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.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
MY HERO, MY SON!!
Many years ago, in 1962, there was a fairy tale wedding, which took place in Upstate New York.
the bride and groom were very much in love, and had been childhood sweethearts for over 5 years. The groom had enlisted in the U.S. Airforce, while the bride was still in college, and he came back home to get married to the bride. Since the groom was stationed in a far away place, called Spokane Washington, they had an adventurous honeymoon travelling across the U.S.
All was well in loveland. They made some very good friends while there, and even moved to Chicago with one couple once the tour of duty was over, so that both husbands could attend a technical college and make a living for their brides and future families .
The groom (Tom) was very ambitious and went to school full time and worked part time to support his bride and himself. The bride (Donna) worked also, until they received a surprise! A wonderful little bundle of joy, a baby boy! This was 4 years after the fairytale wedding.
But what to name the baby boy? Tom remembered a sign he had seen every day when they had lived in Spokane. "OH GOODY, HERE COMES WOODY!!" He had always liked that saying, so the boy was named after a candy truck. To this day our son's name is Woody. It is formally Thomas Woodrow, and he goes by Tom on the job, which is being a Math teacher. He would really be teased and taunted if his students ever knew his nickname was "WOODY"!!
YIKES!!!I call him Wood for short, and he answers to it.
This little bundle was such a wonderful gift to us! He was very precoscious and funny all of the time. I hope he never changes!! I thank the Lord for him every day.
He now is all grown up and has two wonderful children of his own, Alex and Cassidy, who are such a pleasure to be with, and fill our hearts with joy. The Lord has really blessed us with 3 wonderful grandbabies and we are eternally grateful.
Wood has turned out to be a wonderful husband to Christine, and dad to the two kids. He is very loving and kind, but always maintains his high level of humor. Some days he is what gets me through. I love him very much, and I know that he will always be there for me or for any member of the family. All of his students just love him, and he is very good at bringing out the best in each one of them. That is exactly what he was hired for.
I know that pride is a sin, but I can't help but brag about him once in awhile. He is my HERO, and I will always be grateful for being allowed to be his mom.
the bride and groom were very much in love, and had been childhood sweethearts for over 5 years. The groom had enlisted in the U.S. Airforce, while the bride was still in college, and he came back home to get married to the bride. Since the groom was stationed in a far away place, called Spokane Washington, they had an adventurous honeymoon travelling across the U.S.
All was well in loveland. They made some very good friends while there, and even moved to Chicago with one couple once the tour of duty was over, so that both husbands could attend a technical college and make a living for their brides and future families .
The groom (Tom) was very ambitious and went to school full time and worked part time to support his bride and himself. The bride (Donna) worked also, until they received a surprise! A wonderful little bundle of joy, a baby boy! This was 4 years after the fairytale wedding.
But what to name the baby boy? Tom remembered a sign he had seen every day when they had lived in Spokane. "OH GOODY, HERE COMES WOODY!!" He had always liked that saying, so the boy was named after a candy truck. To this day our son's name is Woody. It is formally Thomas Woodrow, and he goes by Tom on the job, which is being a Math teacher. He would really be teased and taunted if his students ever knew his nickname was "WOODY"!!
YIKES!!!I call him Wood for short, and he answers to it.
This little bundle was such a wonderful gift to us! He was very precoscious and funny all of the time. I hope he never changes!! I thank the Lord for him every day.
He now is all grown up and has two wonderful children of his own, Alex and Cassidy, who are such a pleasure to be with, and fill our hearts with joy. The Lord has really blessed us with 3 wonderful grandbabies and we are eternally grateful.
Wood has turned out to be a wonderful husband to Christine, and dad to the two kids. He is very loving and kind, but always maintains his high level of humor. Some days he is what gets me through. I love him very much, and I know that he will always be there for me or for any member of the family. All of his students just love him, and he is very good at bringing out the best in each one of them. That is exactly what he was hired for.
I know that pride is a sin, but I can't help but brag about him once in awhile. He is my HERO, and I will always be grateful for being allowed to be his mom.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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