Right now I am sitting here wishing that Ter could be here with me because he so wanted to move into our new home together. He has his own new home now, and I know that he is happy there, but I miss him terribly today. Maybe it is because I am leaving the apartment, which was the last place we called home together.
[I am learning alot from my course on grieving. Tonight is the last night for the 6 weeks course.
I have met some very good friends there, and we do socialize sometimes. One of the ladies is named Betty, (I now know 5 Betties!!) and we became soulmates instantly. I took her into emergency 2 weeks ago, and spent the day there with her. It wound up that she had pneumonia. Better than the heart condition they had suspected...)]
I will not miss this apartment because I am going to be with my family, and get to see them every day. My new apartment is unbelieveable. Our kids certainly went all out to make us as comfortable as they could. My bedroom is huge, and has a very large picture window, which I have never seen in a bedroom before. On the adjacent wall I have a large sliding glass door going out onto a good size deck. I have 3 large closets and a very nice bathroom, and sitting room. The kids and I will share the large family room, but somehow I thing I will use my sitting room most, and give them their privacy. I also have a small prep kitchen of my own with tons of cupboards and counter tops. We will share the large new kitchen, which attaches to my kitchen. I bought a brand new stainless steel refrigerator with an ice maker on the outside. (I have been wanting one for years. I am a real "ice person"!)
Sunday we moved all of the large furniture. I am sitting on a folding chair and typing on my computer on a T.V. tray. The T.V. sits on the floor. Almost everything is gone now. Last night was my last night here. I will come back tomorrow to clean and hand in my keys.
Everyone (staff) has been wonderful here, but the neighbors are not friendly at all. The man next door was very nice to us, but he moved last month, and I have made one friend, Angela who lives across the courtyard from me. No one else even speaks. It is sort of a creepy feeling to me, because I speak to everyone. Some respond, but never look at me.
I am getting ready to move to the last place I will live. I am excited, but sad at the same time.
I have sent out my new phone number and my e-mail will stay the same.
Time to roll!
More later.
God Bless each of you always.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The BLOCK PARTY!!! (with Del and Emily...)
A couple of weeks ago we attended a birthday party after church on Sunday, and after that we went to a BLOCK PARTY" in our neighborhood.
Every year the neighborhood people get together and close off the whole block and party, party, party! It was all very innocent, with lots of good homemade food and friends that some people would only see once in awhile as they entered or exited their homes. The world has become such a fast paced whirl, that it is nice to sit down and talk to your neighbor at least once a year and actually be able to have a conversation!
I met a VERY interesting couple, and spent my whole time there talking to them. He (Del) was 78, and she (Emily) was 74. The week before the party they had just gotten back from China! I thought it was a vacation but it turned out that it was a work expedition.
Del, who is a retired science professor it seems, is still working! He has to travel all over the world and take samples of dirt! I guess they are looking for radiation percentages.
While they were there they had an opportunity to ride elephants! (I am lucky I can drive a car, let alone elephants!) Poor Emily, had a bad car accident 3 years ago, and broke almost every bone in her body! She still has alot of pain. (My question was: How did you manage to get up on an elephant? Her answer was: "very slowly!"
One of their hobbies is dancing, which I am finding is a popular passtime down here. they said the next time they go, they will call me. (they didn't remember to get my phone number though... I think I will give them a call once I get settled into my new home.
I really enjoyed meeting them. Guess how they met?
Both were widowers, and they are now married 10 years.
I meet the most interesting people!!
Every year the neighborhood people get together and close off the whole block and party, party, party! It was all very innocent, with lots of good homemade food and friends that some people would only see once in awhile as they entered or exited their homes. The world has become such a fast paced whirl, that it is nice to sit down and talk to your neighbor at least once a year and actually be able to have a conversation!
I met a VERY interesting couple, and spent my whole time there talking to them. He (Del) was 78, and she (Emily) was 74. The week before the party they had just gotten back from China! I thought it was a vacation but it turned out that it was a work expedition.
Del, who is a retired science professor it seems, is still working! He has to travel all over the world and take samples of dirt! I guess they are looking for radiation percentages.
While they were there they had an opportunity to ride elephants! (I am lucky I can drive a car, let alone elephants!) Poor Emily, had a bad car accident 3 years ago, and broke almost every bone in her body! She still has alot of pain. (My question was: How did you manage to get up on an elephant? Her answer was: "very slowly!"
One of their hobbies is dancing, which I am finding is a popular passtime down here. they said the next time they go, they will call me. (they didn't remember to get my phone number though... I think I will give them a call once I get settled into my new home.
I really enjoyed meeting them. Guess how they met?
