We Will Survive

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Doesn't it seem like time goes by so quickly? Since I don't sleep well at night, I usually fall asleep on the sofa in the early afternoon and time escapes my notice once again. Where has time gone?

As I started writing this, I was sitting in a recliner receiving my last chemo. Looking about me, I saw a room filled with others just like me who spend hours sitting in a  chair - some watching tv, some reading, some talking to a family member or friend - and some just sleeping as this life saving brew travels through their body.

It also gives opportunity to sit and contemplate in our mind about this life we live and what is really important to each of us.

This past week was a difficult week for our family. Lennie's dad came home from the hospital and under hospice care. He's 83 yrs. old and lives in Pennsylvania. We decided to wait until Thursday to leave for our trip up to Penna. so I could get over my sick days after chemo. Our oldest son, Rob, flew into Phila. airport so we picked him up on our way up.

It was a busy time visiting Pop and the whole family as well as mine, meals, hugs and kisses and lots of loving. Pop rallied and enjoyed it all. He even decided to go to his granddaughter's house for dinner one night, walked around the yard and even started singing his little jingles known to all the grandchildren and great grandchildren, but by Sunday he was having a very hard time again.

Rob has been working on the family geneology for years now consisting of Pop's army records, pictures, rubbings from family tombstones, all kinds of birth and death records back to the early 1800's, newspaper articles - it's very well done. He decided we should drive around to get photos of the hospital where he was born, the houses he grew up in, my high school and Lennie's, the church we were married in, etc. We also went back to the cemetery to take photos of family tombstones of relatives gone before us.

As we looked at each tombstone and the dates on it, we wondered how they spent their days - what they spent their time doing. From the day they were born to the day they died, what happened between that dash inscribed on that stone? What was important to them?

Something to think about. How will we be remembered? What filled our days? What will our friends and family remember about us?

Watch this short video and think...

How are you spending your dash?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyu4M2di8U 

Well, I missed yet another chemo...my last one.  I came down with bronchitis which in itself whould've postponed my chemo but also had a low red cell count. The doctor's office called and wanted me to have another transfusion, but I asked if we could wait the weekend and see how I do. They said okay. At least I wasn't sick on Mother's Day.

Our boys don't live near us but always keep in touch with me. Our youngest, Josh and his wife called from Orlando where they were vacationing for a week to celebrate their second anniversary.  It's good they could get away together as he travels for his job all week and they only see each other on weekends.

We spent a quiet weekend together. My husband watched me like a hawk always worrying I would get too dizzy and faint (which I only did once)! We went out to dinner with our friends and went back to their house and had coffee and sat out on their back porch and talked until it got dark. It was a nice time.

As for all you mothers, I leave you with a video to watch. You'll no doubt find yourself as this mom sings a song to us all! Enjoy! And Happy Mother's Day!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZ7EMoMu64