Couldn't stay away!

Ollie and I have been in Warrenton TX since last Wednesday for the big antiques show.  I have been checking in with Mom and Dad at least once a day, and I sure have been missing them.  Our show has been rather slow since the weather has been so rainy.  I woke up this morning and decided I just had to make the drive back to Austin and go see Mom and Dad!  Ollie agreed to watch both booths, especially since Sundays are typically slow, and, like I said, as of yet there hasn't been much of a crowd. 

I arrived at Mom and Dad's house about 10:30.  Ad I came through the door, Dad was already up and in his chair and Mom was back in their bedroom.  As she came out she said she had a feeling I was going to come today!  She does have those "feelings", and usually she's right!  It was so good to see them and they both looked great!  They had a good night's rest and were feeling pretty good, all things considered!  

I instantly became aware of how thin Mom is.  I guess I don't notice it so much when I see her every day.  But, after being gone from her for four days, I was much more aware of her weight loss. The weight loss is to be expected, but it still catches me off-guard sometimes.  

I spent a lovely day with them and their visitors!  I got in some hugs and kisses that I'd been sorely missing and my heart now feels refreshed!

A friend and fellow antiques dealer lost her mother recently.  She shared a booklet with me that their Hospice nurse had given them. It Is called "Gone From My Sight...The Dying Experience."  The Hospice nurse who wrote it is a nationally recognized speaker on the dynamics of dying.  She puts the process into black and white and tells you what to expect throughout each stage of illness. She talks about the patient losing their appetite, some of the physical changes their body goes through, their breathing changes, their skin color changes, etc.  This is in the back of the booklet and I liked it, so I thought I would share it with you...

"I am standing upon the seashore.  A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.  She is an object of beauty and strength.  I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.  

Then someone at my side says: 'There, she is gone!'

'Gone where?'

'Gone from my sight.  That is all.  She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.  And just at the moment when someone at my side says: 'There she is gone!' There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: 'Here she comes!'

And that is dying. 

~ Henry Van Dyke

I believe in life after death...that our souls go to Heaven and that our loved ones are there waiting for us.  And, to think of them waiting there for Mom and excitedly saying to each other, 'Here she comes', gives me peace and comfort.  I will never be ready to see Mom or Dad go, but knowing there are so, so many loved ones who have gone ahead of them and are waiting there for them gives me such a sense of peace! Not to mention our Lord waiting with His arms wide open!!!  That gives me chill bumps!!

I presume most of you have heard the song, I Can Only Imagine.
I get a lump in my throat every time I listen to it!!  But, really, can you imagine getting to meet Our Lord?!  WOW!!  

I need to get to bed so I can leave early in the morning and head back to Warrenton.


"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!
I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine."

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Copyright: ©1999 MercyMe
 
I will be back in touch after October 7th, unless there is something I need to report between now and then!  Love to all!