OTTER's Dec 2008 CalorieKing Blog
memorial service tomorrow...
Thursday, December 18th 2008
<sigh>.Breathing in, breathing out, late night thoughts as we all gather our strength for tomorrow's memorial service.
It was middle sister's wish to be cremated, that part is done. Her remains await us at the funeral home. I want to say something at her service. At first I didn't think I was strong enough. But I've prayed, read the Word, talked with family and friends, and (my geeky favorite) done some internet research. The purpose of our service is to help us remember, h...
Gathering Threads...
Sunday, December 14th 2008
We've started gathering the threads of middle sister's life. Funeral arrangements have been made - small memorial service next friday, larger celebration of her life in the spring. Packing clothes, looking through closets, cleaning kitchen, waiting for hospice to come collect their equipment, medications already disposed of in the legal fashion.Gathering our own threads of understanding, grief to healing, will take much longer than the tidying of middle sister's home.
So many emotio...
She's gone...
Thursday, December 11th 2008
December 11, 2008, 7:57 p.m. Eastern Time...My middle sister passed away this evening after a four year fight with cancer. She was 45 years old.
The very end was peaceful, even joyful. Surrounded by friends and our stepmom, there was laughter in her room as her breathing slowed and then stopped.
My baby sister and I visited her body within the hour, said our last good-byes, and now our family begins the process of gathering the threads of her life to put to rest.
Tha...
Nursing Visit Today...
Tuesday, December 9th 2008
Middle sister is changing so fast. We had a home aide visit today, so middle sister had her little bird bath, and got to sit in the wheelchair and enjoy fresh pear as she looked out the window to the wintery sky.Then our hospice nurse came to visit. We spoke with her for about an hour. I understand now that we could be days from the end, because middle sister has already begun showing the signs of body functions shutting down.
I'm coping by living in the minute, minute-to-minute. ...
A Day of Worship, Halleleujah!
Sunday, December 7th 2008
Church visit this morning during later service, when there is Music! Gave me time to weep, time to smile, time to reflect, time to appreciate that me and my family are not the only ones in transition. Gotta stop introducing myself as "visiting a sister in last stages of cancer." I want to be a visitor, and see what happens after the introduction phase.Found a good little pamphlet for my 2-1/2 year old niece, will give it to her parents. Hope it is accepted with the spirit i...