Re-education

Brad is teaching me how to make an entry.  It has been so long since I have done this, and my memory is so poor, that I needed to be walked through this process again.  Dinosaurs shouldn't be allowed to play with xangas.

Okay, now Brad is going to teach me how to leave a comment!  So much to learn!

Death Watch

Every day since last Thursday, I have received reports from Mom's many doctors that are increasingly serious, grave, and dismal.  Today, we learned that Mom's hemoglobin count dipped down to 7.4 again, havin risen to 10.9 with the help of 2 units of blood transfusions and 2 IVs of iron.  So tonight, she is getting 2 more units of blood.  The GI doctor from Ghana explained to us that without this she will live only 2 more days.  Unbelievable!!!  So I sat in her room watching her sleep.  Her labored breathing is horrifying.  The beeping machines and tubes everywhere are oppressive.  She is suffering so much.

To think that she was as Rinkside with me last week (remember, Pascal?) at this time in seemingly normal health is mind boggling. 

I am so tired.  My stomach hurts.  I can't stop crying.  My brain is fried.

I read part of   I Cor. 15 to Mom. tonight.  She was familiar with these verses and quoted them while I read them.  Julie, Tom, Emma, and I sang "Jesus Loves Me" and "Be Thou My Vision" to her.  She is telling us how she wants her memorial service to be.  It's a good conversation.  I just can't believe that it might be so soon. 

I will miss my Mom so much.  Thanks for your prayers!

Welcome to Kang Retirement Villa!

I have figured out how to cope with the 3 elderly relatives staying with us.  I am pretending that I am operating a retirement center and that I am a live-in staff member.  Pretending can be a powerful tool, if it is only used on a temporary basis. 

Julie's graduation ceremony was perfect.  It was interesting, stimulating, timed well, meaningful, fun, and intense.  I can't wait to see the video.  I will probably cry all over again.  My whole family of origin was present.  They really liked the slide show and Dr. Maine's address. 

The Open House was a little overwhelming at first, mostly because I wasn't 100% ready, as usual.  I found lots of food today that I forgot to serve.  I wish I was as good at running a party as I am at gathering a crowd.  Julie had tons of fun at her party, relaxing more and more as the night wore on.  She is so blessed by having so many wonderful, fun, sweet friends.  We need to have another party soon, don't you think?  Do we need a reason to get together? 

Now it's time to get Julie ready to attend Moody! 

In light of the last entry, I now have bath towel phobia.  You never know what could be hanging or hiding in your towel.  Nasty!  I have to wack my towel with a long back scratcher before touching it.  I must me going insane(r).

Speaking of insanity, have you ever tasted "Insanity Sauce"?  We have some and the Etheringtons also have some.  It's something you will never forget once you have experienced it.  It's also available at Woodmans near the Tabasco Sauce.

The Anderson family committed a great act of mercy last week.  They gave us hours of help in discovering our lawn which has been lost for years.  They planted flowers, weeded, worked on the deck, and WEEDED.  The Andersons are a wonderful family and we love them. 

Sinsuk's mom and dad arrived a few days ago and will be with us for a few weeks.  His mom is suddenly acting sickly with a wide variety of problems.  She is going for a check-up on Wed.  Please pray that she receives a proper diagnosis.  Poor Harmonee!

The new pet bunny in my Great Room is robbing me of valuable man-hours as my kids are completely distracted from their long job lists now.  Never trust a bunny!

I love this quote from William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Plantation, 1647, as he wrote retrospectively about his fellow pilgrims who journeyed with him on the Mayflower:

"Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least making some ways toward it, for the propagation and advance of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should  be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.

Thus, out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives blessing to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone to many.....let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise."

They came to spread the gospel of Christ to a remote land!  May we continue their legacy.  Faith of our Fathers.........

AMBUSHED!!!

Throughout the night, I kept hearing bats sounds.  No matter how tired I am, I can't fall asleep knowing that a flying rodent is in the house.  Ten times or so, I nudged Sinsuk to go catch the thing.  He could only find a noisy June bug, which he smashed. 

This morning, I was #3 in the shower line.  When I pulled my towel off the rack, a rather large bat flew right at my face!  I hate the color of bats.  They are so ugly!  I ran to Brad's room screaming for help.  He caught the bat under a bucket, but was too tired to dispose it.  The bat was so loud under the bucket.  I was having a royal heart attack so I begged Brad (Sinsuk, Tom, and Julie were already at church) to cover the bucket and take it outside.  I felt 100% better after he did that for me.  During the sermon this morning, we learned that mercy is compassion in action; taking care of the needs of suffering people.  Brad was merciful to me today.  He is the hero of the day!  Three cheers for Brad!

We worked on our never ending deck/addition project this afternoon and evening.  Emma thought it was fun, but the rest of us beg to differ.

The Etheringtons worked for many hours on this project yesterday.  What a gift!  We would never have gotten half of that work done without them.  The Etheringtons also came to mind today while Pastor Dan spoke of showing mercy.  We love the Etherington family! 

Do you think when our addition is done some year that we will be bat-free?