Both were widowers, and they are now married 10 years.
I meet the most interesting people!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
26 YEARS OF BLISS!!
Today would have been our 26th wedding anniversary. It is also exactly one month since my wonderful lifemate left me. He is in a wonderful place waiting for me to join him someday.
Twenty seven years ago I met this guy. He wasn't exceptionally good looking, but very charming. I knew immediately that he had a very caring heart, and that is what I have always looked for in every person I have met.
We dated for 6 months, then got engaged (in my kitchen), and married one year later on the same day of the month as we got engaged, September 17th. We were both romantics, which is not common in men.
We had a wonderful life together, travelling, going to movies, dinners, seeing friends, etc. One day the Lord touched me and I received His gift of salvation in my heart. I was so excited to share it with my love. He was not especially interested, but "humored" me. I had gotten saved at a Full Gospel Businessmen's breakfast. (YES! they even allowed women to attend, even in the "olden days...!
I was attending a bible study at a home, every week, and I came home so happy and excited about what I had just learned. Terry kept asking, "what do you do there to make you so happy?"
I told him he had to come to find out. He did, and he eventually joined me at a Full Gospel Businessmen's breakfast, and the Lord touched him there too! I was so happy for that. We spent 22years in Calvary Chapel churches, until we moved to Maryland and came to our first pentecostal church. What a difference in how they worshipped the Lord! It was a culture shock at first, but of course we knew that the Lord does everything for a reason.
We knew that He sent us to Maryland to be with our family. Our grandson, Seamus has Cystic Fibrosis, and we needed to be near him to help out. We also needed our family to help out with Terry as he became more ill. It was a tough decision to make after being in our nice little comfortable home for over 37 years. It was getting harder and harder to see our children and grandchildren only once or twice a year. When Woody and Christine moved to North Carolina, that broke our hearts.
It was funny how the Lord told me it was time to go, and on the same day Terry said the same thing had happened to him! We made the decision to accept Jules' and James' invitation to move in with them in our own apartment, and never looked back.
It was a very tough move because we had been in our home for so long, and had accumulated alot of "stuff". Everything fell into place though as we sold our home about 3 weeks after we put it on the market, and the market was already pretty soft by then.
Terry missed "home" so much. Actually I did not miss it as much as he did.
As he got sicker and sicker he constantly asked me to take him home.
Now he is at his REAL HOME with the Lord.
His death was not easy. He suffered alot at the end, but was medicated, so I want to believe that he did not feel the pain.
I miss him SO much, especially today on our anniversary. This day was always so special to both of us, being the romantics that we are.
I will be with him again some day. His last words were, "I love you SOOO much, more than you know, and I will be waiting for you at the gate."
I know he will be. He never lies.
Twenty seven years ago I met this guy. He wasn't exceptionally good looking, but very charming. I knew immediately that he had a very caring heart, and that is what I have always looked for in every person I have met.
We dated for 6 months, then got engaged (in my kitchen), and married one year later on the same day of the month as we got engaged, September 17th. We were both romantics, which is not common in men.
We had a wonderful life together, travelling, going to movies, dinners, seeing friends, etc. One day the Lord touched me and I received His gift of salvation in my heart. I was so excited to share it with my love. He was not especially interested, but "humored" me. I had gotten saved at a Full Gospel Businessmen's breakfast. (YES! they even allowed women to attend, even in the "olden days...!
I was attending a bible study at a home, every week, and I came home so happy and excited about what I had just learned. Terry kept asking, "what do you do there to make you so happy?"
I told him he had to come to find out. He did, and he eventually joined me at a Full Gospel Businessmen's breakfast, and the Lord touched him there too! I was so happy for that. We spent 22years in Calvary Chapel churches, until we moved to Maryland and came to our first pentecostal church. What a difference in how they worshipped the Lord! It was a culture shock at first, but of course we knew that the Lord does everything for a reason.
We knew that He sent us to Maryland to be with our family. Our grandson, Seamus has Cystic Fibrosis, and we needed to be near him to help out. We also needed our family to help out with Terry as he became more ill. It was a tough decision to make after being in our nice little comfortable home for over 37 years. It was getting harder and harder to see our children and grandchildren only once or twice a year. When Woody and Christine moved to North Carolina, that broke our hearts.
It was funny how the Lord told me it was time to go, and on the same day Terry said the same thing had happened to him! We made the decision to accept Jules' and James' invitation to move in with them in our own apartment, and never looked back.
It was a very tough move because we had been in our home for so long, and had accumulated alot of "stuff". Everything fell into place though as we sold our home about 3 weeks after we put it on the market, and the market was already pretty soft by then.
