A Haven for Vee

Monday, March 13, 2017

Same Story Different Day

Looks remarkably like last week's theme, doesn't it?


~hot chocolate and Susan's cookies — delicious~



Another Monday...I don't "feel" like posting; therefore, I will if only to push past this blogging block. Ahhh...better already.



It was a bitterly cold week with temps more like January. Looks like more of the same for this week. I think that is true for many places. I puttered with this and that spending a little more time in the sewing room than usual. 



Midweek, I received news that my dear friend Myrna had passed away in Oklahoma where she and her husband moved last fall to be near their youngest daughter. The time of the call and the fact that her daughter-in-law was calling made my heart sink. I wanted to answer with a "Please, don't tell me." Though I can be very happy for my friend who is no longer in any discomfort and who is safely home with The Lord and those who have gone on before, my heart is grieving for her husband and family and for her many friends and for my sad sorry self.
 

Myrna had been a teacher for years only retiring a year ago. She has touched so many children's lives, including my own children and my nieces as well. I have been traveling down Memory Lane a good bit of the time since this news came. She was my boss for many of the years that I taught.  I remember happy days at school teaching our classes side by side. One of the fun memories is of my niece and her friend Sam who both loved sardines for lunch. The minute those sardine cans popped, Myrna would fly in to say, "Not again!" =D I don't think that there are any sardines in Heaven.



Thursday was my day with my father and we had a good day. Others had had trouble on their days so I was happy that we pretty much sailed through and, except for the fact that my father was convinced he owned a helicopter, everything seemed okay. (Apologies for the mixed metaphors...boats, helicopters...) Perhaps growing up with a father whose fondest wish was to own a monkey, the helicopter seemed logical. I asked him if the helicopter was expensive to run and he said that it was "surprisingly reasonable." All righty then, that's good to know.



By Friday, things were not going so well. He had an "episode" while with his aides. I met my sister at the Emergency Room where he was taken. We spent a long day there. He was sent home late in the evening with a prescription. He had been told that he'd be leaving at suppertime so I bid everyone, now including my son and brother-in-law, a goodbye and left. While I was home cozy and warm, they were there another three hours! The nurse practitioner had had another thought and so more tests were done and more blood drawn. Nothing came of her brainstorms, thankfully.

 As I was backing out of my garage to leave for the hospital, I noticed packages on the stoop. I am too curious to leave things outside until I got home, though it may have accounted for my ducking out early. => This is what had arrived...









One was a cookie kit from Susan of My Mother's Apron Strings. These cookies are featured on This Post. They have a unique ingredient.






Susan is a designer with Elizabeth Craft Designs and creates the most amazing flowers for cards and decor. Just look at ↑the sweet apron card and the yellow roses card she sent back in June.↓ 






















~exquisite~


The other was a book by Linda Born called The Children Are Tender. It's a novel about a young teacher who has many adventures with her students through the years. A God Breeze... Linda blogs at God, Mom, Alzheimer's, and Me, which is a wonderful blog for caregivers.






Sweet and Pleasant diversions in a challenging week. I am very blessed.








I climbed up there and changed the clock myself. It meant going a little higher than I like to be...the third step...whoaaaa...but I did it! My son is going to be so impressed. He's a busy man and doesn't need to be taking care of his mother...yet.
 

Thank you for reading! Many blessings to you this week... 



50 comments:

  1. Hi Vee, My deepest sympathy in the loss of your friend, Myrna. The Lord seems to know when we need a little "lift" and your two thoughtful blog friends' gifts were right on time in a difficult week. Remembering you and your dad in my prayers. God bless.

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  2. It's truly upsetting for you, I know, when your dad goes into the hospital. It's always a 'wait and see' thing. Praying things go smooth from here. And my thoughts and prayers go out to you and Myrna's family and friends. Very sad loss, indeed.

    On the bright side, you have some very thoughtful blog friends! The cookie kit is so cool!

    Good for you taking care of that clock. I've always been a woman who is determined to do things for myself and by myself. And then I fell off a chair 2 years ago and broke my arm in 3 places. For the life of me I hate ladders and chairs! :(

    Jane x

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  3. So sorry you have had such a difficult time. Sending you a hug my dear!

