GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS AT SUTTER LIVING CENTER

 I was there the day the tree was being decorated. All the residents enjoyed helping.

 DOUG AND DAD HAD SOME QUALITY VISITING TIME!!

TWO YOUNG FRIENDS OF OUR FAMILY, MEGAN AND MEREDITH COOK, CAME WITH ME ONE DAY AND CHEERED THE RESIDENTS UP.

 DAD ALWAYS ENJOYS COMPANY

 MEREDITH SANG SOME SONGS FOR THE LADIES

Thanksgiving 2012

 We celebrated Thanksgiving at Crystal Mountain this year with Nat, George and Henry (Christy was sick with the flu and remained in Illinois to rest), and our friends, Laura and Brian Teeple. The food was fantastic as always and the weather was unusually warm--so nice!

 ANNA AND GEORGE

 ANNA, GEORGE AND HENRY

 ANNA AND HER OLDEST BROTHER, NATHANAEL

 SUSAN AND ANNA

Dad's new life without his wife by his side

 Dad smiled because I asked him to.

 He is doing well, really.

 He misses mom and somewhere deep down he knows she is no longer in the room next door.

 She does come over to see him just about every day in her wheelchair--but she is getting weak and so very old.

 He is disturbed by how she looks--

The staff said the day she was moved to the nursing home he cried all day--he didn't really know what was happening but somehow within his deep, deep love for her -he knew. 

Peggy told me that the other day when mom was brought over to see dad that as soon as they saw each other they held out their hands to one another in a show of love and tenderness.

AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE STORY

Tom moved into mom's old room and he and dad seem like old friends! 

They sit together and "talk".

The four men sit together at meals and seem to have some sort of camaraderie.

The staff say dad is ready most days to go swimming or golfing.

I am so glad that I can still talk and joke with dad.

These are sad days,

 but they will soon be over and then the victory of heaven awaits where they will be whole once again because one Christmas Day about 6 years ago in South Bend they both bowed the knee to the Saviour and received His gift of eternal life.
Won't you also join them in heaven one day where there are no tears or sorrow?
" For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16, 17

Praise God for His perfect mercy and grace.

A Day at OMCF

 Since mom is now in the nursing home section of Oakview I usually visit with her first and then wheel her over to Sutter and we visit with dad. Dad always cries when he sees us approaching. Dixie brings mom over to sit with dad every day for a few hours.

 This man was here today with his dog, Tagalong. He is not a St. Bernard, but a breed from Germany that starts with a "L". I really do not remember what the name is.

He was VERY gentle and loved saying "hello" to everyone.

 Tagalong wanted pets from dad.

 He gave mom some kisses.

Dad was looking good today---very natty in his V neck sweatshirt.

He is a bit lonely without mom though.

Scott had sent a nice card for mom and dad and I put it on mom's dresser in her new room..

Thanks, Scott.

I was trying to think of something I could take to keep her mind occupied while I was there--so, I rummaged through the children's toy box and decided on a little finger puppet that you put your first two fingers in and make it walk. She liked it and said that it was so cute. 

Dad asked me why I was there and I told him I was visiting--he said I did not belong there and that at least I could leave when I wanted. How true..............