Terry missed "home" so much. Actually I did not miss it as much as he did.
As he got sicker and sicker he constantly asked me to take him home.
Now he is at his REAL HOME with the Lord.
His death was not easy. He suffered alot at the end, but was medicated, so I want to believe that he did not feel the pain.
I miss him SO much, especially today on our anniversary. This day was always so special to both of us, being the romantics that we are.
I will be with him again some day. His last words were, "I love you SOOO much, more than you know, and I will be waiting for you at the gate."
I know he will be. He never lies.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Goodbye My Love
Terrence Patrick Michael O'Donnell10/19/1938 - 8/17/2008
Today Terry left us to go to a better place. He is no longer in pain and is at peace. He was a fighter until the very end.
Services will be held on Friday August 22nd in Maryland. Detailed emails to follow.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Update
This is Jules posting for my mom. Terry was taken to a hospice facility yesterday. His condition has worsened and it was no longer possible to care for him at home.
His pain has returned and he can no longer get out of bed. He sleeps most of the day but the few minutes that is awake, he is very agitated and tries to get out of bed. We were afraid he would fall and hurt himself at home.
He is at Holy Cross Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Burtonsville MD. It is a very nice place where he has a huge private room with a big chair that folds out into a bed for my mom. She has been there with him since he arrived and won't leave his side. Everyone there are wonderful and they are doing a good job controlling his pain. He still is very anxious and begs us to take him home but I think they will change his medicine today which should help.
Mom has her cell phone with her if you would like to call. You can email me if you need her number (jnjcolemans@yahoo.com). She is hanging in there but is understandly very upset.
Please pray that Terry can be comfortable, both physically and mentally, during this transition. Also, pray for strength and comfort for my mom.
I'll post any updates.
His pain has returned and he can no longer get out of bed. He sleeps most of the day but the few minutes that is awake, he is very agitated and tries to get out of bed. We were afraid he would fall and hurt himself at home.
He is at Holy Cross Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Burtonsville MD. It is a very nice place where he has a huge private room with a big chair that folds out into a bed for my mom. She has been there with him since he arrived and won't leave his side. Everyone there are wonderful and they are doing a good job controlling his pain. He still is very anxious and begs us to take him home but I think they will change his medicine today which should help.
Mom has her cell phone with her if you would like to call. You can email me if you need her number (jnjcolemans@yahoo.com). She is hanging in there but is understandly very upset.
Please pray that Terry can be comfortable, both physically and mentally, during this transition. Also, pray for strength and comfort for my mom.
I'll post any updates.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
THE AVALANCHE.....
One of God's greatest creations is getting ready to go back to HIM....
My wonderful husband, Terrence Patrick Michael O. is getting ready to leave this earth.
Somehow I can't quite get myself to believe that it is really going to happen.
It feels like an avalanche is perched right above my head and I know that it is going to start
melting, and when it does, it is going to come surging down on me, and I will be drowning in the aftermath. All I can do is pray for strength to get through it all, and keep my faith and health.
I thank God every day for allowing me to spend the last 27 years with this amazing person. He has loved me UNCONDITIONALLY for so long. His kindness and overwhelming affection have been the greatest gift ever given to me. The day I met him, I knew he was a true gentleman, and sometimes they are very hard to find.
Right now he is laying in our bed, in our temporary apartment, almost unconscious all the time.
The hospice nurses and social workers come once a week to check on him, but not much else.
If it was not for our family being close by and coming to keep me company, we would be going through all of this alone.
Some people from church have inquired by phone as to Terry's condition, but I have not asked anyone to come here. I prefer to be with my husband alone as much as possible. We still enjoy being alone together, even if he is incoherent most of the time.
The Lord has performed a miracle! Ter was on morphine every two hours for several weeks. I was praying for comfort for Terry without morphine because it was affecting his brain. So far now, he has been off of morphine for 4 days and nights, and has had NO PAIN! Praise the Lord!
Thank you to all of our family and friends who have been agreeing with us in prayer! My goal is to see Terry as comfortable as possible through the whole "transition" process.
Terry is the love of my life, and the Lord put us together for a reason. (He knew I was a mother at heart, because he made me that way...) Someday we will be united forever. Halleluiah!!
Stay tuned for more info.
God Bless you all.
from theos xxxooo
My wonderful husband, Terrence Patrick Michael O. is getting ready to leave this earth.
Somehow I can't quite get myself to believe that it is really going to happen.
It feels like an avalanche is perched right above my head and I know that it is going to start
melting, and when it does, it is going to come surging down on me, and I will be drowning in the aftermath. All I can do is pray for strength to get through it all, and keep my faith and health.