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  4. I am sorry to hear about your friend. I hope your Dad is doing much better. Take care on that ladder!

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  5. So sorry for the loss of your friend! Those calls are always dreaded! Your visits with your dad are so important, even in his state of mind. I remember a few odd conversations with my Mom just before she passed. Too precious! So proud of your changing your clock. I'm not a fan of heights either...yet, I have to get up and help install new ceilings in our 10 1/2 ft ceiling'ed home. We weren't blessed with a son! Stay warm and safe! Hugs!

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  6. Oh no Vee, how sad of news you received...so sorry friend...condolences. I cant help but giggle over your dad...it seems friend, we share similar issues...my mil has dementia...and some of her thoughts are just plum wild.

    Keeping you in prayer, Vee...and hate to give you bad news, but hunker down...we're expecting upwards of 24 inches of snow here in western NY...yep...sigh...

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  7. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Myrna. She sounds like a lady who left wonderful memories with many people. She also sounds like an excellent teacher.
    Also sorry to hear about your Dad's episode. I remember those dreaded episodes from when my Mom went through them. So sad to see someone you care about go through that. I do hope that the week ahead will be better for him.
    Lovely and thoughtful gifts from your blogging friends and the timing of their arrival seems just right too. Will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts, Vee. Stay warm and enjoy your tea breaks when they happen.
    Oh, and Bravo to you on getting up there and fixing the clock.

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  8. Awww - so sorry to hear about your friend and colleague Vee.
    I love your "visits with dad" stories. Your writing and observations are delightful. Hope he's O.K. now with the new medications. I love those card designs - especially the apron one. I might have to add that idea to my wish to do someday list.

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  9. I am sorry to hear of your friends passing, Vee.

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  10. It is so sad to hear of the loss of your friend. A couple of years ago, I lost two of my grade level teammates in the same year. Only a year earlier we had been sitting at the table at the end of the year happy and then bam..one had a brain tumor and the other who like your friend taught to the end and died of Parkinson's a little less than a year later. We were one of the best groups I had ever worked with.
    We had good memories though.
    I have to move all my clocks today. I am just leaning on my watch and phone right now:)

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  11. Losing a long time friend is so hard, Vee. My condolences to you as you remember sweet times. I hope the weather isn't too brutal up your way this week. It was so cold up there last week when we were at my daughter's home. We're expecting snow this evening. Hopefully after this round we will all sail into Spring! ♥

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  12. It sounds like the good Lord knew just what you needed last week when you saw those packages. I don't know if you're getting this next whopper of a storm but it looks like the whole East coast will be hit. I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.

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  13. Being afraid of heights, I'm truly impressed by you climbing that high to change your clock. You son must be impressed, too. ~ The cards are gorgeous. How very sweet and thoughtful. ~ I'm so sorry about your friend in OK. It's such a gift when we have people who enter our lives and make us better for being there. We know they are a gift from God.

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  14. Dear Vee, I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved friend. Such news is always hard. May all of you who grieve her loss know the comforting presence of Jesus.

    Oh yes, a gift that comes to cheer . . . and just at the right time . . . a blessing.

    I'll continue to pray for your father too. I know that he is getting good and loving care from all of you. May the Lord's grace continue to shine on him and on you.

    {{{Hugs}}}

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  15. I am so very sorry about your friend's passing. I had a friend Myrna once and my oldest sister also had a best friend growing up by that name. You don't hear it very often any more. I'm glad to hear that Dad was OK...there is nothing like those L-O-N-G visits to the ER is there? Yes, I agree, those wonderful packages you received were just at the perfect time. God is so good. :)

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  16. He's hoping the storm that is hit us last night and continues today doesn't cause too much more grief in your life, Vee. I'm so sorry about your friend but glad to hear your dad is okay!

