brushed her hair, checked her temperature …. a little later she checked her extremities (feet, hands) for mottling.  I was amazed at the gentle way she performed her duties.  When we were getting ready to leave, I thanked her — I wanted her to know that I had noticed the wonderful care she is giving to our dear grandma.  She has been a hospice nurse since 1980, and when I told her it was a real ministry, she said, “That’s exactly what I want it to be.” 

I know that we won’t see Grandma alive again.  It was very difficult to say goodbye, but she is tired and we need to let her go.  I wasn’t sure how Jami would react to all of this, as she’s never been around anyone who was about to die.  I was so happy to see her go over to Grandma’s side, take her hand and kiss it before leaving.  I’m glad that she was not afraid to do that.  I’m not sure that I would have done that when I was her age.  When I left, I kissed Grandma on the forehead and told her that if she needs someone to put shelf paper in the kitchen cabinets of her mansion in heaven, I’ll be happy to do it when I get there.  I’d like to think she heard me and that she was smiling in her heart, if not on her face.

(Years ago, she asked if I and my sister-in-law would come put new shelf paper in her kitchen cabinets … we had a wonderful day … cleaning out the cabinets, replacing the shelf paper and visiting.  I bet you a visit didn’t pass for at least 3 or 4 years that she didn’t make some comment about how nice her clean shelf papered cabinets were.  )

I can’t remember if I posted about this week before last, but we spent 3 days in Fort Worth when my husband’s 93 year old grandmother fell and broke her hip.  Things weren’t looking good, but she came through surgery well and we had high hopes for a good recovery.

My mom-in-law just called and said that the doctors are saying that if we want to see her alive, we need to come now.  It’s about a five hour trip to Fort Worth.  I’m waiting to hear what my husband decides.  Please pray for the family and for safe travels for us if he decides we can make it before she passes.

Thanks.

Decided to “shake things up” a little around here with a new theme … how do you like it?  It’s simple, nothing fancy … and I didn’t even tweak it after “stealing” it from the themes directory.  I post a few photos from time to time and I decided that I needed a more simple layout that wouldn’t fight with the photos I share with you.  So there it is.

Have a good afternoon!

So we ran by the library earlier to return some books.  I’m trying to discipline myself to read magazines at the library, rather than waste money on them at the checkout line or even with subscriptions.  If there’s something interesting that I want for reference later, there’s the good old copy machine.  I was scanning the mags on the display and the latest Rachel Ray caught my eye.

Now, I’m not a fan, but I noticed she was featuring recipes for an Election Night party.  And that got my curiosity up.  I know that she is Oprah’s little discovery and all that, but I couldn’t help but pick up the mag to see if there were any overt indicators of her leaning ….

And sure enough!  On the first page of the article the stylist had arranged various campaign items … along the upper edge of the page were two campaign buttons.  Obama’s was crisp, clear and fully visible, while McCain’s ran off the edge of the page (meaning it got “cropped”).  Hmmm … maybe it was just an accident?  Turning to the next page ….

NOPE!  The evidence screamed from the table awash in red, white and blue patriotism … plastic cups were decorated with Obama and McCain campaign stickers.  Obama’s cup was turned so that the entire sticker was visible, and once again crisp & clear.  McCain’s cup?  Turned slightly to the side so that only the “McCai-” showed, and even that was blurry.

I knew I didn’t like that goofy woman and this confirms it.  You’d think you could pick up a cooking magazine without running into the blatant prejudice against conservatives (after all, who loves the warmth of hearth and home, the smell of Mom’s apple pie, etc. than conservatives?)

Ah, well.  Just thought I’d share that little tidbit.  The magazine is out right now if you want to check it out.  Tell me if you think it was an accident or she did it on purpose.