Grateful for today

I am so grateful for this day.  Don't get me wrong, I am always grateful for each day, but sometimes I forget to be truly grateful.  After this past week, I am especially grateful for today.

The kids and I were on the road home yesterday by 6AM.  Ugh!  With it being Thomas's senior year, I had promised him that I would get him home if he wanted to attend his band competition yesterday.  He had to leave for the high school by Noon, and I didn't want to cut it closer than necessary.  Andrew got home about 6PM last night.  His mother send tons of food, so we ate some of the pasta that was sent.  Tonight's dinner is chili, also complements of his mother.

Today is bright and sunny, which is much appreciated.  It's cool though, and in fact there are no high's in the forecast higher than the 50's.  Our woods are still very green, but the town is gorgeous.  Since it is Halloween, I bought some candy apples for our dessert this evening.

It was a tough, tough week, but I am so incredibly grateful our family has today before things get too crazy again!

I will always remember this birthday

This has definitely been a birthday that is not all about me, and I'm completely okay with that.  The kids and I arrived at Andrew's parents last night, and we've been as helpful as we can be today.  I'm not going to complain about having us all together.  I had wanted to go out to dinner, but my mother-in-law didn't, and honestly, there is a ridiculous amount of food here, so we just ate at home.  I asked for ice cream, and I enjoyed the meal.

Additionally, my grandmother was taken to the hospital overnight.  I'm still not entirely certain what has happened, but although they are keeping her tonight for observation, they expect she will be sent home tomorrow.

It feels strange to say that I'm 48 now.  It doesn't feel that anything has changed, but this is definitely a birthday I won't forget!

Too much sadness

My heart is beyond broken.  I learned this morning that a schoolmate who had been fighting cancer was called home to Heaven last night.  I knew she'd had a rough summer, but I didn't realize the end was in sight.  Her husband said she fought to the end, and I have no doubt.  Lynda was my sister's age, and her sister and I were in classes together all through school.  We had lots of playdates with the four of us!  Lynda and I worked together at summer camps a few years, and she was truly the nicest, most genuinely kind person I've ever met.  She ALWAYS had a smile on her face, and she was grateful for every moment.  Her three children range in age from 16-11, and this just doesn't seem fair.  It doesn't seem fair at all.  When I called this morning to tell my mom, she began to weep.  This is just a day of sadness.

Random Tuesday thoughts

It's been a long week, and an even longer 14 hours.  My original plan was for us to attend school today, but that is only happening for Catherine.  Thomas didn't get home until almost 9:00 last night, so his grieving didn't begin until then.  He was distraught, and I wasn't going to let him be alone.  That meant a late night for us. Since I have to drive today, being exhausted didn't seem a good idea, so we are both home.  I regret that Thomas will miss four days of school, but I don't regret my decision. 

Last evening Andrew and I were on the phone (before the passing) and he was out walking with the dog.  He mentioned during the conversation that he saw a shooting star.  I remembered thinking, "this is it."  Sure enough, when he got back to his parents' house, his dad had passed.

Today is an absolutely beautiful day.  If we had needed to travel yesterday, it was raining (heavily at times) and just absolutely yucky.  I'm grateful we get to travel today instead of yesterday.  Not only is the weather better, but we should be able to see gorgeous scenery as leaves should be changing.  Strangely enough, it is still VERY green outside my window, but that should be changing this week.

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to hugging my husband and having our family together this evening.  It's been a really tough week of separation and waiting and emotions.  I'm grateful there is no more suffering, and I'm grateful for family.

RIP Tom

My father-in-law passed away this evening.  I'm so grateful that Andrew was there with his parents, but it is awful not being with him.  I completely underestimated Thomas's emotional reaction.  He is devastated.  I am so grateful that my father-in-law is not longer suffering.  I'm looking forward to hugging my husband tomorrow.

Still waiting

I talked to Andrew about 45 minutes ago.  His dad is still holding on, and still seems to be fighting.  As Catherine said, the marine in him doesn't quit.  If he were simply fighting an infection or something from which he could recover, we would be thrilled.  Unfortunately, in this case it is just prolonging the inevitable, and it's really hard on everyone.  If it weren't for the kids, I would have headed over to spend the weekend, but we don't want them to have to miss more school than necessary.   I also don't receive any paid time off, so it's not helpful for me to miss a bunch of work either.  Andrew is very worried that his dad is suffering.  Praying for peace and comfort for our family.

Final Friday night marching

Tonight was the very last evening I'll have a kiddo perform during the halftime of the high school football game.  My goodness.  It's so, so hard to believe.  It's hard that Andrew can't be here, but I wasn't going to miss my kiddo in his last Friday night performance.

I won't miss marching band and my responsibilities, but I will miss how much my kiddos have enjoyed band.  It's been a great experience and I'm grateful. 

I was very emotional as I drove up to the game.  It sounds as though Andrew's dad is down to hours.  That is hard, and it's hard that we can't all be together.  It's also hard that Andrew can't be here for the end of the season.

Looking forward to sleeping well tonight!