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  17. I'm not a fan of that third step but have braved it here and there. Glad you had the good day with your father and that he is home again after the hospital visit. I mentioned on my blog our recent time at the ER...almost 5 hours, exhausting. We are grumbling here in the PNW about the weather and are ready for a warm up. Sorry for you and Myrna's family. She sounds like she was a gem. Glad you had some cheerful things mixed into your week!

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  18. Oh Vee I am sorry to hear of the passing of your friend. Always soo hard, but praise God she knew Jesus and you will chat again some day. I have to smile that your dad's helicopter is not too expensive to run. Such a nice and uplifting package just can't be beat huh? Hope your day is good!

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  19. I'm so sorry you have lost a dear friend Vee. Wishing you comfort in wonderful memories of your teaching days together. I don't do the time change well at all and wish they'd do away with it. I think it gets worse every year as I get older. I hope your dad has a better week this week and that the snowstorm doesn't bother him, as it does some with Alzheimer's/dementia. (so does the full moon!) I'm not looking forward to this storm tomorrow but maybe nature will get it out of its system until next winter. Murray is hoping to get the snowmobile out one more time though. We might get 20-30 cm. which is plenty for almost spring! Take care and have a cosy week through the storm.

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  20. So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. May all the good memories bring you joy...even as you mourn. Loved 'unpacking' your surprise packages with you...and smiling about the conversation with your dad. Sorry about Friday...hope he is doing better now.

    As for the clock moving ahead...let's just say it was hard getting up in the dark this morning and also hard falling asleep last night. If only the sun would peek through these clouds, I could appreciate the extra daylight in the evening a little more. I would gladly climb those ladder steps for you. I have great faith in ladders! I hear that seniors on ladders are not a good thing...but can't seem to picture myself as a senior just yet. :)

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  21. I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your friend. I'll be praying for you and your dad! It's so difficult when those who raised us can no longer take care of themselves. I'm going through this with my mom. I'm not sure how much longer she can be on her own. Hugs!

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  22. Last week was a super difficult one for us here, too, Vee - I am happy you received some smiles in the mail (Linda is so talented, those flowers amazing!)

    I smiled you were able to change your clock - that is rather high, yikes, good for you!

    I am praying for your father and (all) his loving care-givers, including all the family.

    it's cold here and snowed a few days ago but I am thinking spring and trying to stay strong and positive. It isn't easy sometimes, but attitude is the ONE true thing we are in complete control over - so I am playin to win.

    Have a wonderful week, sweet dear friend. ♥

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  23. I'm sorry you've had a difficult week, Vee, losing a dear friend, and hospital time with your father. Life is an uncertain thing, as I'm reminded more and more.
    Will this storm I'm reading about on other blogs affect you as well? We seem to have reached the end of the snow and cold, although the rain is incessant for this week.
    Be blessed, dear Vee, and know the presence of the One who loves you most.

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  24. I'm glad for your good day with your dad. I think you handled his 'thinking he owned a helicopter' in the right way. Just to go with it. Some would try to correct them and get everyone all upset! I'm glad he is doing okay.

    I am sorry for the loss of your friend. New grief. I know you'll be praying for her family with understanding.
    Go you with climbing up to change the time on your clock!

    Cookies! (I may have to try out that recipe you sent me in preparation for the storm.

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  25. So sorry for the loss of your dear friend. And I am impressed that you climbed higher than your comfort level to change the clock. I would still be an hour behind! I hate to climb higher than one step! Oh, to not have so many issues and phobias. We are under a blizzard watch for tomorrow. I am as ready as I can be. Including all the fixins for St. Paddy's Day dinner. 🍀😉

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  26. I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend, Vee. It's good to know that your dad is ok. My dear mom broke her ankle and foot just last week and is now in a boot. She keeps telling me how hard it is to get older.
    Good for you in changing the clock. Climbing is not my forte, either. What great gifts you received, which must've cheered you. Love and God bless you.