I thank God every day for allowing me to spend the last 27 years with this amazing person. He has loved me UNCONDITIONALLY for so long. His kindness and overwhelming affection have been the greatest gift ever given to me. The day I met him, I knew he was a true gentleman, and sometimes they are very hard to find.
Right now he is laying in our bed, in our temporary apartment, almost unconscious all the time.
The hospice nurses and social workers come once a week to check on him, but not much else.
If it was not for our family being close by and coming to keep me company, we would be going through all of this alone.
Some people from church have inquired by phone as to Terry's condition, but I have not asked anyone to come here. I prefer to be with my husband alone as much as possible. We still enjoy being alone together, even if he is incoherent most of the time.
The Lord has performed a miracle! Ter was on morphine every two hours for several weeks. I was praying for comfort for Terry without morphine because it was affecting his brain. So far now, he has been off of morphine for 4 days and nights, and has had NO PAIN! Praise the Lord!
Thank you to all of our family and friends who have been agreeing with us in prayer! My goal is to see Terry as comfortable as possible through the whole "transition" process.
Terry is the love of my life, and the Lord put us together for a reason. (He knew I was a mother at heart, because he made me that way...) Someday we will be united forever. Halleluiah!!
Stay tuned for more info.
God Bless you all.
from theos xxxooo
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
MY HEROES, MY DAUGHTER!!! MY SON-IN-LAW!!!
I cannot begin to describe the pride I have for my daughter.....
She has always been very special to anyone she meets.
The day she was born, she became my best friend! She was so beautiful and round and pink, I couldn't take my eyes off of her! Everyone agreed that she was the most beautiful baby they had ever seen!(We didn't even have to pay them to say that either!!)
Jules was, and is still "one of a kind"! She has always been fiercely independent, and I know in my heart she will always be true to what is in her heart.
We had to travel all over the North East to find just the right college for Jules. (not because she deserved the best, but mainly because the college had to deserve HER!) Wherever she goes she makes friends easily... I wonder where she gets that from....
Jules waited a long time to pick her prince, and when she met James we knew they were made for each other. They had so much in common: philosophies on life, diets, politics, tastes in music, sports teams, movies, live productions, travelling, food. They were both vegetarians when they met, and stayed that way for a long time. One time when we were out for dinner, James shocked me by ordering a steak dinner. I knew a proposal was in the works when I noticed that Jules ordered meat also!
The birth of Seamus might be the single most important event that has come into their lives, as far as I can tell... He has been SUCH a blessing to all of us, but no one loves him more than his Mom and Dad!! We thank the Lord for Shamey every day, and ask for a healing of his infirmity.
We are just so blessed to have a daughter and son-in-law like Jules and James, and of course Shamey is the frosting on the top of the cake!!
We are looking forward to moving into our new home very soon, and having Shamey come in every morning and say "Good Morning Ga, Good Morning, Pa"!
There are so many good things in life, so worth waiting for!!
Thank you JuJu Bee and James for inviting us to share our lives with you!
We love you all!
She has always been very special to anyone she meets.
The day she was born, she became my best friend! She was so beautiful and round and pink, I couldn't take my eyes off of her! Everyone agreed that she was the most beautiful baby they had ever seen!(We didn't even have to pay them to say that either!!)
Jules was, and is still "one of a kind"! She has always been fiercely independent, and I know in my heart she will always be true to what is in her heart.
We had to travel all over the North East to find just the right college for Jules. (not because she deserved the best, but mainly because the college had to deserve HER!) Wherever she goes she makes friends easily... I wonder where she gets that from....
Jules waited a long time to pick her prince, and when she met James we knew they were made for each other. They had so much in common: philosophies on life, diets, politics, tastes in music, sports teams, movies, live productions, travelling, food. They were both vegetarians when they met, and stayed that way for a long time. One time when we were out for dinner, James shocked me by ordering a steak dinner. I knew a proposal was in the works when I noticed that Jules ordered meat also!
The birth of Seamus might be the single most important event that has come into their lives, as far as I can tell... He has been SUCH a blessing to all of us, but no one loves him more than his Mom and Dad!! We thank the Lord for Shamey every day, and ask for a healing of his infirmity.
We are just so blessed to have a daughter and son-in-law like Jules and James, and of course Shamey is the frosting on the top of the cake!!
We are looking forward to moving into our new home very soon, and having Shamey come in every morning and say "Good Morning Ga, Good Morning, Pa"!
There are so many good things in life, so worth waiting for!!
Thank you JuJu Bee and James for inviting us to share our lives with you!
We love you all!
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