December 20, 2010

This weekend has turned out to be a celebration of life all the way around! Justin, Allison, and Echo have been here all weekend. They just left a little while ago to go back home. We've been blessed by several visitors this weekend. Friday evening found the living room full! Our dear friends Don and Sandy Walters have made frequent visits in the recent weeks, but yesterday we finally talked them into staying for awhile to visit and eat with us. They brought lunch and we all ate and watched the Mountaineer game together.

Justin, Allison, and I all went to church this morning. Dad stayed home with Mom as she was resting up all day for this evening, so she could attend the church's Christmas program. My wonderful friend Stevie had made arrangements to come to spend part of the afternoon with us. Today is her birthday and she wanted to bring her mother and share her special day with Mom. While we were waiting for Stevie and Mrs. Lebnick to arrive, Don and Sandy dropped in again to bring us some potato soup. I popped it in the crock pot and heated it up while Justin, Allison, and I whipped up a birthday cake for Stevie. Shortly after they arrived, the doorbell rang again and two more wonderful friends, Tommy & Cathy Robinson dropped by to bring us more food to save us the trouble of cooking. Then, the doorbell again, and Rod & Phyllis Stanton dropped by to visit. The living room was full again and we had soup and cake and celebrated life, a gift that all of us were blessed enough to have at least one more day.

We generally count our lives by years, but when you are faced with what we are facing, each day becomes a precious gift. We have been blessed beyond measure and I am so thankful for the special friends who have not let the fear of death distance them from our family during this time. Cancer has given us a special gift of time. While it will also steal time away, we have had a special opportunity to spend time together saying our goodbyes and making the most of the time we have left. Mom is getting the time to make her final wishes known, but more importantly, she has been able to witness firsthand how she has touched the lives of so many people. She still holding on to ensure that we're all going to be alright when she's gone. I think everyday she's seeing that we are surrounded by people who love and care about us, and while they'll never be able to love and care for us like she does, we will be loved and cared for.

Please know that my door is open to visitors at all times. The time is drawing near and take this as an invitation to come. Dad will enjoy and take comfort in your company if I'm at work and Mom is resting. We're well stocked up in food and your company means more than you'll ever know. Thank you!