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  27. So sorry Vee to hear of the loss of your dear friend but glad to know she is 'home' now.
    My mom at times thinks the nursing home is a vacation resort. Maybe your dad could visit her there in his helicopter. : )

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  28. So sorry for the loss of your friend...that is always so so hard to cope with.
    Glad your dad is doing ok for now.
    We are having beautiful weather out here in West Texas..son turned on the heater in his pool...the girls all are hoping to hang out during Spring Break and swim some...mostly, I suspect, they are anxious to get started on a to-die-for-tan...me???...i am anxious to get more pretty flowers planted in containers for our patio.

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  29. Sincere sympathy on the loss of your friend...And prayers for your Dad's health. But what sweet presents from Linda.....Perhaps every week is like this. Sad happenings and much happier ones. I am perhaps not brave enough to get on that top step of the little ladder! Fairly sure I would fall off and I don't need that! But it is good to push oneself, sometime. Be well!

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  30. So sorry about the loss of your friend. Sometimes friends are closer than family. Praying for your Dad and his health. Be sure to let us know how he is doing. After all of that you needed those sweet friends who sent you gifts. They came at just the right time.

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  31. Vee I'm so busy lately that I have to almost force myself write a blog every Sunday, but when it's done I feel so good. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I will say prayers for her family. I'm also sorry to hear your Dad had an episode and confusion. We went through that process with my mother-in-law for many years. She had many mini strokes and each one left her more confused and debilitated. Your blog friend Linda sent such nice gifts. Her cards are beautiful! I will look at her blog next. Stay safe in the winter storm coming your way tomorrow. Hope it is the last storm of the season!

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  32. Well, I am glad you got past blogger's block. So sorry about your friend and your dad's tough spell. How nice to find surprise packages waiting for you after your time with your dad, though. And good for you for changing that clock!

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  33. Oh Susan's cookies look scrumptious! Isn't she amazing? I know all too well the emotional rollercoaster of caring for an aging parent. You learn to expect "the unexpected!" Not easy at all. You seem to handle it beautifully Vee! I am so sorry to learn of your dear friend's passing. Hold on to your memories of her...sounds like a lovely friendship. Hugs!

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  34. Vee, I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. As you stated, it is comforting that she is with her Lord and no longer in pain. Life can be so short, as we are both reminded, so if I could put a smile on your face, it made my day. Enjoy the cookies and know you always have a friend in blogdom, XOXO

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  35. My deepest condolences on the loss of your friend Myrna. She sounds like she was a fun friend. I'll say a prayer for her loved ones that God will comfort them in their grief. I got a chuckle out of your dads assertion that the helicopter was surprisingly affordable. Sorry he ended up in ER but glad he is home now. I am just hanging on by a thread with this last blast of winter. No gumption whatsoever. I actually tried to go back to bed this morning, alas, that is am impossibility for me. How do so many spend half the morning in bed? The only good part was I was able to relax while my head filled with a to do list. Those care packages are awesome, and what a testament to the fact that you are clearly loved by others and in their thoughts :) Have a good day friend, Spring is coming, I just know it!

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  36. Good morning, Vee! I hope that your dad is doing better at this point and that the prescription helped. Those ER visits are not easy for anyone. I remember them all too well. Last March for several days and then again in June for several weeks. So thankful my dad is now safely in the nursing home. He has a couple of minor health issues going on right now, and I'm so thankful he's where those can be monitored and treated as necessary. So thankful it's no longer my responsibility to assess his health issues and try and get the necessary help.

    I did get a chuckle out of the fact that it is surprisingly reasonable to maintain and operate a helicopter.

    I was so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear friend Myrna. It is such a blessing that God gives us friends at every stage of life. Your memory about the sardines brought back memories of my days working in a small Christian school, and what lunchtime was like. Made me think, too, of my coworkers from back then. I've sort of kept in touch with one or two of them, but not the others. Made me wonder how they are doing.

    So thankful that you have such precious memories of Myrna and that you know you will see her again one day. Still, it is not easy for those left behind.

    How delightful that you had surprise packages to open after returning from the hospital that evening. God is truly in the details of life and I was so tickled just reading about that. The cookies sound wonderful and quite similar to a cookie I make. You can find the recipe in this post: Fall Baking. You will need to scroll down to find it as there is more than one cookie recipe in the post.

