A New Chapter In My Life...

Really? 2013? How did that happen so fast?  I can't believe that time has passed so quickly and so much has happened and I haven't blogged about any of it... shame on me.

Well let's start anew... I'm back... full steam ahead... my plan is to set down with my calendars that I jot things on each year and do a timeline of sorts with highlights from the past years, but first I am going to have to locate them all, ha. 

A Solemn Word...

I have not felt like blogging for a very long time. So much heartache and no way to really express it fully.  Well not fully enough as so you would understand. Since losing our great nephew Ty, my amazing Uncle Joe and my precious Mother-in-Love Shirley Ber, we have also lost both of my dear grandma's, Reba and Hazel, and our dear friend and pastor David Emigh. So much loss in such a short time can put a person into a tailspin.  It seems I have recovered from all the losses except the one.  Losing our family members and even our friend was hard but knowing they are all in Heaven is so comforting and gives me a tremendous amount of peace.

Two Dumb Dames and a Good for nothing GPS...

Okay, so my BFF ~ Carol Barrett ~ graduated from Sand Springs Beauty College on April 6, 2011 this year as a Nail Tech... now comes the time to take her state boards in Oklahoma City and who else should go with her to be her demonstration dummy but me!

Weekend Adventure... Can I call it that?

Tami, my youngest daughter, and I had a brain storm one afternoon while talking on the phone to one another.  We decided we needed to plan activities for our entire family to participate in this coming spring, summer and fall.  So what better way to do that than to browse through the entire Travel Oklahoma events calendar for the coming year?  We couldn't think of any. 

We listed an activity for nearly every Saturday till the end of October which is as far out as the www.travelok.com calendar had been scheduled.  Had there been something through the months of November and December I am quite certain we would have forged ahead with the planning.  

Seeing that both Tami and I are Free Spirits by nature and feel the need to be doing something new all the time... not to mention we are great and getting others involved in our grand schemes, LOL... we fall short of nothing less then spectacular when it comes to planning activities that are usually memory maker events.  Not that everyone else isn't willing to participate after a bit of coaxing, but as with most things, Tami's and my expectations usually run a lot higher than anyone else.   

Osama... Obama...

So, Sunday night, Loren and I are watching television and the announcement came on the FOX23 Network on the Geraldo Show that President Obama would be addressing the nation on the half hour.  Then about 28 minutes after the hour Geraldo gets word from a correspondent that Osama Bin Ladin was killed by Americans and the U.S. had possession of his body.  I just want to ask at this point, am I the only one who thinks there is a remarkable resemblance between Osama and Obama?  I mean seriously... 

A Note From Ber Oaks...

We have been having some amazing services at Word of Life in Sand Springs, Oklahoma this past year... especially this past few months.  We have been hearing the supernatural anointed rhema word of God.  Speakers like: David Baker, Kim Weir, Doug Jones, David Fleming, Karen Jensen, Larry Mosley, Craig Hagin, ... and our own Chad Stewart.  Wow!  What an amazing message he delivered this past Wednesday.

Recovering... Fun times ahead!

It is amazing to me when you go through something so hard emotionally and mentally, like the death of a loved one... even when you know they are dancing with Jesus... how long it takes to recover physically.  It is exhausting!

Funeral...

The funeral was amazing... there were tears to be sure but there was celebration as well.  We had a great time with the family and friends and the church provided a great fried chicken meal.
  
Later we all gathered at Mommy's home and got to visit.  It was really good to see everyone.

Sunday's Viewing... Funeral today...

Yesterday Loren and I arrived at the funeral home about 20 minutes before anyone else so we took that opportunity to have a private viewing.  I thought it would be a good idea to get that initial look over with before the rest of the family and friends arrived.  I am glad we did, it helped a lot.

Shirley's Viewing and Funeral...

Sunday and Monday will be challenging to say the least.  Sunday is the viewing from 2-8pm.  Loren and I found ourselves in tears several times today.  We just miss our mama so much.  

Face to Face with Jesus...

We got out of Tulsa earlier than anticipated and making better time than usual when I got a call on my cell at 7:24am from Hospice saying that mom (Shirley Ber) was gone.  We were about an hour and a half away from Demotte.  We just were not fast enough to make it to see her one last time before she entered into Glory and now is face to face with her beloved Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.  I just thought that the rest of you would want to know.  Shirley was so loved by all.

Headed back to Demotte, IN...

Loren and I got home last Friday at 2am.  We had just spent a week in Demotte and Crown Point with his brothers and mama.  Shirley was not doing too well when we left and I have been in constant contact with Hospice nurses since our return home.

Shirley Ber... My precious Mama-in-Love...

Loren and I spent last week in Demotte, IN with his brothers and his mama.  Shirley went into inpatient at the Hospice Center in Crown Point a few days before we arrived.  It was her decision to go there.  Before that Terrence and his wife Stefanie had been caring for her in their home.

Wednesday Evening...

Shirley definitely looked a little better tonight. She was trying to communicate and make jokes even though she can't laugh or smile.  She is aware of people being there but can't really participate in the fellowship.

Ahhhh... Internet Access... Shirley Ber update...

First internet service since we left Tulsa, OK.  I luckily have accessed (hi-jacked more likely) a WiFi signal in the area but I'm not sure how long it will last.  Just wanted to update everyone on mommy's (Shirley Ber's) progress.

Leaving tomorrow...

Spoke with Loren's brother, Terrence, tonight and right now there is no change in Shirley.  She isn't any worse and she isn't any better.  She is still on oxygen and Terry said that she is retaining about 17-20# of fluid in her abdomen area and in her lungs.  They have tried diuretics but they are not working.  They don't believe that draining the fluid would be a good solution for her at this time.

Latest on Shirley...

Shirley is still in the hospital.  She has fluid on her lungs and they have told her if they drain it off it will just build back up in a day or two and would have to be done again.  I spoke with Terry, who along with his wife Stefanie and brother David, are up at the hospital with her now.  He told me that Shirley has decided to go another route.

More Urgent News...

A lot of you have been praying for Loren's mama.  We got a message from Loren's oldest brother a few days ago saying that Hospice Care said that she is rapidly declining.  They have given her a matter of days, weeks but not more than a month.

Long Road to Recovery...

I am not sure who it is harder on... the one recovering or the caregiver... but here we are, a little over a month since Mandi's surgery and she will finally be headed back to work on a part-time basis this coming Wednesday.  She won't be released to return fully until March 1, but that is probably for the best.

We're home...

We are so glad to be home.  We made good time and I got butterflies in my stomach just thinking about seeing Loren again.  I miss him so much when we are away from each other.  Loren met us at the airport and drove Mandi home.  The children were so glad to see her. She is doing very well, but still having some pain.  It will take her a while to get back up to par physically but her spirits are good and she is happy to be home.  I will stay with her during the day when the kids are at school and have dinner ready when they get home.  Mandi feels that Tristen can help her at night.  I think she just didn't want me to feel like I couldn't go home.  If I feel like I need to stay I will but tonight I am going home.
I am so tired from traveling all I want to do is go home and sleep.  I will post more later.  Love to you all.