    Praying for you today with all of the snow that's coming! Hope your plow man has a new truck by now. He's going to need it, from the forecast ...

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  37. Hi Vee,

    What nice goodies you received from your blogging friends!! Susan at "My Mother's Apron Strings" is very creative, yes? I love pretty cards. :)

    I'm so very sorry for the loss of your good friend and teaching associate. Those losses hurt, and I know you will miss her. Had she been sick for a long time? I'm also sorry your father had a scary spell, but glad to hear that you and he had a good visit earlier.

    Did you get hit by this winter storm? I pray not, but it sounds like you may have. Take good care, my friend, and stay warm and safe.

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  38. I love your header!! I think I will just come visit you often so I can see it. And, visit you, of course. Sorry about Myrna's passing. So hard to give up ones that you care about.

    I used to visit Linda Born's blog a lot. After my husband died, things just changed and I stop catching up with Linda and some others who were dealing with Alzheimers. It was just too much of a reminder for me.

    You take care. Have a great week. And, thanks for coming by my blog a lot. You are a good friend.

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  39. I am so sorry dear BJ about the loss of your dear friend. Breaks my heart for you. You and your dear man have been in my many prayers. What nice gifts you received and I know you feel so blessed. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  40. Dear Vee, please forgive me! I posted earlier thinking I was writing to BJ a dear friend whose husband is so sick. I am so sorry! Hugs, Cindy P.S. I just got back from a trip and my mind is still back in Kentucky. Please forgive me dear lady!

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  41. You certainly had quite a few blessings to blog about in addition to the sorrow of losing a friend and the concern over your father. Life seems to balance itself out, doesn't it? For every darkness, there is a ray of sun shining through it.

    It gives me pause when a friend dies or I see them aging. I have an 85 year old friend who has been an important part of my life as well as all four of my children. I am seeing her enter a new phase of life that I will be heading in due time myself. Trying my best to navigate it with her. I truly wish I had more time to spend with those I care so deeply for and I am forever feeling slightly guilty when I can't.

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  42. Hi Vee, thank you for sharing the link to Elizabeth Craft Designs! I'm a scrapbooker and have to rely on the internet for supplies. What treasures I found there!

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  43. Vee, what a week you have had. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. In the book I sent you, a beloved teacher passes away. That teacher's daughter is a character I named to honor my own best friend--Myrna. Just a little coincidence, but sometimes God comforts our hearts through such things. Hugs and prayers your way.

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    1. Too many coincidences to be "coincidence." Thank you, again!

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  44. Vee... just sharing your day-to-day experiences is delightful, and I enjoy your posts. You write well, and just sharing about your life is intriguing to hear... :) How amazing that such lovely packages awaited you on a difficult day with a trip to the hospital. The Lord is just so amazing like that! And I just read the comment above, that one of the books has a character named Myrna, wow. So sorry about your friend, but how wonderful to have shared such precious memories with her. Nope, I agree, there should not be sardines in heaven, lol! Yeah for you on changing that clock. I don't like ladders either, at all. And those cards - amazing detail! wow! Loved the roses, and darling apron! So pretty...what a great for you, blog friends are the best!

    Keep writing, and sharing your heart. You do it well :)

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  45. You are truly a great writer Vee - I know you are going through much and yet you inspire others. I am so glad there were packages on the porch - that was sweet!

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  46. I'm so glad you pushed through that blogging resistance. Even though it came with your sad news about your dear friend, it felt like a letter from home with your news and stories of this and that. I did chuckle at your dad's very calm and reasonable reply to your query about the expense of his helicopter.

    Sending warm thoughts and prayers for grace and comfort.
    Brenda xox

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  47. So sorry for the loss of your friend Vee. I'm glad I'm not the only one pushing myself to blog at times as I don't want to become one of the statistics you posted about lost bloggers previously.
    I find my days taken up by doing a lot that really accomplishes nothing, surely it's a senior thing? lol
    Have a good weekend.

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  48. So very sorry to hear of the loss of your friend....my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Hugs...

    Blessings,
    Jill

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